Help: Is this explorer 16570 unpolished?

mahomes · Nov 5, 2022

Hello All!

I just got the chance to buy the 16570 polar, which has been on my WTB list for quite a while. This one is unpolished according to the owner, and I don’t think he’s lying. But it would be helpful to get some opinions on it! Here’s some of the pictures I got 😀
Edit.

Scarecrow Boat · Nov 5, 2022

For the sake of longevity, please post pictures not links

mahomes · Nov 5, 2022

Scarecrow Boat
For the sake of longevity, please post pictures not links

Just received them from the owner directly instead of the link. I uploaded them above 😀

blufinz52 · Nov 5, 2022

I don’t think it’s been polished, but others may chime in. In any case, it’s a great watch. Congrats.

mahomes · Nov 5, 2022

Thanks for input!

asrnj77 · Nov 5, 2022

It doesn’t appear to be over-polished to me. I’d say it’s nearly impossible to say whether it’s ever been polished from the photos. To that point who cares if it’s been polished so long as all the original details are there? Unless the seller is the original owner they can’t say it’s “unpolished” but again it looks good and that’s all that matters.

Dan S · Nov 5, 2022

Based on the limited photos, I'm not 100% on the watch. In particular, the magnifier certainly does not look correct, and that would make me want to look closely at everything. The replicas are pretty good these days.

mahomes · Nov 5, 2022

Dan S
Based on the limited photos, I'm not 100% on the watch. In particular, the magnifier certainly does not look correct, and that would make me want to look closely at everything. The replicas are pretty good these days.

Is there anything particular pictures you would like me to ask the seller for?

mahomes · Nov 5, 2022

I would also add that the seller recently serviced the watch at an AD, and has papers from the service. I doubt that they would service the watch if they suspected anything fake on the watch?

bananapeanut · Nov 6, 2022

mahomes
I would also add that the seller recently serviced the watch at an AD, and has papers from the service. I doubt that they would service the watch if they suspected anything fake on the watch?

I'd look up the AD and call them to make sure they have a record of the service.

mahomes · Nov 6, 2022

The seller seems trust worthy, but I’ll take take that into consideration, thanks!

Duracuir1 · Nov 6, 2022

Dan S
Based on the limited photos, I'm not 100% on the watch. In particular, the magnifier certainly does not look correct, and that would make me want to look closely at everything. The replicas are pretty good these days.

Interesting that all of the straight on shots happen to have a hand in the magnifier. Trust Dan here and investigate. And good luck in your quest for a nice watch.

janice&fred · Nov 6, 2022

As another member mentioned the watch looks good and polished or not it has all it's correct lines. Polished doesn't mean a deal-breaker to me as long as the case and lugs are still thick and sharp. It's a sapphire fairly modern watch so doubtful it is going to be scrutinized as closely as a plastic vintage piece down the road.
However if Dan mentioned a concern you best look into it before paying as he knows his way around Rolex.

mahomes · Nov 7, 2022

Thanks all for chipping in. I reached out to seller and didn’t get any reply. Looks like the deal may break off, which won’t bother me to much considering the concern about the glass and magnifier that @Dan S pointed out.
The deal doesn’t look likely… but I’ll get you guys posted if I get any updates 😀

mahomes · Nov 7, 2022

I got a couple of pictures from the seller that doesn’t hide the magnifier. The watch had originally a black dial from -95 with W-serial, but got switched at some point.
Here’s two more shots of the dial 😀

asrnj77 · Nov 7, 2022

I would hope it’s a very good price. I see a seller currently asking $6500 for an unmolested black dial one. You can always swap in your own white service dial if that’s what you like.

MtnMarine · Nov 7, 2022

asrnj77
I would hope it’s a very good price. I see a seller currently asking $6500 for an unmolested black dial one. You can always swap in your own white service dial if that’s what you like.

Note to add: swapping the dials usually includes swapping the hands as well. WG with black dial vs Black hands on white dial. Not required just aesthetic.

mahomes · Nov 7, 2022

MtnMarine
Note to add: swapping the dials usually includes swapping the hands as well. WG with black dial vs Black hands on white dial. Not required just aesthetic.

Hands were probably swapped as well, the gmt-hand got a crack.
Isn’t it strange to allow a swap to a “swiss made” dial when the original one was “swiss -T<25”?

Dan S · Nov 7, 2022

mahomes
Hands were probably swapped as well, the gmt-hand got a crack.
Isn’t it strange to allow a swap to a “swiss made” dial when the original one was “swiss -T<25”?

The white dial is a luminova service dial. Most likely this would not have been done by Rolex, since they won't return parts.

JwRosenthal · Nov 7, 2022

The Tritium hands appear to be in the case with the black dial, you can see them on the sides.
I swapped the silver SLN dial out of my Airking with a Tritium black dial & hands- kept the originals just like this seller. I have no problem with it as long as the original parts accompany the watch. But if I were to sell I wouldn’t ask for a premium for the black dial over what the cost of the dial was itself….which was about $350

Help: Is this explorer 16570 unpolished?

mahomes

Scarecrow Boat

mahomes

blufinz52

mahomes

asrnj77

Dan S

mahomes

mahomes

bananapeanut

mahomes

Duracuir1

janice&fred

mahomes

mahomes

asrnj77

MtnMarine

mahomes

Dan S

JwRosenthal

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