1955 Datejust 6605/1603 Advice

Hi all, this is my first post on the Rolex subforum and also first ever regarding a Rolex watch.
I've put this question up on another forum but rembered that my forum of reference, OF, also had a Rolex section and thought about giving it a go! 😉

Anyway, recently I've been offered a vintage DateJust, supposedly from 1955. The owner has had it from his grandfather, who bought it then. However he doesn't know much of the history of the watch let alone the service history. So I've been doing some research online and have become doubtful of its original condition.

I haven't been able to see it physically yet, only through some mobile phone pictures but am arranging a meet up to see in in person soon. What Im wondering is the following (bare with me please):

- I don't know what model it is neither does the owner (could be 1601/3 or even a 6605, given the age)
- It appears to have a silver dial BUT with yellow gold markers and coronet AND the thin rectangular hands similar to the 1603, also in yellow gold.
- At the bottom its reads: - T SWISS T - , which from my research means tritium dial and most probably a service dial from later on (1960s).

All this, to me, indicates that if the watch is really from 1955, it should be a 6605 but has had at some point, its dial and hands replaced. Would I be correct in this or is it possible that there were some 1603 DJ from 1955, or some 6605 without the dauphine hands I've seen online?

Also, given the bottom markings, does this 100% that it is a service dial from later?

And lastly, seing as im a complete n00b on Rolex, anything else I should be looking out for, besides the seller of course 😉 ?

Thanks in advance for any answer,
Lou

Heres the best pic i got so far:

Someone needs to take off the bracelet and check what is engraved between the lugs at 12:00 -- which will be the ref. number. If it's worn, it is usually somewhat visible with a loupe.

Thanks for the input guys!

CdnWatchDoc, that is exactly my worry.
The guy doesn't seem to know much about it either (or so it seems) but from what I have been able to gather online, from that date, if it is really from '55, it should be a different dial/hand configuration. I also found that the - T SWISS T - markings would denote a replacement dial, as tritium was only used from the mid-60s (as opposed to radium) and even then the dial should only say T SWISS T, without the dashes on either side. So this all adds up to a bit of a dating confusion...

As I said before, I have very limited knowledge on Rolex especially this model, but would this watch be worth considering at all, despite its apparent flaws, if it's a later 1603, or indeed a 6605? I seem to have read somewhere that if it's a 6605 with a butterfly rotor (cal. 1066) that the cost of servicing these and parts sourcing would be complicated...
But it would also depend on getting the seller to part with it for a 'special' price too 😉

Thanks again,
Lou

This is my 1603 and it seems a little different...

Looks nice! So are the hands and dial original to this model? From what year is this?

Thanks

Yes, the dial and hands are original. This kind of hands, afaik, were used on this model before they were changed to the, much more common, stick hands.

According to the year of production, I need to see the serial number. I'll tell you tomorrow.

Thanks! 👍

Thank you very much for this, very useful info!
Tomorrow I'm meeting up with the seller and try to solve this mystery for once 😀
Regarding its 'worthiness' for a potential buy as it stands, yay or nay?

Cheers,
Lou

Alright guys, I met up with the seller and managed to find some things out.
It is a 6605, with 300 serial with should make it more like circa 58. I didn't get a chance to see the movement but from my findings it could be a 1065 cal?

Here are some quick 'n dirty wrist shots 😎


Overall I was surprised how much better the watch looked in real life, better than the seller pics! The dial and hands (yellow gold), despite being later service parts look in fairly good shape and clean. Although there is a tiny bit of blemish on a small section of the outer edge right near the case... Don't know if that means anything or just age. The case looked pretty nice and honest, not overly polished, although cant tell for sure, with nice sharpish edges and the lug holes and inside edges of lugs sharp as well.
The caseback looked nice and clean, no big scratches other than usual wear either. The bracelet is definitely loose and stretched, with 55 end links, although I think the clasp may be a more recent one as the crown is not on the edge of the clasp? Sorry no pics.

The crown seems correct (coronet and single line underneath) and the plexi looks clear and in good shape.

Besides that I think the seller seemed like an honest guy, that really doesn't know much and just wanted to sell it because its just 'gathering dust' at the moment.

To be honest, I would probably never consider this watch for myself, although all this recent research has made me appreciate the Datejust a bit more and I think i could picture myself wearing one, some day.

However, knowing that this has had its original dial and hands replaced, and knowing it could be a more difficult (and therefore more expensive) movement to service, I'm on the fence on this one. On one hand I could get it and keep it for however long, or get it and eventually find a way to trade it up for something else that excites me even more.
All this, only if the price is right, of course!
Currently the seller is asking for 1600Euro, i *think* i could knock it down to a bit less. Is this reasonable or not worth it?

AAArhh the dilemma! 😕

Any suggestions or words of wisdom?

Cheers,
Lou

The good - the price, if you can take it for 1300/1400 euro it's a really good deal. Two or three months ago a friend of mine sold one of those but in worst cosmetic condition for 1750 euro.

The bad - Rolex is not servicing those anymore and some parts could be hard to find.

The ugly - maybe not ugly but i'm not sure if i like how those hands look on that watch.

Conclusion - if i was looking for a datejus. i would be very tempted by that one and we all know how flesh is week...

P.S. - My watch, shown above, is from 1965.

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated! 👍

I guess we are all in agreement here: reasonable condition watch at a reasonable price (when negotiated) but with obvious flaws. All your points above reflect my concerns regarding that 'buyers remorse' mentioned... I think at some point I may feel that way, and probably want to sell/trade it again... Which at the same time could mean another opportunity for getting something else!
Honestly, I wasn't really looking to buy another watch right now (aren't we ever!?) but this just came around and got me thinking...

Anyway, regarding servicing these, is it overly expensive in comparison to other more recent rolex movements? I have never serviced a rolex so don't even know what the average price for basic servicing/tune up could be?

Thanks again,

If you get it for a good price (to me, as i said before, 1300/1400 euro) 'buyers remorse' is not a big deal: you can easily sell it without losing money.

Rolex is not servicing these anymore so that's not an option. If the watch is in working order, and no parts are needed, the cost of servicing on an independent watchmaker will not be so different from a more recent model. My watchmaker won't charge me more, i'm sure about it.

Thanks for this gop76! I'm going to get in touch with a trusted local watchmaker that usually only works with the top Swiss brands and ask him what he thinks about its possible servicing so I can get an idea as well. Actually I also suggested to the seller to stop by the watchmaker for him to open the watch up to see the condition of movement before anything.
Regarding the remorse, I'm gonna think this one over the rest of the weekend so I can try and reach some decision 😉.

Thanks for all the help!

Not a frankenwatch, just with a service replacement of dial and hands. It still has the roulette date wheel and early steel (6605) bezel (which I should have realized from the first pic). Should have a 1065 or 1066 movement.

Interesting, this must be a service dial specific for the 6605 (or perhaps the earlier 6305), as it would be a friction-fit dial, without dial feet as the 1560/1570 caliber of a ref. 1601/1603 would necessitate.

Hi adam78, thanks for your input!
I've been following your posts and comments on other forums and on a couple of occasions you have mentioned this issue of a 6605-specific service dial. How would one be able to confirm this, by dismantling the whole watch only or would there be something visible that could tip this off? Also, and if so, how does that affect the potential value of this model, as opposed to a 'standard' service dial from other ref?
I'm also assuming that the caliber is a 1065/1066, but haven't yet had the chance to confirm this.

Cheers,
Lou

Lou, that would be something your watchmaker can probably determine, but he'd have to take off the dial. It's possible that the dial feet were removed from a dial for a cal. 1575, I suppose. I can't really comment about specific relative values, other than the obvious that an original dial & hands would be worth more.