Help with this Submariner please

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Dan S

·Aug 5, 2020

janice&fred

I'm familiar with that fella's website. I'm also quite certain that white was produced every year thru the 1680 run. However this is all academic as it will hardly matter with the watch in question. ANY genuine 1680 dial will do and fit.

I probably will not convince you, but just for posterity, here is another reference showing that white sub dials started in the high 3M range (close to 4M, 1976ish). Obviously the red sub dials go back to the low 2Ms (1970ish). There are also some interesting references linked in this thread.
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=754223

 

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Kiwibloke

·Aug 5, 2020

Haven’t looked at the thread for a couple of days as my colleague has been out of town and is bringing watch back in tomorrow - but a good discussion has been raging!
I’ll take more pics tomorrow and look for any and all info that can get without opening up back of watch.
Has original purchase receipt so will also get at least a copy of that...

 

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janice&fred

·Aug 5, 2020

Yea there are a lot of debating over this but I stick to what I have seen. We actually still have a red sub but it's still overseas and from what I recall it's from the same era that whites were also produced. Anyways like I said it's all academic and for sure no one is going to buy a replacement red sub dial for this watch in question, that's for damn sure. The best it can hope for, if the watch is real, will be a service replacement. That won't be cheap either.

 

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janice&fred

·Aug 5, 2020

Kiwibloke

Haven’t looked at the thread for a couple of days as my colleague has been out of town and is bringing watch back in tomorrow - but a good discussion has been raging!
I’ll take more pics tomorrow and look for any and all info that can get without opening up back of watch.
Has original purchase receipt so will also get at least a copy of that...

Sounds good. no need for more straight on dial shots, so go for side views and back side shots, and even better would be without the bracelet mounted between the lug shots.

 

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janice&fred

·Aug 5, 2020

Oh Boy...

 

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KeithS

·Aug 5, 2020

janice&fred

Oh Boy...

It’s what you get for feeding the trolls.

 

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janice&fred

·Aug 5, 2020

KeithS

It’s what you get for feeding the trolls.

His trolling style in the Rolex Case Opener thread and abrupt simmering anger in this thread seems very familiar from some other forums. Time will tell.

 

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Kiwibloke

·Aug 8, 2020

Unfortunately my colleague didn’t bring the Sub in on Friday so will be next week when I can take a few photos... appreciate the interest and assistance, but please let’s keep things in perspective. This is without question a genuine Sub but it was used for over 20 years as a work tool by a commercial diver and has taken some hard knocks and quite probably some less than perfect repairs..

 

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watch3s

·Aug 8, 2020

is the goal to just get it working again in good order or is he looking to restore it? one of these routes are gonna be vastly more expensive than the other. all the same, I look forward to the outcome.

 

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Kiwibloke

·Aug 8, 2020

Getting it working and functional is real intent - I don't think there would be any real meaning in restoring to 'as new' as this is the watch basically as he remembers it, and it's not for on-selling. I was just looking to give him something to think about - once I get serial number etc and we can pinpoint what it would have looked like as it left the dealer, maybe he might like to do more?...

 

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watch3s

·Aug 8, 2020

Kiwibloke

Getting it working and functional is real intent - I don't think there would be any real meaning in restoring to 'as new' as this is the watch basically as he remembers it, and it's not for on-selling. I was just looking to give him something to think about - once I get serial number etc and we can pinpoint what it would have looked like as it left the dealer, maybe he might like to do more?...

the model number is on the case that is the best piece of info that will give you what to look for. of course this if its still there. no doubt a watch of that condition, it will have likely been worn down by the endlinks a bit

 

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janice&fred

·Aug 8, 2020

1680

 

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Kiwibloke

·Aug 14, 2020

No update I'm afraid as New Zealand has had some new Covid-19 cases and some restrictions have been put in place which means I donlt have my hands on the (assumed) 1680 - hopefully next week...

 

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Kiwibloke

·Aug 21, 2020

Ok - got hold of the watch today and have some additional information - I took some pics but can’t read detail from them - so noted below...

Serial number on movement is 951520
Number on case is 2794061 which matches tag that’s still with the watch
Caseback is 11169
Serviced Feb 79

 

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Kiwibloke

·Aug 21, 2020

Definitely genuine Rolex - but number of inconsistencies as already noted.
Look forward to hearing any other thoughts as to what we have!
Thanks,
Martin

 

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Kiwibloke

·Aug 31, 2020

So - seems the case dates from 1971 (2794061) but the movement is earlier (951520) - 1969? And the bracelet is from the late '60s..
Any confirm/deny advice still appreciated!

 

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mikeo1

·Aug 31, 2020

Hang tag speaks LOUDLY to me and apparently has quieted the naysayers. The case/movement serial mismatch is not a concern and might even be considered typical for Rolex (especially the movement being earlier). There was very little "reverence" for subs until the late 90's (you could easily buy 55XX for $800 in the mid 90's). "Working" watches were just that-cases got flooded, bracelets broke and things were cobbed together to keep things going-I suspect that's exactly what you have in hand-a "working" watch with a ton of history.😀

 

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Dan S

·Aug 31, 2020

mikeo1

Hang tag speaks LOUDLY to me and apparently has quieted the naysayers. The case/movement serial mismatch is not a concern and might even be considered typical for Rolex (especially the movement being earlier). There was very little "reverence" for subs until the late 90's (you could easily buy 55XX for $800 in the mid 90's). "Working" watches were just that-cases got flooded, bracelets broke and things were cobbed together to keep things going-I suspect that's exactly what you have in hand-a "working" watch with a ton of history.😀

There is no "case/movement serial mismatch". The movement serial number doesn't provide useful information, nobody looks at that at all since nobody knows how to interpret them. As noted previously, the dial is completely wrong.

2.79M case serial is pretty late for a 69 case-back, but probably not impossible.
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=350245

Edited: Aug 31, 2020

 

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Kiwibloke

·Feb 26, 2021

Rather belated conclusion to this thread - my colleague has just preserved the watch as his Dad left it - movement serviced, date wheel sorted, and new crystal. The dial remains a complete mystery but he's wearing it every day and just loving it. That's what it's all about, huh?...
Before and after...

 

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Rado63

·Feb 27, 2021

It could be a 1680 with an aftermarket dial since the 1680 didn't have lume filled white gold plots. The bracelet is possibly 9315 bracelet which also came out later in the 80's. The bezel I am not sure. Question is, if it's a real Rolex 1680 what would you do with it? restore it?, get it running and wear as is? or just leave it alone? In any event could be a fun project. Now that I see that bracelet extended I don't think it is a 9315 bracelet. By the way just take off the bracelet and it should say 1680 on the case.