RED Submariner is now mine!
Discussion
Guys,
Following on from my previous thread and keeping you informed I decided to take a gamble and deal for the Red Sub. I've exchanged watches but not paperwork at the moment until I can have it authenticated and serviced by a R.S.C.
Watch has hacking feature I believe. Screw out crown second hand stops.
Watch has bi-directional bezel with no ratchet click.
Watch has silver date dial which reading TRF is the original one.
Seller tells me he has original paperwork for watch not Rolex service paperwork although it was serviced by Rolex 10 years ago approx. NO box though!
Bezel pearl missing and closed 6's
So I'm wearing it now, it's not as tatty as the photos make it look actually.
Story of watch and deal:
Seller bought watch from friend in oil industry in late 70's and has worn daily since then. I work for GE as a T.A. during overhaul of heavy duty gas turbines. Tim comes to my site as a electrician I spot the Rolex. We chat about watches etc I offer him x amount in cash for the watch he declines saying he wants a new Sub but would have to pay extra on top to buy with that deal.
At this point I just wanted a nice vintage watch to supplement my Breitling B1. Started to do a bit of research and realised what the Sub actually was i.e. significance of 'RED'. I badgered him on site for 2 weeks and we eventually came up with the deal to exchange for a new 'Z' Sub.
3 months pass before my day came up for the new 'Z' sub. I called Tim asked if he was still interested, he said yes so I finished nightshift last night and drove 150 miles each way to pick it up.
I know this all seems a bit extreme, but everything ties up and I trust Tim with the dates etc. Who would fake a red sub in the late 70's I would have thought the opposite to be tru people retro fitting white dials to their subs!!!!!!
Last point to add I called my local AD in Aberdeen, Scotland asking about service etc and they said all they could do was send it back to Rolex for an estimate. He didn't think Rolex could service a 1974 Sub any more. Can I deal with Rolex direct or do I have to go through a AD?
Following on from my previous thread and keeping you informed I decided to take a gamble and deal for the Red Sub. I've exchanged watches but not paperwork at the moment until I can have it authenticated and serviced by a R.S.C.
Watch has hacking feature I believe. Screw out crown second hand stops.
Watch has bi-directional bezel with no ratchet click.
Watch has silver date dial which reading TRF is the original one.
Seller tells me he has original paperwork for watch not Rolex service paperwork although it was serviced by Rolex 10 years ago approx. NO box though!
Bezel pearl missing and closed 6's
So I'm wearing it now, it's not as tatty as the photos make it look actually.
Story of watch and deal:
Seller bought watch from friend in oil industry in late 70's and has worn daily since then. I work for GE as a T.A. during overhaul of heavy duty gas turbines. Tim comes to my site as a electrician I spot the Rolex. We chat about watches etc I offer him x amount in cash for the watch he declines saying he wants a new Sub but would have to pay extra on top to buy with that deal.
At this point I just wanted a nice vintage watch to supplement my Breitling B1. Started to do a bit of research and realised what the Sub actually was i.e. significance of 'RED'. I badgered him on site for 2 weeks and we eventually came up with the deal to exchange for a new 'Z' Sub.
3 months pass before my day came up for the new 'Z' sub. I called Tim asked if he was still interested, he said yes so I finished nightshift last night and drove 150 miles each way to pick it up.
I know this all seems a bit extreme, but everything ties up and I trust Tim with the dates etc. Who would fake a red sub in the late 70's I would have thought the opposite to be tru people retro fitting white dials to their subs!!!!!!
Last point to add I called my local AD in Aberdeen, Scotland asking about service etc and they said all they could do was send it back to Rolex for an estimate. He didn't think Rolex could service a 1974 Sub any more. Can I deal with Rolex direct or do I have to go through a AD?
Don1 said:
Sounds like you put the legwork in! What is the Red significance? I'm guessing limited edition?
Not really - between 1968 and 1973 (ish) Rolex manufactured ALL Submariner dates (ref 1680) with the 'Submariner' printed in red. Therefore there are quite a few in circulation, but obviously far fewer than the white text versions. 16610LV said:
Don1 said:
Sounds like you put the legwork in! What is the Red significance? I'm guessing limited edition?
Not really - between 1968 and 1973 (ish) Rolex manufactured ALL Submariner dates (ref 1680) with the 'Submariner' printed in red. Therefore there are quite a few in circulation, but obviously far fewer than the white text versions. 
Don1 said:
And this is due to Rolex out-sourcing their face manufacture at this time?
Yes that's right - during the 60's and 70's Rolex used a variety of suppliers for dials, hands, cases, etc. Quality control was very good, but there were acceptable variations allowed - font, size, spacing, etc.However the move from a metres-first dial to a feet-first one was a Rolex marketing decision as that gave the psychological impression of a greater depth rating! Metres-first would only have been produced up to 1971
I'm no expert however and vintage Rolex is a minefield where it's easy step on something unpleasant!
Edited by 16610LV on Monday 17th December 17:46
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