Vintage Rolex ID help

[dl_griff]

H everyone , after some advice for a colleague. Her husband has this watch left to him after his dad died. It has sat unused for many years. From what I can see the ref between the lugs at the top of the case as 5500 there is also a 6 number ref at the bottom.

Can anyone offer advice on its Authenticity? Hoping that it is so it can be restored


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[dl_griff]

Also has this bracelet


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[dl_griff]

can anyone help?

[JasonM]

I don't think there is much to say, the 5500 is the model ref number and the 6 numbers at the 6 case position is the serial number, those can be looked up for a date. Im no expert but Im sure its a genuine watch, the plexi glass could be changed by any watchmaker and as long as it doesn't need internal parts the movement can be serviced too by any watch bod. I would expect parts for this to be more available outside the Rolex network than more modern ones. There are specialists that can refurb bracelets ( Seth I think) but a scotch write pad run over it would improve it for no cost, a very light buff would make the case look better.

[Haywood_Milton]

5500 is normally an Air-King Precision and rarely (but commonly faked) an Explorer Precision.

This has a SCOC text dial.....

Could be a marriage of parts, but i'd need to examine it to say what was what. Happy to do so for free if able to see it in Liverpool.

[dl_griff]

Thanks both

Thanks Haywood, my eldest finished in Liverpool Uni in the summer otherwise I would have taken you up on your generous offer

We’ve agreed that she’ll send it to Rocco at Watchworks and see if he can bring it to life (if it’s genuine)


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[sish101]

Excusing my ignorance of all things Rolex (and in particular fakes) but at what point did fake Rolex start appearing? I've heard about cheap Submariner copies sold in Spain but at what point did they make an appearance? Not saying for a moment that this is BTW

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[Mick P]

Excusing my ignorance of all things Rolex (and in particular fakes) but at what point did fake Rolex start appearing? I've heard about cheap Submariner copies sold in Spain but at what point did they make an appearance?

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I sat on an anti counterfeit committee in 1979 and it was prevalent back then in clothing, car parts, security print such as shopping vouchers, jewellery with Rolex being the prime target, bicycles (especially the Raleigh Chopper), tyres and even pocket calculators.

[P9CLY]

I sat on an anti counterfeit committee in 1979 and it was prevalent back then in clothing, car parts, security print such as shopping vouchers, jewellery with Rolex being the prime target, bicycles (especially the Raleigh Chopper), tyres and even pocket calculators.

And so it seems things haven't changed since 1979 hey,if not Id say far worse.

[Mick P]

And so it seems things haven't changed since 1979 hey,if not Id say far worse.

The main problem is that Joe Public sees nothing wrong with it. You can bet you bottom Dollar the someone on this forum who slags off fake Rolex is sitting behind his PC wearing a fake Lacoste T shirt and fake Nike trainers.