Dad passed away - questions about his 1981 GMT Master

[lis]

I would definitely send to Philip Ridley. he recently serviced my 1675 GMT Pepsi (dated around 1978) and was fantastic. Honest, good communication, gave me options, and returned to me a watch in much better -- actually excellent -- condition. I am also in DC area and looked around at other options, including Rolliworks etc, but after reading all the reviews I decided on Philip Ridley and I would definitely use him again.

[theflywrist]

Your father had exquisite taste, and I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you continue to wear it in best health for many years.
You already have all the advice you need on what to do with the watch from the kind gents above. Good luck!

[214270Explorer]

Originally Posted by lis

I would definitely send to Philip Ridley. he recently serviced my 1675 GMT Pepsi (dated around 1978) and was fantastic. Honest, good communication, gave me options, and returned to me a watch in much better -- actually excellent -- condition. I am also in DC area and looked around at other options, including Rolliworks etc, but after reading all the reviews I decided on Philip Ridley and I would definitely use him again.

He repaired a year 2000 16613 for me that developed bad winding parts.

I would personally, now, not go to a Rolex Service Center for much of anything -- unless it was a major warranty issue.

[Hurricane]

Thank you all for the advice!

[strafer_kid]

Originally Posted by Slimpee

I’m so sorry to hear about your father.

I would echo what others have said a do the following:

1. Clean the bracelet and see if it needs any repair. If it appears overly “loose” it may need servicing.
2. I would send it off to a reputable watchmaker for a thorough service and a new crystal.
3. Polish, yea or nay? If it were me, I’d do a very light polish (1 or 2) on Rolliworks’s scale. But you may just need a cleaning of the bracelet, service, and crystal.

I recently posted about my experience with Rolliworks and my 1803. I couldn’t be happier! I had them service the bracelet (one AD told me it couldn’t be done) and had 4 links added to the bracelet (an article on Hodinkee said it couldn’t be done) with the aforementioned level 2 of 10 (10 being like new) for polishing. That said, I did not have them service so I cannot vouch for them in that regard.

Sounds like good advice!

[briank996]

[QUOTE=Hurricane;11381853]My father recently passed away and now I have his GMT Master that he bought while he was stationed in Germany in September 1981. The original price he paid was $650 in 1981.

The crystal is pretty scratched up and has a chip - he wore it every day. I believe he only had it serviced once, around 1998. I’d like to take it and get it serviced and cleaned up/polished but am wondering what I need to do to keep its value (and not hurt its value). It still runs. Any advice on what service I should have done (and not done) and where I should take it? (I am in the Northern Virginia/DC area).

I don’t have any plans to sell it but rather possibly wear it on occasion and pass it on to one of my sons. I’m a big fan of the watch and bought my own TT GMT Master II in 2012 that I wear daily to remind me of him. Now I would like to wear his watch in his memory, too.

Thank you for any comments.


Beautiful watch. You're a lucky guy.

[Hurricane]

Thank you!

[Boopie]

Originally Posted by 214270Explorer

He repaired a year 2000 16613 for me that developed bad winding parts.

I would personally, now, not go to a Rolex Service Center for much of anything -- unless it was a major warranty issue.

For reference, do you mind telling us the cost of service?

[dbfagan]

My sincerest condolences on the loss of your father. You have a fantastic heirloom to hand down.

I see you are in NoVa. I would recommend taking the watch to Herndon Watch and clock, I have had several vintage watches serviced there, so have a lot of vintage guys in the area. You definitely want to keep the dial, hands, and bezel insert. I would not have it polished, all the knicks and scratches are part of your fathers history. Good luck, feel free to PM if you need any help.

David

[Alex The Watch Guy]

I’ve used Herndon watch and clock extensively over the years as well. His prices have soared and now he charges for every little thing the watch might need. He does decent work, but you have to stay on top of him. He did polish one of my vintage Omegas despite explicit instructions not to. Also, I had to take a few of my GMTs back to him after he had fully serviced them. For my money, I’d send it to a reputable watchmaker and have a peace of mind.

[Yzord]

Now thats a nice piece of history. Keep it safe

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by Alex The Watch Guy

His prices have soared and now he charges for every little thing the watch might need. ... He did polish one of my vintage Omegas despite explicit instructions not to. Also, I had to take a few of my GMTs back to him after he had fully serviced them.

Sounds dreadful.

[Innocenti]

Sorry about your Dad.
Regarding the beautiful watch, don’t rush to replace the plexi.
Buy a small tube of poliwatch and spend 10 minutes cleaning it. If it has deeper scratches try 1200 - 2000 wet and dry sand paper then poliwatch.
It will retain the chips but will be crystal clear and more beautiful for it.

