vintage oyster date or precision

[keltzar]

some of the old models are very pretty, and affordable.

does anyone have a recommendation of a nice ref.6694 or something from that generation that is worth having? a really definitive piece?

[nottinghill]

hmnn understand that there's alot of 'modified' 6694..... was offered $1.5k for a piece.... with cert and overhaul papers....don't know if it's a good buy.... any suggestion?

[keltzar]

I have my reservations about it...
for these old pieces I realise that if you want one you have to know what you're buying. Some refurb is inevitable... but some of them are so heavily overhauled and modified that they become "franken".

I was in 2 diff shops and the owners were honest to tell me "oh, this one has a tudor movement with rolex dial" or "oh... this one don't buy lah. It's redialed".

Further, RSC charges about 2x as much to work on these old pieces... and if they are incomplete e.g. non-original strap and you don't have the original bracelet, they will insist on selling you new parts and it will cost too much.

So... to have these vintage 6694... you really need to have a reliable independent watchmaker to maintain them for you.

[ohlins]

disagree about the charges being 2x as much..........it depends on the condition of the watch.........

ultimately can always check with rsc on the authenticity of the watch including the movement parts ......

good ones can still be found...... i know of a couple of people wearing their dad's hand-me down watches....



this one dates back to 1973........and received its first and only service a couple of years ago at the rsc after decades of ticking......

quite fun to wind it everyday......but nowadays returned to my dad as i have my fair share to take care of....

[louisoh]

i still find the oysterdate a classic.... but i can also understand y ppl refer this model to the 'ah pek rolex'...

[bEnd1ck]

I would like to get my hands on a 16013 in leather strap if I find one in good condition.

[keltzar]

I like the idea of some handwinds too...
I find automatics a bit "leh cheh"...

Right now, I would like to find an authentic handwound movement with the explorer I dial...

[nine_eleven]

Hi!

my first post in here...

i just got a hand-me-down from my dad... a 1970 oysterdate 6694. i'm the 2nd owner!

it's currently at the RSC for an overhaul and new bracelet.

hope it looks and works as good as new when i get it!

[ohlins]

a 70s 6694 most likely come with a lightweight folded-link oyster bracelet.....how about the new bracelet..?.....

[nine_eleven]

i dunno... the watch is still with RSC.

will take pics of both the new and old when i get it back!

[ohlins]

i think the bracelet is trade-in basis........dun think u will get the old one back ......did they say anything?

[nine_eleven]

i asked them about getting the old bracelet and clasp back, they told me i'd get it.

internal parts however, will be retained by them.

[nine_eleven]

i got my watch back!

there are some pictures that i took which are too big to attach here, but i've uploaded to flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1085300...7601579816602/

some observations...the new bracelet i got isn't the exact one as the original as u can see in the pics... the new clasp is broader.

the new bracelet is also very stiff, much mroe than i'd expected... it somehow feels....cheap (!) but still, u can see how the orignal bracelet has loosened over the 37 years....

the polishing job i felt was rather crude...i can feel the case being very rough to the touch, and the acrylic crystal still has some minor marks, but i supposed that can't be helped...

also, i had new hands installed, so i suppose i'll lose the tritium-tipped hands forever...

[triton]

loooks good from pictures.

[ohlins]

folded-link oyster bracelet no more oredi that's why they can only replace with this heavier style of oyster bracelet......i think it's nice mah......