The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Watch Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Vintage Rolex Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 23 June 2017, 05:28 PM   #1
citanest
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Toronto
Posts: 35
Want an opinion on whether my 1680 can use a refinish

My 1680 is not a virgin. Although it has ok lug size and nice battle scars, I do love those sharp edges from factory finish or aftermarket refinish. I just do not know if mine will have enough lug width to bring the sharpness back without looking overly polished or having tiny lugs. I hope to get a second opinion before proceeding. Any input is welcome.










This is what I hope it will look like after the refinish but I am not sure if it is possible. My lack of experience does not help.






Thanks.
citanest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2017, 05:41 PM   #2
stevedssd
"TRF" Member
 
stevedssd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 2,204
Personally I'd leave it as is
stevedssd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2017, 06:26 PM   #3
lee fowler
2024 Pledge Member
 
lee fowler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: UK
Watch: GMT
Posts: 2,507
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevedssd View Post
Personally I'd leave it as is
Same here, leave it alone.
__________________


Instagram: @lee1563
lee fowler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2017, 10:28 PM   #4
watchcrank
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Real Name: michael
Location: Florida
Watch: explorer II cream
Posts: 1,661
Its only original unpolished once. I'd never polish that watch. It has so much charm as
a survivor. m
watchcrank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2017, 10:46 PM   #5
1675-David
"TRF" Member
 
1675-David's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 6,006
love it as it is! Don't do it!!!
1675-David is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2017, 11:37 PM   #6
Wesley Crusher
"TRF" Member
 
Wesley Crusher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Real Name: Wes
Location: Holosuite
Posts: 6,345
Yes, I'd leave it. Your watch has tons of character.
Wesley Crusher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2017, 11:47 PM   #7
HERITAGE82
"TRF" Member
 
HERITAGE82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: South Florida
Posts: 3,418
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher View Post
Yes, I'd leave it. Your watch has tons of character.
Agreed
__________________
- Rolex Explorer - 214270
- Tudor Black Bay - 79230B
- Tudor Chronograph - 79270P
- Breitling Chronomat - 10th Anniv.
- Huguenin Freres Speedmaster Prototype
HERITAGE82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2017, 12:50 AM   #8
citanest
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Toronto
Posts: 35
Thanks for the input. I cannot agree more about the watch having a lot of character. There are just a few spots which I hoped to "fix" to make it look more "factory spec". I started buying new before I bought vintage. I am very much used to sharp clean lines. After seeing those premium Rolex sellers polishing their watches to factory spec and made it look phenomenal before selling, it just made me want to do the same. You are guys are really talking me out of it.
citanest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2017, 01:27 AM   #9
Gecko10
"TRF" Member
 
Gecko10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: New Mexico
Watch: GMT 1675
Posts: 331
Let it proudly show its battle scars.
Gecko10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2017, 01:56 AM   #10
Wesley Crusher
"TRF" Member
 
Wesley Crusher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Real Name: Wes
Location: Holosuite
Posts: 6,345
Quote:
Originally Posted by citanest View Post
Thanks for the input. I cannot agree more about the watch having a lot of character. There are just a few spots which I hoped to "fix" to make it look more "factory spec". I started buying new before I bought vintage. I am very much used to sharp clean lines. After seeing those premium Rolex sellers polishing their watches to factory spec and made it look phenomenal before selling, it just made me want to do the same. You are guys are really talking me out of it.
It took 40+ years for your watch to develop that character. If you ding it or add a few scratches, it won't take away from the aesthetic and you probably won't even notice. If you polish the watch, any dings or scratches will bother you and you will want to repolish the watch even more since the dings/scratches will be very obvious. I would just leave it. Truly, it looks awesome as-is.

Food for thought...
Wesley Crusher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2017, 07:31 AM   #11
citanest
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Toronto
Posts: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher View Post
It took 40+ years for your watch to develop that character. If you ding it or add a few scratches, it won't take away from the aesthetic and you probably won't even notice. If you polish the watch, any dings or scratches will bother you and you will want to repolish the watch even more since the dings/scratches will be very obvious. I would just leave it. Truly, it looks awesome as-is.

Food for thought...
Very good point. I guess I may need to keep repolishing it once I have it refinished. Still interested in hearing from those who did it. I saw many members refinishing their case through LAWW or ABC with great results. LAWW said the lugs are thick enough to make it look great. Obviously, they would be a little biased. I just think that the chamfers look very wide and "fake". That is what bothered me the most.
citanest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2017, 10:10 AM   #12
theflywrist
"TRF" Member
 
theflywrist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Stratosphere
Posts: 1,990
Dont do it!!!
That case looks incredible. Honest wear, as a 40+ year old watch should have!

