Date Disc questions

[steversaurus]

Is there a guide for date discs used by rolex? Were the brushed silver ones only for late 70s GMTs, or were they used across the board with other 1570 DJs and subs as well?

[Sky21]

I've never seen a date disk guide anywhere, mostly because they have always been considered as service items and routinely replaced during service. The brushed silver date wheels were used on other references besides the GMT in the mid to late 70s.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by Sky21

I've never seen a date disk guide anywhere, mostly because they have always been considered as service items and routinely replaced during service. The brushed silver date wheels were used on other references besides the GMT in the mid to late 70s.

In addition to the GMTs, brushed metal date wheels were used on 1665 Sea Dwellers, 1655 Explorer IIs, 1680 Submariners, and 1601-1603 Datejusts. Having the period-correct brushed metal date wheel is one of my favorite features on a vintage Rolex from the mid-late '70s. So cool.

[suligeo]

Can someone tell me why this date disc is so expensive?
https://www.ebay.de/itm/152615253588

[springer]

Originally Posted by swish77

In addition to the GMTs, brushed metal date wheels were used on 1665 Sea Dwellers, 1655 Explorer IIs, 1680 Submariners, and 1601-1603 Datejusts. Having the period-correct brushed metal date wheel is one of my favorite features on a vintage Rolex from the mid-late '70s. So cool.

They are so cool I stay up at night thinking about them - I wish I had hundreds more. Aaron, you're killing me.

How many do you want!

[springer]

Originally Posted by suligeo

Can someone tell me why this date disc is so expensive?
https://www.ebay.de/itm/152615253588

Because it is on ebay.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by springer

They are so cool I stay up at night thinking about them - I wish I had hundreds more. Aaron, you're killing me.

How many do you want!

Just one per watch, thanks! Nothing worse than a snow-white service date wheel on a watch that should have a brushed metal date wheel. We all have different things we love on '70s sports models. Some people dislike service bezel inserts too.

That date wheel is a pretty big visual item on the face of a watch. Its style/color/font matters to me. So, yes, the brushed metal ones are my favorite! But to each their own.

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by Sky21

I've never seen a date disk guide anywhere, mostly because they have always been considered as service items and routinely replaced during service. The brushed silver date wheels were used on other references besides the GMT in the mid to late 70s.

They routinely replaced the date disk at service time ? Do they wear out ? Interesting as I never though they would wear out. What was wrong with them, the teeth would wouldn't grab and turn ? Another daily lesson learned.

Do they do it now as part of a service ?? Or back in the day

[Sky21]

Originally Posted by Runnin' Rebel

They routinely replaced the date disk at service time ? Do they wear out ? Interesting as I never though they would wear out. What was wrong with them, the teeth would wouldn't grab and turn ? Another daily lesson learned.



Do they do it now as part of a service ?? Or back in the day

The Rolex instantaneous date changeover at midnight causes the teeth on the date disk to possibly wear over time, so yes they do need to be changed from time to time. While many, including myself, do like the look of the vintage watches to be fully correct, the replacement of a date disk is similar to the replacement of a worn crystal. They are both service items and if worn need to be replaced. If you can find a good condition period correct one to replace them, so much the better. I don't know the full service procedure of a modern Rolex, but I would imagine that if the date disk needed to be replaced then the service technician would replace it.

[Runnin' Rebel]

I think that would bother me a bright white new date disk on a vintage. So good answers with trying to procure a good quality period correct replacement