Reply With QuoteI’m fairly sure that they didn’t mix a gold indices dial with a steel case in that era, but I’m sure some a lot more knowledgable than me will confirm.
Hello,
I'm looking at an 80's Rolex Datejust 36 16030 and it's got a dial that I've not seen before. I wanted to check to see if its correct, as I cannot find another example.
Black dial, with gold fluted indicies and a gold handset.
Thank you in advance!
I’m fairly sure that they didn’t mix a gold indices dial with a steel case in that era, but I’m sure some a lot more knowledgable than me will confirm.
It's just a matter of time...
the dial is from a 16013, if you service at RSC they will force you to replace dial with white gold index.
As mentioned, at best it’s made up from parts from another watch.
Potentially a dial and handset swap from a 16013, maybe movement as well?
Sometimes if it’s a water damaged movement and dial, people will swap straight-in without needing to strip/remove etc (so could be done by a fairly crack handed wastchmaker who doesn’t have the skill to do it, or alternatively someone doesn’t want to pay the labour charge for a proper job.....
And the handset.Originally Posted by 744ER
Thank you, Gents! It's so obvious now that I'm looking at the two tone models.
It's a shame as the combo actually looks really quite smart. The birthyear watch hunt continues
On the face of it the watch looks pleasing, but it’s a franken and that devalues it very significantly.
Trying to buy a 30-odd year old Datejust is a fraught process, the majority are very tired examples. Stretched worn- out bracelets and bezels with over- polished fluted peaks are typical, I can take one glance and walk away from these. I’m fortunate to own probably the best 1989s bi- metal datejust in existence, I bought it years ago from the original owner who claimed it had only been worn a dozen times, it looks and feels brand new and as such it’s a rare beast. It doesn’t get worn but I enjoy owning really nice examples of older/ vintage watches so it’s going nowhere.
Best Datejust to buy will have had a new bezel, new bracelet, and lightly refinished case with good edges. As ever my advice us to buy the best available, forget about box and papers, and forget the birth- year crap, it should be all about the watch itself.
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