Think this through and take your time because you can always get the work done whenever you want.
You can't reverse the work though, and who knows the charm in an honest beaten case may grow on you, as it did on me and many others that are encouraging against refinishing.
theflywrist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2017, 02:49 PM   #13
japenney
"TRF" Member
 
japenney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Real Name: Josh
Location: Canada
Watch: undecided
Posts: 4,776
I had my 1675 done by LA watch works (to return next week). I only did it because the watch had some bad polish jobs over the years by your average watchmaker and it just looked rounded and the lug holes were blown out a bit.

However if it was an all original beauty like that sub I would never touch it.
japenney is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2017, 03:50 PM   #14
michaelodonnell123
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Real Name: Michael
Location: NJ
Watch: Panerai 112
Posts: 1,172
I personally hate watches that look like crap and are all beat up (which is why I always buy new). I would have it polished up and enjoy a minty looking watch. Rolex offers the service precisely so that you can have a great looking watch again.
michaelodonnell123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2017, 09:38 PM   #15
sfc rick
"TRF" Member
 
sfc rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Real Name: Rickey Higgins
Location: Huntington, TX
Watch: 1680 Sub in white
Posts: 354
I tend to agree about restoring the case back to a polished luster. It's your watch and if a ragged looking timepiece suits you then leave it alone, if not then polish it. If you just want an investment leave it alone so your surviving family members can sell it off for about 10% of the value. Or what ever a pawn shop will offer them. Not saying they will, but things happen that are not under your control. Mine is polished and for a 40+year old Sub it stuns most casual observers. There is excellent advice here so best wishes on what you do either way.
sfc rick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2017, 09:51 PM   #16
1William
2024 Pledge Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Watch: Rolex/Others
Posts: 44,318
I would leave it alone. If I needed a less scared watch I would buy another watch and have two.
1William is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2017, 10:03 PM   #17
77T
2024 Pledge Member
 
77T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 40,565
Want an opinion on whether my 1680 can use a refinish

It appears to me from your pictures that the case's lugs were refinished before. The outer edges do not have the same factory chamfering at the tips (where the angle broadens in a factory finish).

So in one sense, you won't be ruining an original piece. But I agree with the others who say leave it alone. One reason is you can't predict what dings are in your future.

If you refinish now and if a really bad one came along a year later - or even a day later - you'd have less metal for the watchmaker to work with.

While it looks scarred, it has true character.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________


Does anyone really know what time it is?
77T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2017, 03:20 AM   #18
citanest
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Toronto
Posts: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by 77T View Post
It appears to me from your pictures that the case's lugs were refinished before. The outer edges do not have the same factory chamfering at the tips (where the angle broadens in a factory finish).

So in one sense, you won't be ruining an original piece. But I agree with the others who say leave it alone. One reason is you can't predict what dings are in your future.

If you refinish now and if a really bad one came along a year later - or even a day later - you'd have less metal for the watchmaker to work with.

While it looks scarred, it has true character.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Very good eyes. That is actually the part that bothers me. The chamfer is lost as it approaches the grown guard. I wish it is still there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
citanest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2017, 04:15 AM   #19
citanest
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Toronto
Posts: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by citanest View Post
Very good eyes. That is actually the part that bothers me. The chamfer is lost as it approaches the grown guard. I wish it is still there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


A little more clear shot. Hoping to bring the chamfer back.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
citanest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2017, 05:18 AM   #20
sensui
2024 Pledge Member
 
sensui's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 12,344
I'd leave it alone myself since it looks good. Still sharp and has most of original cuts/recut. I'd sing a different tune if corners looked more rounded.
sensui is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2017, 10:17 PM   #21
joli160
2024 Pledge Member
 
joli160's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: NL
Watch: Yachtmaster
Posts: 14,277
A pro can fix it without messing it up
__________________
Day Date 18238, Yachtmaster 16622, Deepsea 116660, Submariner 116619, SkyD 326935, DJ 178271, DJ 69158, Yachtmaster 169622, GMT 116713LN, GMT 126711.
joli160 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2017, 10:59 PM   #22
swish77
2024 Pledge Member
 
swish77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Real Name: Aaron
Location: CT/NYC
Watch: ing the time!
Posts: 6,771
Speak to LAWW. They should be able to even out the chamfers toward the ends of the lugs without a full refinish. Either way, I wouldn't touch the sides of the case and especially not those nice fat crown guards. Overall, that's a fantastic case.
swish77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Takuya Watches

Bobs Watches

My Watch LLC

OCWatches

DavidSW Watches

Coronet


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.