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khogz · 4 July 2009, 04:12 AM

Hello all,
This is my first post on the forum after lurking around here for some time. I own a few Rolex watches yet the one that was given to me a few months ago means to most to me by far. A few months back my two brothers and I decided to give our father an upgrade from his old beat up TT GMT 1675 that has not left his wrist since the early 70's when I was the ripe old age of 5. I can remember sitting in his lap and putting it up to my ear and listening to it. We decided to get him a new YG GMT II. A few days later he called me up and asked if I wanted his old GMT. I wore it for a few weeks when i looked down and the darn bezel insert had popped off and was gone.. Now don't get me wrong the watch was in rough shape and I was thinking about having it looked at especially when I asked him when the last time was that he had it serviced and his answer was "NEVER". The bezel insert was the push I needed to send it off.. but to whom was my question? After looking around on here there was one name that I saw over and over again. BOB RIDLEY. Here are a few pictures that Mr. Ridley took for me. Oh before I forget, the only time that I can recall the watch being off of my father's wrist was the one time in the early 80's when he went for a swim in our pool and the crown was not screwed down all of the way and water flooded the watch. My dad being himself decided to just lay it in the window sill above the kitchen sink in the sun to dry out. 3 weeks later he screwed the crown back down gave it a few shakes and off it went running again and put it back on his wrist. The face of the watch and the hands took on a "patina" if you will..LOL I told Bob to leave the face and hands as is. Reminds me of the old man ever time I look down at it. After replacing many parts Bob called yesterday to inform me that he had sent me some pictures and that the watch should be ready early next week. Thanks Bob for what you do! Happy 4th to everyone and enjoy the pictures.

SLS · 4 July 2009, 04:29 AM

Good greif that looks great! Congrats on the GMT, its certainly a keeper! I look forward to the day when I hand down one of my watches to my kids.
Oh ya, welcome to the forum!
Scott

wantonebad · 4 July 2009, 04:43 AM

That's a stunner, nice story

sakuraba · 4 July 2009, 05:10 AM

Gorgeous watch! Beautiful story!

These watches are really tough as nails!

LocoNBroko · 4 July 2009, 05:12 AM

WOW, that is beautiful! You made a great decision to not change the dial and hands! The story is worthy of being remembered in that way!
Congratulations, and what a fine restoration job!

allanofcalifornia · 4 July 2009, 05:27 AM

Congratulations on getting your father's watch. I bet you can't wait to get it back from being serviced!

Allan

Alcan · 4 July 2009, 05:44 AM

Hi there, welcome aboard!

Great story about the GMT restoration. I'm sure you'll love it when you get it back.

Bob does amazing work, he recently turned this

into this for me.

Tools · 4 July 2009, 05:55 AM

Both the GMT and Al's Pocket watch are amazing..

I'd be proud to wear either one.......

Retiredsf · 4 July 2009, 09:30 AM

Very nice and I wanted to wait about 20 years to pass my 16610LV to my son but decided to do it 19 years early and bought myself a SS Sub date.......

migboy · 4 July 2009, 09:49 AM

nice story... do post pics when you get it back... welcome!

Lamone · 4 July 2009, 02:25 PM

Great story, Can't wait to see more pictures.

Lol-x · 4 July 2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

The face of the watch and the hands took on a "patina" if you will..LOL

Man I love that too funny

Looks like a sterling job by Bob and you will be getting an amazing vintage TT GMT

Thanks for sharing that personal story.

buz-lh · 4 July 2009, 07:36 PM

Great watch with a great story. Congratulations and welcome to the forum. I know you'll enjoy many more years with the GMT.

marshallr47 · 4 July 2009, 11:50 PM

Awesome restoration. Congrats and thanks for sharing it with us.

mike · 5 July 2009, 04:02 AM

Simply fantastic.

Woody · 5 July 2009, 07:57 PM

Great looking watch - love that dial.

4 July 2009, 04:12 AM	#1
khogz "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: fl Posts: 4	My 1675 restoration Hello all, This is my first post on the forum after lurking around here for some time. I own a few Rolex watches yet the one that was given to me a few months ago means to most to me by far. A few months back my two brothers and I decided to give our father an upgrade from his old beat up TT GMT 1675 that has not left his wrist since the early 70's when I was the ripe old age of 5. I can remember sitting in his lap and putting it up to my ear and listening to it. We decided to get him a new YG GMT II. A few days later he called me up and asked if I wanted his old GMT. I wore it for a few weeks when i looked down and the darn bezel insert had popped off and was gone.. Now don't get me wrong the watch was in rough shape and I was thinking about having it looked at especially when I asked him when the last time was that he had it serviced and his answer was "NEVER". The bezel insert was the push I needed to send it off.. but to whom was my question? After looking around on here there was one name that I saw over and over again. BOB RIDLEY. Here are a few pictures that Mr. Ridley took for me. Oh before I forget, the only time that I can recall the watch being off of my father's wrist was the one time in the early 80's when he went for a swim in our pool and the crown was not screwed down all of the way and water flooded the watch. My dad being himself decided to just lay it in the window sill above the kitchen sink in the sun to dry out. 3 weeks later he screwed the crown back down gave it a few shakes and off it went running again and put it back on his wrist. The face of the watch and the hands took on a "patina" if you will..LOL I told Bob to leave the face and hands as is. Reminds me of the old man ever time I look down at it. After replacing many parts Bob called yesterday to inform me that he had sent me some pictures and that the watch should be ready early next week. Thanks Bob for what you do! Happy 4th to everyone and enjoy the pictures.

4 July 2009, 04:29 AM	#2
SLS "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Real Name: Scott Location: GMT -7 Watch: GMT's & Sub's Posts: 10,399	Good greif that looks great! Congrats on the GMT, its certainly a keeper! I look forward to the day when I hand down one of my watches to my kids. Oh ya, welcome to the forum! Scott __________________ "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of lower price is forgotten." -Benjamin Franklin Member No. 922

4 July 2009, 04:43 AM	#3
wantonebad 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA Watch: 126600, 116500LN Posts: 12,834	That's a stunner, nice story __________________ "I'm kind of a big deal... on a fairly irrelevant social media site that falsely inflates my fragile ego"

4 July 2009, 05:44 AM	#7
Alcan 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Real Name: Al Location: Way Up North Watch: your P's & Q's Posts: 10,473	Hi there, welcome aboard! Great story about the GMT restoration. I'm sure you'll love it when you get it back. Bob does amazing work, he recently turned this into this for me. __________________ Member #1,315 I don't want to get technical, but according to chemistry alcohol IS a solution!

4 July 2009, 05:55 AM	#8
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,033	Both the GMT and Al's Pocket watch are amazing.. I'd be proud to wear either one....... __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member

4 July 2009, 05:10 AM	#4
sakuraba "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2009 Real Name: Jib Location: SJ, California Watch: sun dial Posts: 8,189	Gorgeous watch! Beautiful story! These watches are really tough as nails!

4 July 2009, 05:12 AM	#5
LocoNBroko Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Watch: GMTIIcSUBUBFDSDDS Posts: 334	WOW, that is beautiful! You made a great decision to not change the dial and hands! The story is worthy of being remembered in that way! Congratulations, and what a fine restoration job!

4 July 2009, 05:27 AM	#6
allanofcalifornia "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: Allan Location: California Posts: 3,210	Congratulations on getting your father's watch. I bet you can't wait to get it back from being serviced! Allan

4 July 2009, 09:30 AM	#9
Retiredsf Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Real Name: Santiago Location: Texas Watch: LV/SS Sub date Posts: 73	Very nice and I wanted to wait about 20 years to pass my 16610LV to my son but decided to do it 19 years early and bought myself a SS Sub date.......

4 July 2009, 09:49 AM	#10
migboy "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago Watch: 16610 Posts: 300	nice story... do post pics when you get it back... welcome!

4 July 2009, 02:25 PM	#11
Lamone Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC Watch: ya mawt! Posts: 3,448	Great story, Can't wait to see more pictures.

4 July 2009, 07:36 PM	#13
buz-lh "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: Buz Location: Atlanta Watch: Rolex Tudor Pam Posts: 5,108	Great watch with a great story. Congratulations and welcome to the forum. I know you'll enjoy many more years with the GMT. __________________ Buz The faster you move, the slower time passes, the longer you live. Peter Diamandis

4 July 2009, 11:50 PM	#14
marshallr47 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Real Name: Ron Location: Alabama Watch: Daytona,TT Sub,GMT Posts: 4,673	Awesome restoration. Congrats and thanks for sharing it with us. __________________ Ron

5 July 2009, 04:02 AM	#15
mike "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 22,683	Simply fantastic.

5 July 2009, 07:57 PM	#16
Woody "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Africa Posts: 1,118	Great looking watch - love that dial.

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