1680 RedSub SOS

[dalip]

Sorry to hear Paul.

[spuds]

Flippin' eck Tucker!!!

Paul mate I've only just seen this and I'm gutted for you!!

Seriously mate I hope you can get this sorted I know how much this piece means to you.

[BH13GMT]

Gents
I am close to getting a satisfactory conclusion to my Sub dilema. What I can say is the help and offerings of advice From within TRF has been close to staggering. this place is worth its weight in gold.
I would like to emphasize one point which may be of use to some of my fellow vintage owners. This sub is my only vintage piece after only owning contemporary models over the last 20 years. On the whole I wore this watch like any of my others and I think I didnt take the pitfalls of owning a 41 year year watch seriously. This naivety cost me. What I can say is treat a vintage watch like a classic car and look after It. Always accept that your watch will need regular attention and DONT assume it will be ok just because it looks perfect and keeps great time. I got my fingers burned and I dont want anyone else to come unstuck in the same way I did. I have learned my lesson and look forward to posting a positive update.

Thanks again guys. And hey Andy Murray won bloody wimbledon!!!

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by BH13GMT

Gents
I am close to getting a satisfactory conclusion to my Sub dilema. What I can say is the help and offerings of advice From within TRF has been close to staggering. this place is worth its weight in gold.
I would like to emphasize one point which may be of use to some of my fellow vintage owners. This sub is my only vintage piece after only owning contemporary models over the last 20 years. On the whole I wore this watch like any of my others and I think I didnt take the pitfalls of owning a 41 year year watch seriously. This naivety cost me. What I can say is treat a vintage watch like a classic car and look after It. Always accept that your watch will need regular attention and DONT assume it will be ok just because it looks perfect and keeps great time. I got my fingers burned and I dont want anyone else to come unstuck in the same way I did. I have learned my lesson and look forward to posting a positive update.

Thanks again guys. And hey Andy Murray won bloody wimbledon!!!

Great to hear your twin is getting a happy ending Paul, can't wait to see pics. Completely correct with the advice, any failure on vintages is bound to end up being expensive and in some references, irreplaceable. So best not to treat it like we would a modern youngster whose parts are economocally/easily available and that can take the beating...though I have been tempted to take my red sub swimming a few times after it's RSC service!

[broker]

Paul, I would try to source someone that can work your dial, maybe (I'm far from having the knowledge if this is doable) it's possible to reset or glue or anything the paint back in your original dial, maybe a skilled person, not necessary a watchmaker, can work it. A us$3k plus dial deserves.

[DiamondJack]

Crikey Paul.......I clearly missed this first time around......absolutely heart breaking......I can only imagine what you went through......devastating and you're absolutely right when you say we all need to treat these old vintage watches with the care they deserve.....

But great to catch up on Saturday and to find out that with the help of Mike Wood and Bill Rice, it's all coming back together......can't wait to see the resurrection photos when it's ready .......

[fliphandywork]

Sorry to hear about this Paul. I hope it's sorted quickly.

[CrownMe]

i couldnt imagine how i would feel if i found my watch with a cracked dial like that. I really hope he has found a nice replacement and then i would def insure the watch asap.

[yld2rob]

So sorry to hear. I hope you source a dial that you are looking for. Good luck

[enhamhale]

Sorry to here about every vintage collectors night mere keep us all posted , and keep your eyes on the forum you have always a hope .

[JustinK]

Sorry, that really sucks but sounds like something is in the works to make it right.

I just bought my birth year Red Sub and was reluctant to part with it for service. I know I made the right call sending it to Rikki after seeing what happened to yours.

Look forward to some pictures of your restored sub soon.

[BH13GMT]

Guys, just a little update as it has been an eternity since the thread was started. After a few u turns and chopping and changing I have managed to source an amazing almost new looking NOS Mk4 dial. I had to play the waiting game and spend a few quid but I am sure you will agree the dial is worth the wait. I must say thanks to the guys here on TRF all pitching in to help me out and it was really appreciated. I managed to bag this dial in the UK by spending a lot of time on some of the Vintage Rolex forums speaking with a lot of people and when this dial came up I had to bag it. Dials this clean do not appear this often so the piggy bank was smashed immediately I will be looking forward to posting a conclusion on this thread in the next few months.