[RODDYJB]

Sorry for your loss. Personally I would leave the case as it is but replace the crystal for sure.

[Hurricane]

Thanks all for the advice and guidance!

Looking up the serial number, it might be a 1979 model (he purchased it in 1981). Would that still make it a 16750?

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

Thanks all for the advice and guidance!



Looking up the serial number, it might be a 1979 model (he purchased it in 1981). Would that still make it a 16750?

Crown guards look like 1675. Reference is between the lugs. Pop off the bracelet and have a look. You can also check the posit of the 24 hour hand. 1675 is on the bottom. 16750 is between the hour and minute hand. Can’t tell from your photo.

[Ascari_2]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

Crown guards look like 1675. Reference is between the lugs. Pop off the bracelet and have a look. You can also check the posit of the 24 hour hand. 1675 is on the bottom. 16750 is between the hour and minute hand. Can’t tell from your photo.

Looks like it's hour, gmt, minutes, seconds.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

Crown guards look like 1675. Reference is between the lugs. Pop off the bracelet and have a look. You can also check the posit of the 24 hour hand. 1675 is on the bottom. 16750 is between the hour and minute hand. Can’t tell from your photo.

Thanks! Looking closer, the GMT hand is between the hour and minute hand.

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

Thanks! Looking closer, the GMT hand is between the hour and minute hand.

There you have it. ;-) I guess those crown guards have been worn down by some hard work over the years.

[springer]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

Crown guards look like 1675. Reference is between the lugs. Pop off the bracelet and have a look. You can also check the posit of the 24 hour hand. 1675 is on the bottom. 16750 is between the hour and minute hand. Can’t tell from your photo.

The watch is a 16750 not a 1675. The hand stack is from a 16750 and the dial is the first generation 16750 matte dial.

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by springer

The watch is a 16750 not a 1675. The hand stack is from a 16750 and the dial is the first generation 16750 matte dial.

Thank you, sir!
What’s the tell on the dial?

[springer]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

Thank you, sir!
What’s the tell on the dial?

There are only two variations of the 16750 matte dial. The short one and the tall slender one. This dial was definitely the shorter version.

If you are unfamiliar with the dials, there are several web sites on the net that discuss GMT dials. There is the gmt1675 site and my site, gmtforum.com, where you will find the 16750 dials right here:

https://www.gmtforum.com/viewforum.p...e7477cb129d0b1

There are also some threads here in the reference library regarding vintage GMT 1675 and 16750 dials.

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by springer

There are only two variations of the 16750 matte dial. The short one and the tall slender one. This dial was definitely the shorter version.



If you are unfamiliar with the dials, there are several web sites on the net that discuss GMT dials. There is the gmt1675 site and my site, gmtforum.com, where you will find the 16750 dials right here:



https://www.gmtforum.com/viewforum.p...e7477cb129d0b1



There are also some threads here in the reference library regarding vintage GMT 1675 and 16750 dials.

Thanks very much. I’d like to think it’s just me being lazy, but I remember trying for quite some time to figure out whether the GMT used in Magnum PI was a 1675 or 16750. I managed to find the hand stack detail and get a screen grab that proved it was a 16750, but never realized the dial had a slight difference too. It was confusing because a number of online resources including a quote from Tom Selleck himself identified it as a 1675. Definitively a 16750...but I digress...

Cheers.

[Hurricane]

Well, as an update, I sent my Dad’s watch to Bob Ridley in Texas to restore and service the watch. I received it back yesterday and I could not be happier with the results.









And with my other two that I bought years ago.

[newkidonblock4]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

Well, as an update, I sent my Dad’s watch to Bob Ridley in Texas to restore and service the watch. I received it back yesterday and I could not be happier with the results.

Congrats!!

Please post a picture. Would love to see it!

[gerry100]

Originally Posted by RODDYJB

Sorry for your loss. Personally I would leave the case as it is but replace the crystal for sure.

Heartily Agree

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by newkidonblock4

Congrats!!

Please post a picture. Would love to see it!

I did!

(Had to go back and edit the previous post after hosting the photos elsewhere.. :D )

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by gerry100

Heartily Agree

I had Bob replace the crystal but leave the case untouched.

[Hurricane]

Thank you again for everyone’s advice - it was very helpful!

[Jackie Daytona]

Looks absolutely fantastic. Wear it in good health and enjoy. Always love seeing these threads come together like this, and like I mentioned being in a similar situation before, I know how special that feels when it’s done. Looks great