Help with old submariner
Discussion
My dad has had this old watch since he was 21 - he’s 79 now. He was telling me at weekend that he was thinking about sending it to rolex to be refurbished but he has been told that doing so will make the watch “worth less” than it is now. Is this right?
He already has another one that my late grandfather used to own which has been to rolex and is really lovely, but that’s a later model with the glass front (probably an eighties watch) whereas his is about a 1965 model so it has the (battered) plastic face. I wonder if he should get this one just fixed up a little bit to retain that sort of “old” look which gives him a nice choice between the two.
Thoughts?
Oh, would help to upload the pics:
He already has another one that my late grandfather used to own which has been to rolex and is really lovely, but that’s a later model with the glass front (probably an eighties watch) whereas his is about a 1965 model so it has the (battered) plastic face. I wonder if he should get this one just fixed up a little bit to retain that sort of “old” look which gives him a nice choice between the two.
Thoughts?
Oh, would help to upload the pics:
Edited by Julian Thompson on Wednesday 6th September 00:19
Ooh...5513 "feet first".
Whatever you do, don't send it back to Rolex for a service. They will refurbish it and you lose the valuable patina.
If you have the original box and/or papers, it is very desirable in the vintage collectible market.
See here for an example
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/rolex/submariner-non-da...
Whatever you do, don't send it back to Rolex for a service. They will refurbish it and you lose the valuable patina.
If you have the original box and/or papers, it is very desirable in the vintage collectible market.
See here for an example
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/rolex/submariner-non-da...
As said do not touch it. If it were mine I would get in touch with Mike Wood (theoldwatchshop.com ) or Milton Haywood who are all things Vintage Rolex, you should get some good advice on how to proceed.Google is your friend.
Edited by hilly10 on Wednesday 6th September 07:17
Edited by hilly10 on Wednesday 6th September 07:18
Edited by hilly10 on Wednesday 6th September 07:22
Hello Julian, the watch is lovely.
My view would be that its condition represents a life time of intended use and stories and I would want to preserve it as close to as it is now as possible. It also has the advantage that it can continue to be worn and pick up signs of use moving forward.
Maybe a discreet service where nothing is polished but the seals and mechanism are given attention to keep it in good fettle.
Also (maybe) a slight polish of the plastic to tone down the scratches and make it easier to see the time, but even then I’d probably leave that as is and see if I could live with it.
I would suggest if you do wish to change anything out you insist anything taken off the watch is retained and returned to you.
My view would be that its condition represents a life time of intended use and stories and I would want to preserve it as close to as it is now as possible. It also has the advantage that it can continue to be worn and pick up signs of use moving forward.
Maybe a discreet service where nothing is polished but the seals and mechanism are given attention to keep it in good fettle.
Also (maybe) a slight polish of the plastic to tone down the scratches and make it easier to see the time, but even then I’d probably leave that as is and see if I could live with it.
I would suggest if you do wish to change anything out you insist anything taken off the watch is retained and returned to you.
Edited by 996Type on Wednesday 6th September 12:18
Hit the plexi with some Poly Watch: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Polywatch-Scratch-Remover...
I don't like the look of the hole for the pip/pearl in the bezel (enlarged and off-centre?). Could look for a new, period insert but it will be a lot of money.
I don't like the look of the hole for the pip/pearl in the bezel (enlarged and off-centre?). Could look for a new, period insert but it will be a lot of money.
Many 5513 experts on The Rolex Forum, hanging out in the vintage section.
https://www.rolexforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32
Worth signing up there, if only to read some of the recent 5513 thread.
I think you need 10 messages maybe to post pics but you ought to be able to link to the ones you've uploaded here using the same tags.
Or start a thread there and ask me to reply with the pics and I'll sort it.
https://www.rolexforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32
Worth signing up there, if only to read some of the recent 5513 thread.
I think you need 10 messages maybe to post pics but you ought to be able to link to the ones you've uploaded here using the same tags.
Or start a thread there and ask me to reply with the pics and I'll sort it.
Cool watch!
agree with the earlier poster some polywatch will really bring the crystal up, you'll probably be left with some of the deeper scratches but I think that would look in keeping with the watch.
