Can you PLS help me authenticate this watch?

[AliGhh]

Hi,

I'm buying a Rolex 6694 and would be really thankful if you experts :) could kindly advise if this is legitimate?

Cheers

[winst]

Looks a nice original watch BUT I wouldn’t go for it unless it is an incredible price. Reason is it is the older 1215 movement and not the newer 1225. You can get a 1225 movement watch serviced by Rolex as long as it is on a good condition original bracelet for about £850 but a 1215 movement watch is classed as Vintage and would be closer to £2500!

It also has a much older bracelet on it, where I would try and get a watch with a newer good condition 78350 bracelet on it and would be prepared to pay an extra £350-£400 for that as a replacement from Rolex is about £900 now. Looks a good condition original dial but if you find a reasonably priced watch with a bad dial you can still get replacement service dials in Silver, Grey Black or Blue with a new handset for about £450.

If you are just going to get it serviced by an Independent Watchmaker and it is a really good price then it’s your choice. Although they are classed as 34mm I find they wear closer to a modern 36mm. I wore one back from the early 90’s for 15 years as a daily and it never missed a beat. They are great watches, but sometimes you are better to wait for a really good one to come around that ticks all the boxes. Good luck!

[AliGhh]

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. It's a 1964 Rolex 6694 and it's priced at NZD $4700 = USD $2850. I can live with having it serviced by an independent watchmaker. I'll take your expert advice on this one.

Cheers

[omar-rye]

The crown is questionable. Not sure why it’s not sitting all the way in either. Otherwise it’s had a recent service according to the seller. I’ll let better eyes determine if the case is over polished. It certainly looks like it to me but it’s late at night where I am right now. Another thing to consider is the bracelet; those aren’t as easy to size as other type of oyster bracelets

The 6694 was my first Rolex and it’s a great watch. Keep in mind, it doesn’t have a quick set so you have to rotate the the hands 24 hours to change the date. That would be my only complaint

[TuRo]

It's a 64. These are usually swiss dial but on cusp of switchover to T Swiss T.

But it's very clean, so so I suspect 80/90s service dial and hands (the handset are especially very fresh {no tarnish} too).

1967 bracelet a few years later, but head could have been unsold 3 years and attached to a later bracelet at A.D., but I suspect probably put on later.

7205/57 rivets are nice though and worth £200 more than a 7835 folded link.

Service dials etc don't affect 6694/6426 values much at all.

It's handsome blue dial.

Be about £1900-2600 in UK btw.

[Dan S]

I am a little worried about the comment regarding the crown. What does "8 minutes" mean? That sounds like a small fraction of a turn so you might need to have the crown and tube replaced.

Otherwise, I like it, the dial is nice looking and the rivet bracelet is great. I agree that the dial and hands are likely to be replacements.

[offrdmania]

The crown looks just fine to me. The 6694 crown only has a single O-ring and it may be that the O-ring used is slightly large and not letting the crown screw down all the way. It will compress over time.

[AliGhh]

Thank you so much for all your help! It's really appreciated! I've now convinced myself that I'll go ahead with the deal, following your thoughts :)

[AliGhh]

Just bought it :) My next mission would be to track its history!

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by AliGhh

Just bought it :) My next mission would be to track its history!

That's an interesting idea. How will you do that?

[AliGhh]

I'll create a separate thread for it and see how I can seek help from the community on it :)

[TuRo]

Originally Posted by AliGhh

I'll create a separate thread for it and see how I can seek help from the community on it :)

That will be like the establishing the background to the Turin Shroud, not a chance of it working i.m.h.o. unfortunately, on a 34mm eg 6426/6694 there are probably millions of them. Congrats on watch though.

[offrdmania]

Congrats OP, wear it in good health.
Very little history, especially an entry level 6694 that has probably been through dozens of hands in its time. Unfortunately, the likelihood of a paper trail is slim to none.
The trail probably starts and ends in this thread.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by AliGhh

I'll create a separate thread for it and see how I can seek help from the community on it :)

That should be informative.

[77T]

Congrats and welcome to TRF. I see you have purchased the 6694.

Glad you shared that Oysterdate here beforehand to get some input. I hope it brings many years of pleasure.

If the seller has promised to guarantee its authenticity and its legitimacy, I do suggest sending it to the Rolex Service Center. They will give you directions for submitting the watch.

This will get you a service review for any items needing work as well as clear title (meaning that the watch has not been reported as stolen to Rolex anytime during its 50+ years of life).

