Opinion on Reworking Rolex 1016 Explorer Case

thelinendial · Aug 9, 2021

Hi,

I have a Rolex 1016 from 1986 with the original papers.

I've scoured the Internet especially explorer1016 by @t_swiss_t to compare the case and crystal ... but would really like thoughts from the community.

Would you say the case is unpolished?
Should I have RolliWorks or LA Works do some respectful rework on the case to remove the pitting?
Would you agree I have the the original domed crystal?

omegastar · Aug 9, 2021

Leave as it as is, for God sake !

wsfarrell · Aug 9, 2021

Both Rolliworks and Rolex Service Center would do respectful refurbishment of that case. I'd go with RSC and get the movement overhauled as well.

onthedial · Aug 9, 2021

@phamti
You're not likely to get a unified answer to you question: some will be vehemently opposed to having the case refinished, whereas others look at your watch specifically and come to the conclusion that a thoughtful case restoration would be the best way forward. In the end you have to decide if you want the watch to show its history (it is noticeably chewed up) or if in its current state the sight is upsetting to you.
If you decide to have the case restored, I recommend going to Los Angeles Watchworks.

thelinendial · Aug 9, 2021

Thanks for the responses. One of the key factors for me was, is this an unpolished case? If it was, I would leave it. However, a watchmaker pointed out to me that he feels the case has been polished as the brush lines on the case aren’t original.

In that case, I'll do some freshening up there.

As for the crystal, I hope it's the original... would appreciate an expert confirming my conclusion.

thelinendial · Aug 9, 2021

Ah managed to answer my own last question. Yes it is a domed Crystal. I found a good reference dome crystal image at the Rolex Forums and it pretty much looks like mine!

Thanks to those that responded.

vibe · Aug 9, 2021

Two things, wouldn't a 1986 1016 have a top hat crystal?
The engravings do not look good to me. Could it have been re-engraved?

thelinendial · Aug 9, 2021

vibe
Two things, wouldn't a 1986 1016 have a top hat crystal?
The engravings do not look good to me. Could it have been re-engraved?

Thanks @vibe those are good points.

Crystal - I never looked that up before. According to this owner (silo), his 1985 started with a tophat (domed crystal) that looks like mine. He swapped his out for a T22 Service Crystal. speedolex noted the fully domed crystals came btw 1960-1990. Ultimately, I like that top hat crystal better... I also have the flat NOS service crystal I could replace it with too.

Engravings - Stylistically, they are Type C fonts. However, zooming in, the fonts do look off when I compare to the explorer1016 images. I never knew that was possible to re-engrave and will look into this more. If so, that's a lot of lengths to go to on what I believe is a genuine case.

Service Case Replacement Contemplation - If the case has been compromised that that extent, I'm going to consider getting a Service Case replacement. Yes new serial.. but I wonder if Rolex will be stopping production of these cases at some point. I intend to keep the watch forever, so I'd be kinda neat to wear one that is in original factory shape.

vibe · Aug 10, 2021

The middle bar in the “E” all look to be about equal length as the of the top and bottom and the 9 doesn’t match typeface C. There is not a lot of wear present from an end link and the scratches over the serial look kind of fresh. And lastly, the profile of the lugs look a bit boxy for a 1016 to me. Not sure if they had changed the profile to a modern one at the end of the run. I am far from an expert though.

t_swiss_t · Aug 10, 2021

Can you show us pictures of the papers and the dial / hands?

thelinendial · Aug 10, 2021

Thanks @t_swiss_t I appreciate a subject matter expert like you taking a look.

Here's the papers, Mark 3 Dial (note I removed some unique identifying scuffs), and it came with what looks to be incorrect, but still authentic 13mm hands.

And now the inline photos is working for me,

Mark 3 Dial (note I removed some unique identifying scuffs),

Hands are 13mm but I'm pretty sure not the right ones, will be re-luming anyways - I hear the Rolex Service Center will replace with shorter hands,

t_swiss_t · Aug 10, 2021

The case seems suspicious. The shape of the lugs are not normal and the engravings are not anything I remember seeing - I agree with @vibe . Here are some photos of your case engravings next to fonts from 9.6m cases. They’re all exactly alike each other (and Type C) but not like the OPs (the middle two).

(I couldn’t find a 1016 in my records with a 9.6m SN so I preferred to use cases closer in SN rather than 1016s from other ranges since, as you can see, engravings tend to be consistent across models by this period.)

Service cases are normally 4.4-4.7m serials, and none of the service case engravings look like the OPs either.

Also, is the dial washed? And why are the hands so damaged and a completely different color?

I’m a bit suspicious of this whole thing.

watchknut · Aug 10, 2021

I’m in agreement with others, it seems off.

Where did it come from?

thelinendial · Aug 10, 2021

Thanks @t_swiss_t and everyone. That helps a lot!

The seller is a relative, and was bit doubtful about it himself... he travels around a lot and picks up all kinda things, and sometimes it works out, and others not so much.

We did a watch trade, so I'll just get mine back and go back to hunting around.

onthedial · Aug 11, 2021

@phamti
Look at how the “1016” is lining up in relation “ORIG ROLEX DESIGN.”

Opinion on Reworking Rolex 1016 Explorer Case

thelinendial

omegastar

wsfarrell

onthedial

thelinendial

thelinendial

vibe

thelinendial

vibe

t_swiss_t

thelinendial

t_swiss_t

watchknut

thelinendial

onthedial

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