Depending on how long its been idle I'd personally look to have a movement service, case and bracelet clean and possibly replace the case, tube and crown gaskets then just enjoy as it is.
I think i am right in saying that it has had a replacement bracelet at some time, looks like a post 72 bracelet, AFAIK it would have come with a riveted bracelet when new, not uncommon to see a later bracelet on old submariners.
agree with the earlier poster some polywatch will really bring the crystal up, you'll probably be left with some of the deeper scratches but I think that would look in keeping with the watch.
Depending on how long its been idle I'd personally look to have a movement service, case and bracelet clean and possibly replace the case, tube and crown gaskets then just enjoy as it is.
I think i am right in saying that it has had a replacement bracelet at some time, looks like a post 72 bracelet, AFAIK it would have come with a riveted bracelet when new, not uncommon to see a later bracelet on old submariners.
Yeah, looks like a solid link 93150 bracelet (even zooming in, my eyes aren't great, if someone else can take a look), from a later Submariner.
A lot of folk change to these (I have a 78500, the Tudor 93150) on one of my 9411s as they are far more 'secure'. Unoriginal, yes, but not a big deal.
I think this would have been a folded link 9315.
I also think the bezel insert may be a service insert, though there are so many different styles, it's hard to keep up. The guys on The Rolex Forum would confirm all that.
If it is a service insert (i.e. unoriginal), I'd pop the bezel off, PolyWatch the crystal, and get a new service insert with pip. They can be found new and blistered for ~£300. You can also then keep that bezel insert as well.
Although Rolex would charge you less for the insert, they would enforce a service and possibly require the change out of other parts, without returning the parts they change. 'Views' seem to vary on whether this happens but... it has happened to me (later watch so accepted service hands, service clasp, etc).
A lot of folk change to these (I have a 78500, the Tudor 93150) on one of my 9411s as they are far more 'secure'. Unoriginal, yes, but not a big deal.
I think this would have been a folded link 9315.
I also think the bezel insert may be a service insert, though there are so many different styles, it's hard to keep up. The guys on The Rolex Forum would confirm all that.
If it is a service insert (i.e. unoriginal), I'd pop the bezel off, PolyWatch the crystal, and get a new service insert with pip. They can be found new and blistered for ~£300. You can also then keep that bezel insert as well.
Although Rolex would charge you less for the insert, they would enforce a service and possibly require the change out of other parts, without returning the parts they change. 'Views' seem to vary on whether this happens but... it has happened to me (later watch so accepted service hands, service clasp, etc).
I think the change to ft first was around 1969 - so the dial may not be original or the watch is later than 1965 . Check the crown too - lots have been replace with the triple lock version (3 dots ) . Bracelet I think should be riveted , but they didn’t wear well and most were changed .
I did a lot of research on 5513’s prior to buying mine - a 1965 m first version for my 50th .
Great that your dad has this since he was 21 .
I’d second Mike Wood to review and sympathetically repair.
Good luck , lovely project .
I did a lot of research on 5513’s prior to buying mine - a 1965 m first version for my 50th .
Great that your dad has this since he was 21 .
I’d second Mike Wood to review and sympathetically repair.
Good luck , lovely project .
dom9 said:
Although Rolex would charge you less for the insert, they would enforce a service and possibly require the change out of other parts, without returning the parts they change.
The watch was bought, buyer owns the watch, sends it off for service, pays for new parts and doesn't get the replaced/original/paid for parts back? Call me pedantic but that sounds like simple theft to me. I had an AP with a factory engraving they thought wasn't factory, they refused to service it, or honour warranty unless i changed the case back (many ££) and they wouldnt give me the old one back with the engraving.
took ages to sort out.
p.s. OP - dont touch the watch at all, continue to wear it. its lovely.
took ages to sort out.
p.s. OP - dont touch the watch at all, continue to wear it. its lovely.
z4RRSchris said:
I had an AP with a factory engraving they thought wasn't factory, they refused to service it, or honour warranty unless i changed the case back (many ££) and they wouldnt give me the old one back with the engraving.
took ages to sort out.
p.s. OP - dont touch the watch at all, continue to wear it. its lovely.
So what was the explanation eventually?took ages to sort out.
p.s. OP - dont touch the watch at all, continue to wear it. its lovely.
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff