Help/opinion relumed hands 1680 Red Sub

[Rolessor82]

Hello everyone,

Attached pics of a very nice mk1 Red Sub. However I honestly don't know what to think of the hands. They don't have that "sparkle" as the dial. Zero. Is this a sign they were color-matched? Hands were stabilized, don't know if that affects.

Thank you!

[springer]

The hands should match the dial markers. Something has been done to them as you have already observed.

[Rolessor82]

Totally. Thanks John for always sharing your opinion!

[TuRo]

Agreed they've been worked on - but v nice meters first dial though. Don't let the hands put you off if reflected in price i.e. c $3-4k under gen mkt value. Nice case, plexi, white d\w long 5 and pip and/but serv crown and later bracelet (93150) by looks of it.

[Rolessor82]

Yep, nice analysis. Has a later bracelet but overall correct. You mentioned value, do you think color-matched hands, like in this case, is a deal breaker? I ask because at least we are talking about a mk1 Red. Super rare with aprox 1.6% of all 1680 production. The dial is mint tho.

Thanks for your coop!

[TuRo]

Not for me they are not - as something I would consider a major demerit, as they fixable/replaceable and dial (about 70-75% of value) has a nice even pockery about it, lume even and original, sharp text and not too off-white text and reasonably fizzing red text and all minute markers in-situ - all about price and other factors to check out like engraving quality / legibility and 1680 montres s.a. 69/70/71 Caseback stamp- but each to their own other here may disagree/ throw it a bit of shade, which is fine, as we all have different tastes/things we seek.. thinking about it that is good in fact... as otherwise 90% of watches would sit around unsold ✓

[springer]

Originally Posted by Rolessor82

Yep, nice analysis. Has a later bracelet but overall correct. You mentioned value, do you think color-matched hands, like in this case, is a deal breaker? I ask because at least we are talking about a mk1 Red. Super rare with aprox 1.6% of all 1680 production. The dial is mint tho.

Thanks for your coop!

Nothing wrong with refinished hands. Definitely not a deal breaker for many collectors. These tritium hands were never intended to last 50 to 60 plus years.

Based on my experience, most hands found in vintage 1960s and earlier watches with major dial patina can be found to have excessive corrosion, pitting, cracking or missing lume.

[TuRo]

Originally Posted by pauldavidthorpe

Not for me they are not - as something I would consider a major demerit, as they fixable/replaceable and dial (about 70-75% of value) has a nice even pockery about it, lume even and original, sharp text and not too off-white text and reasonably fizzing red text and all minute markers in-situ - all about price and other factors to check out like engraving quality / legibility and 1680 montres s.a. 69/70/71 Caseback stamp- but each to their own other here may disagree/ throw it a bit of shade, which is fine, as we all have different tastes/things we seek.. thinking about it that is good in fact... as otherwise 90% of watches would sit around unsold ✓

Ps -Didnt see the little nibble on 6,11 and 47 outer minute marker from dial drag on rehaut but no real biggie imho.

* Just for newbies this info (not most of you seasoned collectors) - but as this is a limited date range watch and made before 1974, the case back is actually more valuable than most at about $5000 or so (compared to say $2k for a 'generic' 1680 white caseback), as it date stamped (Year/Quarter of year) and should correspond to the narrow(ish) year/srl range that a MK1 was made for *

[Rolessor82]

Oh wow. Didn't know that. Only for this particular reference and date? Or is it valuable for every Rolex model?

[Rolessor82]

With this watch I have is correct. It has a '69 date caseback

[TuRo]

Good stuff 69 is perfect - Tbh, any expensive pre -74 piece (when they stopped stamping it) with a shortish run needs to be checked against the caseback eg a 6239, 6240 or MK1 DRSD or 6538, 5510, 6542 etc, etc, etc - just needs it caseback checking as if it's wrong it knackers the value! Much less important on post 74 pieces where say a 1675/1665/1680/16800/1655 will have a non-dated generic case back.

[indianmachine]

looks like a great pickup, congrats!

[Rolessor82]

Thank you

[Rolessor82]

Originally Posted by pauldavidthorpe

Good stuff 69 is perfect - Tbh, any expensive pre -74 piece (when they stopped stamping it) with a shortish run needs to be checked against the caseback eg a 6239, 6240 or MK1 DRSD or 6538, 5510, 6542 etc, etc, etc - just needs it caseback checking as if it's wrong it knackers the value! Much less important on post 74 pieces where say a 1675/1665/1680/16800/1655 will have a non-dated generic case back.

Yep you are correct. They do indeed come with a generic caseback