Hi, this popped up for sale locally today. The caseback says it is a 4270, but that should have a center sweep second.
Can anyone ID this dial type and what casetype it should be with?
They are not my crappy photos!!!!

Thanks!

 

Do you have a serial? Movement looks all wrong

 

No serial, just what is in the photos, trying to figure out is it is worth driving across town for.
Agree that the movement does not look right, i think someone removed the center second wheel and converted it to sub seconds.

 

Depends on the price but with no serial I would say not worth it

 

I’d walk quite swiftly away from that..

 

Seller did get me a SN, 252173. Still not walking out the door for this.

 

Hard pass in my book, something is wonky on that.

 

What do all of you find wrong with the movement, pray tell? This movement is a calibre 1200 which is very much like the calibre 1210 which is the one with the sweep seconds hand. In my opinion, this movement is NOT a sweep seconds version calibre 1210 converted to a calibre 1200! I have included a picture of my calibre 1210.



To convert a 1210 to a 1200 is not simply a matter of removing the sweep seconds parts, and changing the dial! To do that conversion, one would have to replace the third wheel which has the extended top pivot that carries the centre sweep pinion drive wheel. Also the fourth wheel would have to be changed for a fourth wheel with the extended bottom pivot which carries the seconds hand. Also, the centre wheel with the hollow arbor for the sweep pinion would have to be changed for the centre wheel with the solid arbor. Then of course, the dial. Please note that the picture of my calibre 1210 also doesn’t have a serial number. Clearly, a lot of guesswork going on here! These movements were made for Rolex by Aegler with whom Rolex was associated. I have two Rolexes with the calibre 1210 movement. This calibre 1200 looks legit to me.

The pictures are lousy, but I think you should consider jumping on this, provided you are comfortable with the price, and are prepared to have it serviced. On the other hand, if you aren’t eager to own it, and you live in a large town and don’t want to expend the effort to go get it, give us the name of the town and the address of the seller, and maybe somebody else will scoop it on you.

 

Canuck, thank for the insight. Service would be already budgeted.
What threw me was that all the 4270 that i can find images of, have a center sweep. I figured that maybe in the last 70 years the dial was damaged and converted to a small seconds based on what the watchmaker had on hand.
I apologise, i am not a Rolex person, are the calibre numbers marked under the balance or on the dial side or not at all?
Ill try to make a trip cross town later today....

Edit, this would be a ~30mm case size?

 

I have no explanation for the case style number difference. You won’t find the caliber number or serial number on the movement. All you will find behind the dial is the Rolex name. Such a conversion as was discussed would not happen. Did the original 1210 movement rust, or was otherwise damaged beyond repair, to be replaced by the 1200 movement with its dial from a donor watch? Had that happened, perhaps the case that movement was in was likewise trashed, and someone “Married” a donor movement and a donor case? How likely is it that such a marriage took place? I leave you to use your imagination on that. Was a case back switched with another Rolex? Could be, I suppose. Or did this Mix up happen at the factory? More likely, in my view.

Since my first reply, I have gone back to my Rolex guide, and discovered that your movement could also be a Rebberg calibre 700, not Aegler. There are several characteristics of this movement that match yours better than the 1200 did. Both firms were associated with a Rolex. The Rebberg 700 movement is 10 1/2 ligne diameter, (or 23.7 mm) which could end up in a 30 mm diameter case. There is no listing for this Rebberg movement with a sweep seconds hand. The plot thickens. The watch looks okay to me. As to mechanical condition? No way for me to tell.

 

It’s common for Rolex to use casebacks for similar models. For example, one often finds 5512 casebacks on 5513 watches. The same is actually true of some bridges, and one often finds 1570 bridges in 1575 movements. They are notorious for using what is on hand.

 

Thanks, I hope i can get a viewing later today. FWIW asking is US$750, and they are pretty firm.

 

I would take a close look at the subdial. Even in that blurry photo, it looks a bit suspicious. This is not a highly collectible piece because of size, and IMO the only reason to buy would be if the condition is very appealing, like the one that @Canuck posted. A redial of this reference would not interest me at any price.

 

If that is a Rebberg calibre (Rolex calibre 700), there is no equivalent model shown in my reference as having a sweep hand. Any similar a Rolex of the era that was in decent shape, and HAD a seconds hand, would be more collectible in my opinion. For $750, since this is a bit of an obscure watch, the seller is not likely to find them lining up at his door. You are likely the only one interested in that watch that now knows as much about it as you do. Why not give him your phone number and tell him to call you when he gets to xxxx dollars (your offer).

P. S. It could also be a calibre 600. These manual wind movements of the era all look very much alike. The calibre 600 likewise is not listed as available in a centre sweep seconds model. The calibre 600 is a 9 1/2 ligne (21.2 mm dia.), and could also have ended up in a 30 mm case.

 

This Rolex 4270 is still advertised on Craigslist for $750 firm, and I was wondering if there is any feedback about condition, repainted dial, etc. that would explain why it still hasn't sold.

Many thanks.

 

Hi,

My $0.02

Price is firm, seller told me they had refused lower offers.
All the 4270 i can find on the net are center sweep, not subdial seconds.
Condition from photos is not inspiring, movement looked dirty.
Factor in $150-300 for a service and you are close to $1000.
It is small by modern standards, my wife will only wear her apple watch, else i would throw it at her.

What would you buy for $1000?

 

Thanks, it looks as if the market doesn't agree with the seller's view. You are right, after servicing, refinishing the dial, putting a good strap or bracelet on it, etc. the total cost could be about $1250 to $1400, and after that all you've got is a questionable 75 year old 31mm watch.

I'm not going to pursue it, but I might put the photos on the Rolex forum and see if any of the experts can figure out if the movement belongs in this case, if the case back has been swapped and so on. Just for curiosity and a bit of education at this point.