1655 Exp II Help

[inadeje]

I am looking at a beautiful 1655, it has a service dial and hands, service bezel and…(the blasphemy…) a new Case. All of this was done by Rolex, receipts etc.

My question is, is this watch really worthless to a vintage buyer. Have these changes destroyed the watch?

I’m intrigued what the mindset is on this matter. The price is 22k USD and frankly the watch looks fantastic. Would I get killed on a future resale of this piece?

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by inadeje

I am looking at a beautiful 1655, it has a service dial and hands, service bezel and…(the blasphemy…) a new Case. All of this was done by Rolex, receipts etc.

My question is, is this watch really worthless to a vintage buyer. Have these changes destroyed the watch?

I’m intrigued what the mindset is on this matter. The price is 22k USD and frankly the watch looks fantastic. Would I get killed on a future resale of this piece?

Hi, hope you're safe and well.

That looks like a really nice sharp wristwatch - but yes, you called it, not very desirable to collectors.

If 'resale' value is a worry, buy the best 'original' you can find - unpolished/untouched is even better.

If you want a sharp 'new' 1655 to look good on your wrist - buy that one.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[Dan S]

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the watch, but the collectible value is gone, hence the true market value is less than half of the asking price IMO.

Also, purely subjectively, I don't find the look of the watch appealing TBH. Once you have looked at a lot of nice vintage examples, these pieces with luminova service parts just look wrong.

[inadeje]

Dan s and frenchbigcrown thanks so much for your kind and insightful comments.

I am thinking that I'd be better off buying a low cost beater, even without bracelet and sending it to RSC. Technically I’d end up with the same outcome for probably half the cost of this.

[Mark020]

Try finding a low cost beater

[subtona]

It’s a wonderful looking and unique watch that is prepared for duty as a daily wear.

Buy it, wear it, enjoy it.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by inadeje

. . .

My question is, is this watch really worthless to a vintage buyer. Have these changes destroyed the watch?
. . .

The watch would not interest a collector who would desire all original, and complete, collection pieces.

It will always be desirable to anybody interested in "vintage", and the look and feel of earlier watches.

It's a great every-day watch, where an original example may only be good as a safe queen.

[R44]

I like it and although I’m an all original vintage mindset collector I could own, wear and enjoy that watch as a regular wearer. Here’s the issue …. The price is wildly wrong which is going to hurt if you ever want to sell. I’d say somewhere around 40% off a good condition original is where it should be so the person who suggested half of what is being asked isn’t far off in this instance. 10 years or so back I owned a 1680 Submariner with a service dial (it was rare T25 service dial but still a service dial) and I wore it regularly and was constantly being asked about it because of the condition. I was surprised by how much attention it got from watch fans. I eventually found an all original 1680 white in outstanding condition and replaced it, I didn’t have any issue selling it and highlighted the service dial in the sales ad. It’s really about buying it at the right price.

If you plan on keeping it very long term then go for it as resale pricing doesn’t matter so much.

[Woody]

This same watch was sold to a member on TZ-UK in 2018 for around £9.5 K - it was previously owned by a helicopter pilot (for sone reason I am thinking Army Air corps rather than RAF….but I could be wrong on that). He had owned the watch from new and wore it throughout his service before deciding to send it to the RSC for a full service/rebuild - it came back a new watch, to the point where it no longer really meant anything to him so he sold it to his local clock/watch retailer. I know all this because I spoke with the dealer at the time and was next in line to buy it…..but lost out!! I think the original price was about right from a dealer. I wouldn’t pay £19.5k for it but as others have said you would be highly unlikely to find a donor watch/beater in the UK for much less than £15k (if you are lucky). Good luck with your decision (for what it is worth I believe the dealer is very reputable, although I have not personably dealt with him).

[JBZ]

Aesthetically, I think it looks great. But $22k for what’s basically an entirely new watch with the original movement? I know the 1655 prices have risen, but that seems high to me.

[inadeje]

Amazing responses, and a sincere thank you to everyone for their truly insightful responses. I concur that the price is simply too high for what is a valueless (in the collector sector) proposition. I agree that as a daily wearer, overlooking the loss of historic value, that the watch is ideal. However, like many (if not all) that read this forum, we chose this hobby primarily because we can follow our passion, while emerging relatively unscathed from the owner experience. In this particular case a conundrum is presented, in which I found the debate very interesting, and you have all consolidated my beliefs. Thanks again to everyone.

[chocopeluche]

Originally Posted by inadeje

Amazing responses, and a sincere thank you to everyone for their truly insightful responses. I concur that the price is simply too high for what is a valueless (in the collector sector) proposition. I agree that as a daily wearer, overlooking the loss of historic value, that the watch is ideal. However, like many (if not all) that read this forum, we chose this hobby primarily because we can follow our passion, while emerging relatively unscathed from the owner experience. In this particular case a conundrum is presented, in which I found the debate very interesting, and you have all consolidated my beliefs. Thanks again to everyone.

I dont see any problem in buying this piece at its “market value”. No guarantee that it will go down or up, same goes for all original pieces.

In theory the market has already priced any expected future return into the current “market value price”.

I can’t say if 22k is market or not, but if you like the 1655 (as I do) this is an exceptionally crisp example.

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by Woody

He had owned the watch from new and wore it throughout his service before deciding to send it to the RSC for a full service/rebuild - it came back a new watch, to the point where it no longer really meant anything to him so he sold it to his local clock/watch retailer.

What did he expect then when he signed off on this? Why not go to his local shop first?

When Rolex does all this, new case, new dial, new hands, ... they would have contacted the client because it would cost more than a normal service. So either he gave them his approval or something went wrong.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

What did he expect then when he signed off on this? Why not go to his local shop first?

When Rolex does all this, new case, new dial, new hands, ... they would have contacted the client because it would cost more than a normal service. So either he gave them his approval or something went wrong.

Well, given that this is now a third-hand account, I doubt you get any clarification here. ;-)

[watchtabs]

Looks nice! But yes, if you're a purist.. too bad it was serviced.