[Vincent65]

well done - great dial!

[toph]

Well done!

[bayerische]

Excellent!

[dysondiver]

nice dial ,,, was anyone able to do anything with your old one ,, more out of curiosity.

[spuds]

Superb news I'm chuffed for you mate!!

[unclesallie]

I think you need an expert restorer, not the RSC. That said, my complete sympathy.
I believe you can make this all work out. Best of luck to you!

[CrownMe]

Beautiful dial and we'll worth the wait. Can not wait to see wristshots my friend.

[southtexas]

Great looking dial; nice find.


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[RC2]

Well done. Lucky find!

[FTX I]

[Kingair]

C O N G R A T S

HAGOne

[Cc1966]

Holy mackerel! You got more than a "good' one ~ that's a stellar dial mate! Good job and looking forward to your after pics.

[Chris B]

Very nicely done Paul ,

[Dickson Lim]

What a pristine Mk4! Brilliant catch mate!

[joseluu]

It is not very often that we receive such good news. Tears changed into smiles.

P.D. Sorry for the pig. Someone had to loose!

[SubKing]

Nice dial! you're so right, loose dials hardly ever come onto the market in that kind of condition.. normally there is always a reason as to why it is loose to begin with.

I hope you get that into your watch asap so it will be safe and sound!

In the future, If anything might happen again, rest easy knowing that if it had to come to this, RCS 100% still offers red lume dials, but they have to be special ordered and they do not stock them, I was told by rolex dallas TX that they come from the HQ and they only exchange red for red. If you do not tell them you want a Red, they will replace it with a white.. Infact, not parts nor did the customer service agent know these luminova red dials were still being produced by rolex. I had to talk to the manager to get the confirmation.

many thought them to be a myth or that these dials were not made by rolex, but I can tell you 100% they are rolex as I personally called until I got through to someone who confirmed this with me.

I am not sure if you still have your damaged dial, BUT if you do. I highly recommend sending your rolex with damaged dial to rolex, put your new dial on ice, let rolex service your watch and replace the damaged red with a service red, then let them send it back to you..

In the end, you can have any watch maker swap your new service red dial, with the vintage red you just purchased.. Then you will have a brand new loose service red lume dial you can sell for a pretty penny to help offset the cost of your vintage dial you just purchased..

In the end, a loose service red dial is worth much much more then a severely damaged vintage red dial that has the kind of paint issues yours has.
here is a shot of a lume red service dial.

[T.S.Eliot]

Great looking dial major congrats and worth the wait

[CrownMe]

Originally Posted by SubKing

Nice dial! you're so right, loose dials hardly ever come onto the market in that kind of condition.. normally there is always a reason as to why it is loose to begin with.

I hope you get that into your watch asap so it will be safe and sound!

In the future, If anything might happen again, rest easy knowing that if it had to come to this, RCS 100% still offers red lume dials, but they have to be special ordered and they do not stock them, I was told by rolex dallas TX that they come from the HQ and they only exchange red for red. If you do not tell them you want a Red, they will replace it with a white.. Infact, not parts nor did the customer service agent know these luminova red dials were still being produced by rolex. I had to talk to the manager to get the confirmation.

many thought them to be a myth or that these dials were not made by rolex, but I can tell you 100% they are rolex as I personally called until I got through to someone who confirmed this with me.

I am not sure if you still have your damaged dial, BUT if you do. I highly recommend sending your rolex with damaged dial to rolex, put your new dial on ice, let rolex service your watch and replace the damaged red with a service red, then let them send it back to you..

In the end, you can have any watch maker swap your new service red dial, with the vintage red you just purchased.. Then you will have a brand new loose service red lume dial you can sell for a pretty penny to help offset the cost of your vintage dial you just purchased..

In the end, a loose service red dial is worth much much more then a severely damaged vintage red dial that has the kind of paint issues yours has.
here is a shot of a lume red service dial.

I actually like this idea. If they have a service red dial available then I would do that in a heartbeat. While the luminova Red dials are not as loved as the tritium ones there still very rare and expensive. Would certainly help off set the cost of the new dial if sold.