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Caught Another Rolex 5513 "Meters First"

  1. erpin9 Oct 2, 2018

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    I got this one yesterday, a 1968 Rolex 5513 with the "meters first" dial sans its original bracelet and with a non-original bezel insert The watch is in very good condition overall but what intrigued me with this watch is its matte dial. If you will notice on the pictures, the writing is in gilt or maybe the writing has faded into a gilt color?

    I also looked at images on the net and I did not see a "meters first" matte dial with gilt colored writing. My only conclusion is that the writing has faded into a light gilt color because everything checks out as far as what to look for in a matte "meters first" dial. Can anyone shed some light? Thanks.

    [​IMG]

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    [​IMG]
     
    Janne2000 likes this.
  2. imajedi (not even a padawan) Oct 2, 2018

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    Are you sure that’s gen? Something looks off. The Rehault seems too big and slanted and shouldn’t the lugs have a bigger bevel for a 68? The lume also looks too perfect and puffy. The whole thing looks like parts to me. Granted, not an expert.
     
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  3. imajedi (not even a padawan) Oct 2, 2018

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    I don’t mean to insinuate it’s not a beautiful watch because I love the patina and it is, just that something seems off, especially with the case. Could just be the angles.
     
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  4. erpin9 Oct 3, 2018

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    The bevelled edges are still there but not as sharp anymore. Could be this watch was polished before. The dial and hour plots look very nice in pictures but there are visible signs of wear/blemishes already. Not sure about the rehault but let me compare with my other 5513.
     
  5. ICONO Oct 3, 2018

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    I am afraid, I am always suspicious of bezels that show ‘perfectly even’ fading…but lack any evidence of ‘day to day’ natural wear’ / scratches / dings ?

    The pearl looks a bit pale too ?

    As ever, & crucially…What’s the provenance ?
     
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  6. erpin9 Oct 3, 2018

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    Yes the bezel like i said is not original and the discoloration was definitely a product of some chemical solution. I have a spare original "long 5" bezel and the correct 9315 folded link bracelet anyway.
     
  7. Dan S Oct 3, 2018

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    As far as I know, gilt dials are glossy, but I definitely have not taken a deep dive into these models. I just know enough to be dangerous. So there could be a less common variation, maybe try the Rolex and Vintage Rolex forums as well. In my experience, gilt printing is most easily distinguished in sunlight when the light is reflecting off the dial at an angle, then the gilt really shines like gold. It's not just the color of the printing, it's also really shiny and reflective.

    Obviously I really can't see the dial very well in your photos, the lighting is bad, there are a lot of distracting reflections, and I actually think that the watch is out of focus in most of your photos (your wrist, and the purple foam seem to be in focus). So you might want to take good large in-focus photos in natural light that show the dial really well. At least for me, since the watch looks nice, and I'd like a better look.
     
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  8. Dero13 4 watches. All set to the wrong time. Oct 3, 2018

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    That dial doesnt look right to me. Plots look off. If they were to checmically change the bezel have to wonder what else was done
     
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  9. erpin9 Oct 3, 2018

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    I have shown it to an expert and he confirmed the dial is original including the llumes which still glows briefly when exposed to sunlight. Likewise, puffy lumes are correct for serial numbers in the 1.8 mil like mine.
     
    jaguar11 likes this.
  10. MikeMan2727 Oct 3, 2018

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    Glows when exposed to sunlight? That doesn't seem right. The last 5513 I had with higher serial and my current 16750 barely glow with UV light...
     
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  11. obstando Oct 4, 2018

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    Mine is a 1.8 S/No and no puffy lume but it is correct - maybe yours has been relumed at some point? The rehaut on yours looks different also

    40398023_242238363015748_2464658556083765248_n.jpg
     
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  12. Faz Oct 4, 2018

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    You need clearer pics of that dial. Lume looks redone from what I can see. There are some oddities with this watch that need to be addressed with better photos
     
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  13. jaguar11 Oct 4, 2018

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    I think these watches were designed to be worn so wear is normal which could explain your comment regarding the case. Puffy Lume is also common for this serial range as is a brief glow when exposed to light as I can attest from the one I am wearing now which I have owned for some considerable time and which I am reasonable sure is original.
     
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  14. erpin9 Oct 4, 2018

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    My pictures were taken at certain angles which the dome crystal can play a large part distorting or magnifying portions of the dial and rehaut. I think i will have pictures taken without the crystal just so we can acertain if it has been relumed.
     
  15. Dan S Oct 4, 2018

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    My experience with this is limited, but I have seen that the response of Rolex lume with age can be pretty inconsistent depending on when the watch was made. There are watches from the 1960s where the lume will still respond briefly to UV light, and watches from late 70s (or even early 1980s) with totally dead lume. Perhaps they used different phosphors, or different amounts of lume at different times.
     
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  16. erpin9 Oct 4, 2018

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    I really appreciate all the comments. As they say, two heads are better than one.
     
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  17. RIGG Oct 6, 2018

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    My MF also has the lume glowing for a while and is confirmed as legit dial. Who knows what they had in the lume recipe back then :)

    Here are some pics:


    42924FF6-2EF9-4A1F-9F06-2EFBB7D2D6BE.jpeg FC6BF897-C96E-488E-9B73-8BF7D718183F.jpeg 677AC9E4-04BF-4CEC-A068-4E59CFBD7848.jpeg EA6B4A6F-6E0B-4118-84E5-42A0C826E862.jpeg
     
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