[JBHII]

Greetings Rolex fans!

I've negotiated a deal on another 1680 Red Submariner - a 1973 model. It's the head only and the pictures make it out to be in darn good shape - I'm buying it as a "project watch" to restore and resell. I'll take it to my local Rolex spa, and have the movement serviced, put on a new crystal, and have it polished up. I'll also have to order a 93150 bracelet with 580 ends. I'll also have an inner box and like most watches of this vintage, no paperwork was kept. The kicker here for me is the dial and hands look absolutely NOS from photos. So much so that I'm strongly considering putting the dial and hands in my 1970 Red Sub. :001_tt1:

I'm really excited!!! This is my third Red Sub!!

 

[Scott D]

Congrats John!!!! Wow.. Another!!! :001_tt1: :001_tt1: :001_tt1: :001_tt1: :001_tt1: :001_tt1:

Too bad you're not a gamblin' man - with luck like that you'd probably clean out the house!! Wow!!! LOL!!! :lol:


Look forward to the restoration story..... And of course the pictures!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[G.J.]

Wow....:w00t::w00t:

BIG CONGRATS John...:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[pauleypaul]

Congrats john, i can't wait to see the pics!
:w00t::thumbup:

 

[LarryD]

I'm jealous... :cool1:

Looking forward to some before shots....

 

[JBHII]

Congrats John!!!! Wow.. Another!!! :001_tt1: :001_tt1: :001_tt1: :001_tt1: :001_tt1: :001_tt1:

Too bad you're not a gamblin' man - with luck like that you'd probably clean out the house!! Wow!!! LOL!!! :lol:

My wife just shakes her head in disbelief and says I should play the lottery.... :laugh::laugh::laugh:

Look forward to the restoration story..... And of course the pictures!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Pictures and words a plenty to come! :cool1:

 

[bullandvodka]

I'm seeing more and more of these things out there. I'm looking forward to the pics!

 

[DarkHeart]

Congrats! Wow....can't wait to see the pics. Have fun!!

 

[chunglee]

a mid to late 1973 should have closed six dials.

anything before mid to late 1973 should have open six dials or it won't be correct.

around 3.9 million serial and before should be an open six. so be careful when switching dials.

cl

 

[misfitx]

Possable future photo contest prize? maybe?

 

[mike]

a mid to late 1973 should have closed six dials.

anything before mid to late 1973 should have open six dials or it won't be correct.

around 3.9 million serial and before should be an open six. so be careful when switching dials.

cl

:thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1:

 

[JBHII]

a mid to late 1973 should have closed six dials.

anything before mid to late 1973 should have open six dials or it won't be correct.

around 3.9 million serial and before should be an open six. so be careful when switching dials.

cl

Great advice CL! Thanks! :thumbup1:

 

[JBHII]

Possable future photo contest prize? maybe?

Maybe....if your contest winning photo is of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster playing poker with a leprican dealer....

:lol::laugh::001_tt2:

 

[JBHII]

Mike and CL - I got to thinking about your advice about potentially not switching the dials on a 1970 vs. 1973 Red Sub due to the open six style date on the 1970 Sub.

The date wheel is independent of the dial, right? So theoretically you can swap the dials on these two watches, and not impact the date wheel whatsover. :confused1:

Again, I won't have the '73 in my hands until Tuesday, so I won't know if it has open or closed six numbers on the date wheel, but I'm not sure it will matter one way or the other as a dial swap shouldn't impact the date wheel.

 

[boscoe]

Well done, John.
Restoration is a big part of the fun.

 

[TDH]

Congrats and pics awaited of course:thumbup:

 

[JBHII]

Ahhh...just logged into the UPS website for updated tracking info:

02/18/2008 5:54 A.M. OUT FOR DELIVERY

Woohoo!!! :001_tt1::001_tt1::thumbup:

 

[mike]

Mike and CL - I got to thinking about your advice about potentially not switching the dials on a 1970 vs. 1973 Red Sub due to the open six style date on the 1970 Sub.

The date wheel is independent of the dial, right? So theoretically you can swap the dials on these two watches, and not impact the date wheel whatsover. :confused1:

Again, I won't have the '73 in my hands until Tuesday, so I won't know if it has open or closed six numbers on the date wheel, but I'm not sure it will matter one way or the other as a dial swap shouldn't impact the date wheel.

Changing dials will have no impact at all on the date wheel John. Though style and font changed during it's run, and of course Rolex was supplied by different dial makers, the position of the feet and everything else are the same.

Can't wait to see the new arrival and the dial.:thumbup::thumbup:

Depending on the style and font RED dials had a few differences. Collectors stay up at night trying to figure all this out, and as Rolex has a Bright line feature for nothing it's always a best guess and subject to change as new information comes to light.

GENERALLY, Feet first RED dials fall into three types,

NOTE: Photo credit Bernard.

From circa 1970-72ish we see what are commonly called open 6s with a large opening at the curl of the 6,

Many feel the next was still an open 6 but with much less gap at the curl. Maybe late 72ish to sometime 73.

One collector whom I have the upmost respect for feel these dials were made by Breyeler and fall into roughly a 3 mil. to 3.5 mil. range.

Last was what we know as the closed 6s roughly 73-74,

NONE of this takes into account long Fs vs. short fs, size of the mouth on the coronet or anything.
As always crossover and service replacement exists so one needs to be carefull about restrictive time frames.

Is it here yet!!!!:laugh::laugh:

 

[JBHII]

Dangit, not yet! :cursing:

Thanks for the clarification....I didn't realize we were talking about the sixes on the dial and not the sixes on the date wheel. :blink:

 

[Trainer]

Greetings Rolex fans!

I've negotiated a deal on another 1680 Red Submariner - a 1973 model. It's the head only and the pictures make it out to be in darn good shape - I'm buying it as a "project watch" to restore and resell. I'll take it to my local Rolex spa, and have the movement serviced, put on a new crystal, and have it polished up. I'll also have to order a 93150 bracelet with 580 ends. I'll also have an inner box and like most watches of this vintage, no paperwork was kept. The kicker here for me is the dial and hands look absolutely NOS from photos. So much so that I'm strongly considering putting the dial and hands in my 1970 Red Sub. :001_tt1:

I'm really excited!!! This is my third Red Sub!!

Do you have the restorations done profesionally, or do you work on the innards of these critters yourself?

Tempus fugit,
Trainer