buying a double red 1665

[Lessor27]

[Hello All

This is my 1st post as I have just become a member.

I am an avid rolex enthusiast for several years.

I have an opportunity to purchase a 1980 double red with a 6million serial number in excellent condition ,no box or papers.

Has the value of these watches gone down over the last year,and what's a fair retail price?

Do you experts feel that being this is the last year of the 1665 the value will be less than an older model?

Many thanks

[inspires]

First off, welcome to the forum!

You should do some reading on www.doubleredseadweller.com, which is a great site to learn more about the DRSD.

I am not sure that the DRSD was produced into the 6 million serials. Do you have an pictures you can share?

Cheers,

Eric

[greekbum]

Double red sea dweller with a 6 million serial number. The last were very early 5 million. Post detailed pictures of the dial case etc.

[MP5]

Kinda scary here

[onkyo]

Someone swapped the dial.... possibly.

[Frogman4me]

Pictures are needed, DRSD in the 6mil is not original.

[fusionstorm]

Your spider sense should be tingling.....

[HL65]

Hmmmmm

[simonmcc]

Be very careful, as suggested read the double red web site it's a great read, especially the section on mark of dials. Paperwork would be better too, but hard to find and more expensive.

[Lessor27]

Thank you all for your reply.

The watch is coming from a very large Rolex dealer that I have been buying from for 15 years.

They say that despite the late serial #,the guides are a bit inaccurate as to the serial numbers.

Going on the assumption it's a very late DRSD,is it worth less,and what's it worth without B&P?

[simonmcc]

Originally Posted by Lessor27

Thank you all for your reply.

The watch is coming from a very large Rolex dealer that I have been buying from for 15 years.

They say that despite the late serial #,the guides are a bit inaccurate as to the serial numbers.

Going on the assumption it's a very late DRSD,is it worth less,and what's it worth without B&P?

Does it have the mark 4 dial?

[Paulie 50]

Caveat Emptor.

[Keeperoftime]

DRSD is not an intermediate collector's friend. Much due diligence is required to acquire a proper example (as well as PN Daytona's etc).

I mean this in a nice way,

[delgado]

Hi

Take your time and read a little more about them.. Understand their differences and ask someone to help you.(like here)

But as some mentioned here, the last batch of classic DRSD serials are about 5.1-5.2 max.. 6 mil sounds high.. If you have photos it would help..

Here is a good guide on how to purchase a DRSD.. Good luck and enjoy the hunt..
http://www.doubleredseadweller.com/drsdcollecting.htm

[Spunga]

To my knowledge the DRSD ended production around 1977 where the Great White began.

The serial is way too late to be an original DRSD IMO.

As a possible guide, there was a 77 DRSD floating around on eBay for a few months for around $16,000 with no takers.

Personally, I wouldn't go anywhere near it.

[greekbum]

Originally Posted by Lessor27

They say that despite the late serial #,the guides are a bit inaccurate as to the serial numbers.

Going on the assumption it's a very late DRSD,is it worth less,and what's it worth without B&P?

1st off what do they want for it? All things have a price and this might be a good deal.
The answer he gave you is a typical answer from somebody selling a questionable watch. Questionable meaning that it is out of a known range amongst collectors and it will always need an explanation.
IE Rolex did many weird things back then and used up all parts available is the typical line 1 is given.

I personally would not pay more for the sum in parts on it. Example a very nice 1665 late 5 million white 1 is around 11k these days. See what the DRSD dial is worth in today's market and what it would cost for a similar white dial and do the math. That is IMHO what its worth.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by delgado

Hi

Take your time and read a little more about them.. Understand their differences and ask someone to help you.(like here)

But as some mentioned here, the last batch of classic DRSD serials are about 5.1-5.2 max.. 6 mil sounds high.. If you have photos it would help..

Here is a good guide on how to purchase a DRSD.. Good luck and enjoy the hunt..
http://www.doubleredseadweller.com/drsdcollecting.htm

I think Ed might know a thing or two about DRSD so good advice to follow!

[Keeperoftime]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I think Ed might know a thing or two about DRSD so good advice to follow!

X100

[inspires]

It took me 2 years to find mine, not mentioning all the reading, research and consultation from various well known collectors. You've come to the right place for advice, but attaining such a piece takes patience and humble advice from those with experience.

All I can say is take your time. If its meant to be, it's meant to be. That is is the great thing about the vintage world.

[Tridor]

Be afraid, be VERY afraid. These kinds of "explanations" tend not to turn out well in the end. You purchase at your own risk, and should take heed of the good advice offered here.

[simonmcc]

It could well be a possibility that it a legit 6mil serial DRSD as the history of end production is sketchy. Apparently there's Rolex records as late as 1979 and even light evidence of a transitional DRSD with a rounded case back around this time which has the serial number stamped on the inside of the case too. Again all info on double red web site.

[Kingair]

You will need all the advice you can get on a DRSD.
And as you can see there is a lot of info and help available by TRF.
Check the numbers of everything DOUBLE or TRIPLE or you will end up with a Frankenwatch . . . at a very expensive price unfortunately
Good luck

[Spunga]

Walk away or get a bucket load of detailed images so we can have a look. If they even make one negative sound or posture to a demand for detailed scans, walk away.

They should be bending over backwards to give you as many scans as you want, I know I would ;-)

[tuonor]

Originally Posted by greekbum

I personally would not pay more for the sum in parts on it. Example a very nice 1665 late 5 million white 1 is around 11k these days. See what the DRSD dial is worth in today's market and what it would cost for a similar white dial and do the math. That is IMHO what its worth.

+1. This is a good way to think about it.

Whether the "guides" are inaccurate or not is frankly not that important -- the typically consulted sources say a 6mm 1665 should not have a double red dial. Thus even if this was a genuine one-off situation (say a dial that was misplaced in some corner of the factory, found in the late 70s and mated with a current case), the watch will trade at a big discount if you ever look to sell it.

[Frogman4me]

Originally Posted by simonmcc

It could well be a possibility that it a legit 6mil serial DRSD as the history of end production is sketchy. Apparently there's Rolex records as late as 1979 and even light evidence of a transitional DRSD with a rounded case back around this time which has the serial number stamped on the inside of the case too. Again all info on double red web site.

Its going to be difficult convincing the majority that a 6mil case came with a MKIV Double red dial from the factory. I would just wait for a better example to come along. It took me 8 months to find one and it was well worth the wait. I'm interesting in seeing some scans nonetheless.

[simonmcc]

Originally Posted by Frogman4me

Its going to be difficult convincing the majority that a 6mil case came with a MKIV Double red dial from the factory. I would just wait for a better example to come along. It took me 8 months to find one and it was well worth the wait. I'm interesting in seeing some scans nonetheless.

That's the problem, unless you can get evidence to back its authenticity then it's value is in the balance.

[eparisini]

I've never seen a DRSD after 5.2 Mln ser. #

[Robbyvm]

one should be crazy to buy this watch after all the input in the previous threads... especially for a watch with that important value
a 5 k mistake can be considered as learning money, a 25k mistake is stupidity

[Jason71]

I would buy it for $9,500

[Swearengen]

Originally Posted by Keeperoftime

DRSD is not an intermediate collector's friend. Much due diligence is required to acquire a proper example (as well as PN Daytona's etc).

I mean this in a nice way,

Just curious, is it very much more difficult to judge good one than say a red 1680?