The tube may need addressing.
I believe the tube may not be torqued to its full depth. This is a likely reason the crown is not screwing down fully.

Even a new one-ring in the crown wouldn’t stop the crown from seating fully. I believe it’s worth looking into.


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[winst]

Originally Posted by 77T

Congrats and welcome to TRF. I see you have purchased the 6694.

Glad you shared that Oysterdate here beforehand to get some input. I hope it brings many years of pleasure.

If the seller has promised to guarantee its authenticity and its legitimacy, I do suggest sending it to the Rolex Service Center. They will give you directions for submitting the watch.

This will get you a service review for any items needing work as well as clear title (meaning that the watch has not been reported as stolen to Rolex anytime during its 50+ years of life).

The tube may need addressing.
I believe the tube may not be torqued to its full depth. This is a likely reason the crown is not screwing down fully.

Even a new one-ring in the crown wouldn’t stop the crown from seating fully. I believe it’s worth looking into.


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Due to it having the 1215 movement it is classed as Vintage by Rolex and I believe you have to pay about $250-$300 appraisal charge as a result. This is another reason why I always go for 1220 / 1225 movements on Precision Manual models.

[AliGhh]

Once again, many thanks all!

[Woody]

Originally Posted by winst

Due to it having the 1215 movement it is classed as Vintage by Rolex and I believe you have to pay about $250-$300 appraisal charge as a result. This is another reason why I always go for 1220 / 1225 movements on Precision Manual models.

Surprised to hear this - the RSC in London serviced my 6494 with a 1215 movement back in 2020 for the standard charge (at the time that was £600). I understand that there are only very minor differences between the 1210/15 and 1220/25 movements so I would have thought they would share the majority of parts. It seems a strange move by Rolex on what are basic movements.


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[winst]

Originally Posted by Woody

Surprised to hear this - the RSC in London serviced my 6494 with a 1215 movement back in 2020 for the standard charge (at the time that was £600). I understand that there are only very minor differences between the 1210/15 and 1220/25 movements so I would have thought they would share the majority of parts. It seems a strange move by Rolex on what are basic movements.


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Came in 2022 or 2023, I know as I had my father’s 6426 restored by them in Apr 2023 and another one In Aug 2023 and they said the lesser cost was dependent on it not being a 1210 or 1215 movement.

But, as you had me doubting myself, I phoned RSC London today and they quoted £750 for 1225 which falls under Classic Category and 1215 which now falls under Vintage Category is £220 assessment with £2200 with assessment fee then deducted if you proceed with the service so coming out at £1980. That includes new Crystal and any mechanical parts but not anything such as crown / bezel. As I said in my previous post as well, if you do not send the watch in with an original bracelet that they deem to be in good condition, you will have to pay £900 for a new one. Think yourself lucky that you got your’s serviced when you did!

Knowing all of these facts, I always recommend people to go down the 1220/1225 route if possible as I did in my first post but in the end the decision is theirs. If it is a family heirloom etc, that is a totally different matter of course. Show us a photo of your 6694 by the way - it would be great to see it.

[Dan S]

Most people would be using an independent watchmaker anyway, so the difference in the movement is really incidental, IMO.

[winst]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Most people would be using an independent watchmaker anyway, so the difference in the movement is really incidental, IMO.

I suppose so, I guess I’m in the minority where I’d far rather have a Rolex RSC Serviced watch with 2 year warranty and a form of up to date provenance with the Service Warranty Card & invoice showing proof of ownership & peace of mind that it hasn’t been reported stolen to Rolex.

Having previously had 2 x 6694’s & currently owning 2 6426’s I just like to try & keep them serviced by Rolex wherever possible. So if anyone else is in the minority & wants that as well, I am merely pointing out it is better to buy a 1220/1225 movement instead of a 1210/1215 if there is very little difference in price or condition.

Finally, there is of course the improved specification to take into account which some may once again find incidental, where the movement is upgraded on the Cal. 1220/1225, with both the Breguet overcoil to the hairspring and increases to the balance speed. The 1210/1215 has 18,000vph frequency which gave five ticks per second, the 21,600vph of the Cal. 1220/1225 gives six. So once again, if there is very little difference in price or condition, I personally would choose a watch with a 1220/1225 movement.

I’ve had Precisions since about 1992 so guess I just overthink things that aren’t as important to the majority of other people. Great watches though whichever movement they have, so can thoroughly recommend them.





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