Watch Out for those Rolex Service Dials!

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[GPBS]

If they come from Rolex Service Center, what is the issue? Rolex wants to maintain excellence and longevity in their watches. I have a feeling all the tritium dial owners will need to eventually cross this bridge unfortunately, especially when it starts cracking and falling apart - not trying to be negative but just the reality. Unless you store it in your closet forever and never wear it

[PaulThorpeOfficial]

In my experience Rolex will take every opportunity to recommend or even 'insist' that a valuable vintage dial be replaced during service... Of course, this is on an 'exchange basis' leaving the owner with a less desirable, less valuable dial / watch, and for that pleasure, in return you pay Rolex a sum for the robbery... (ahem) I mean service... When sending any vintage Rolex to Rolex for a service I recommend (a) Agree upon any work before its undertaken. (b) Insist that if a there is to be a dial replacement, you get to keep the old one (c) ask for a 'historically sympathetic' service in writing, explaining that you know the importance of the dial / hands, etc. In other words, don't trust them not to devalue your watch and charge you for the pleasure... Sorry for the long reply.

[davelee]

You are really knocking it out of the park Austin..Great Content and essential for those learning about what to look for when buying...

[paulthorpe]

Good stuff indeed. Just a couple of additional points to offer up. There are numerous tritium t25 service dials installed by Rolex service centre from late 1999 to 2004 that are not tritium !!! - they are in fact luminova and lume up Kawasaki green - I have two like this amongst a few other I'd correct you respectfully though that they didn't fit these t dial marked luminova's in late 90s though - they were fitted after 99.
Both A and U serial of all Rolexes eg 14270, 16570, 16610, 14060 etc etc can come in Swiss config and Swiss Made config.
The biggest buyer beware is not the 16760 (though it is one that gets molested granted) it's the 5500 with an Explorer dial - over 90% are snide/incorrect!!!
Blueberry bezel is correct/legit I have a fbp 1 owner watch in family, that came like that and it wasn't from UAe or similar territory - btw the real Blueberry insert has a 'tell' on the underside too that I'm not going to disclose so as to dissuade fakers.
Finally, as you are probably aware the second version of the ceramic 116710 BLRO so called pepsi has a better darker red/blue finish than the first issue. I'm also told by a pal who works for Rolex that because of the ease of making a 'blueberry' ceramic bezel it's on their R and D's list to look into doing, at which point they'll authenticate the Blueberry biography.

[greatchalla]

Those blue coloured bezels where sold also in Canada in the early 90’s at Birks Jewellery with the 16610 Submariner. Supposedly the aluminum bezel was originally painted black and the hue has changed over time to a blue colour with its usage? Check out Bill Le Boeuf web site there’s one that just sold. It’s got the explanation.

[mtek]

Learn new things every day! Thank you!

[caesarasuncion]

Very informative video. Thanks Austin.

[ericb]

You've become an essential reference point for 5 digits . Thank you, as always for your research and time . A unique American view of a worldwide product in a foreign country . Nice to hear you're thoughts on <25 runout :)

[blueshirtbuddah]

Another great video Austin. With vintage watches it’s always going to be “buyer beware”. Looking forward to your next livestream.

[horacecrane]

OK, so you own a rolex (or a few of them) who should service them? AD? Aftermarket? Should you have it polished? Who can do a quality polish without screwing it up? Who can you trust ??!??!

[kostasp]

Blueberry was produced for Middle East, as you said in the video, and not many of them are floating around

[nimasahabi]

If I have have a 1996 Datejust and it says "SWISS MADE" does that mean it was replaced or a service dial? I see a bunch of "SWISS MADE" dials on 1996 watches that the seller claims are original and even comes with original papers.

[FrdLf]

If you have a service crystal with the s in the crown of the etching on the crystal. does it devalue the rolex at all?

[jmbaug]

Amazing content and knowledge! Thanks 😊!
Come to London !!!

[closer]

Wrong. Tritium was in use until late-1997. You don’t know what you’re talking about. There is a transition dial called the “Swiss” only dial that is found only in watches made in 1998 until mid-1999. These are Luminova dials and VERY RARE (less than 5% of all watches produced for diver models and 3% for GMT and other steel sports models.) After this transition period the SWISS MADE Superluminova dial was used, from 2000 onward... I have a late U-serial ref. 16600 Sea Dweller that has a Swiss only dial, which is a 1998 watch, and an A-serial 1999 Yacht Master with a Swiss only dial, as well. If the watch has an A- or U-serial a “SWISS” only dial is the correct dial. Those two years/serial numbers ONLY. All watches before say T > 25 and all watches after A-serial/1999 say “SWISS MADE”

[jayywatchesjapan]

When are you going to live again I miss the Livestreams...

[MainerInJapan]

Great vid! Lots of cool little details in there that I didn't know about the Fat Lady.

[rgs]

Hi Austin, I really enjoy your very informative videos. I have a very special vintage Rolex and I would really appreciate if you can help me with some questions I have about this specific model. What is the best way to reach you? Best regards

[jensh.]

The blueberry inserts are not made by Rolex, Inlays in general have never been made by Rolex themselfs in the 60-80s, probably not even in the 90s. The blueberry however is not corretcly anodized like the other vintage inlays but painted. It rubbs off easy. This was never a part made for Rolex, not even a prototype. No wonder - the cheapest Seiko or Citizen sparepart bezel from 40s years ago you can find are anodized, even modern SKX bezels (50$ for bezel + inlay) are perfectly anodized.


Blueberrys are the 15-20k deathold collectors and dealers currently have in stock unclear how to get rid of them without loosing all paid money, nothing short of that.

[stevejukic]

Saw some P series with Swiss only. Is this OK ??