Rolex/Watch Gurus, need some help

[Jeff Alton]

Watch gurus... Need some help!

I am wondering if any of the Rolex gurus can identify the model of these three watches and offer a ballpark guess at what they may be worth?? These are heirlooms and we need to establish a rough (really rough) ballpark of their value.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Number 1.



Number 2.



Number 3.




Thanks!

[Mark Howard]

If you remove the bands and get the serial number from the side of the case under the band, it can be deciphered and tell you the year of manufacture. That, coupled with the model (Date Just,Day Date, etc.) you can get a pretty good ball park number off of the Rolex Forum. The BBS over there, and their members, are just as helpful as Pelican is for Porsche.

[rusnak]

No guru here, but looks like a President perpetual oyster.

[MRM]

Top one is an ancient Day-Date (Presidential) with a bark bracelet. The crystal appears to be plexiglass, from the scratches on it, which means it dates to before Rolex switched over to saphire crystals. The brown dial and bark bracelet used to be a popular combination. It's hard to guess value without knowing the serial number. If it's unusual and collectable for some obscure reason, it could be worth tens of thousands. More likely, it's just a nice used old example of the Presidential model and is worth in the $5,000 range.

The second watch is not original. It is supposed to be a Date-Just, but it has a Presidential style bracelet. Presidential bracelets are used only on Day-Date models, like the one above, which are always all gold, not two-toned. The diamond dial looks after market. To establish value you'd strip off the after market parts, add the scrap value of the after market stucc, and deduct the cost of buying replacement real Rolex parts to put it back to original. After market parts deduct value from Rolexes like nobondy's business. It might be a complete fake, or it might have a Rolex movement. If it's a Rolex movement it's worth maybe $800-$1,000 plus the scrap value of the band.

The bottom one is newer and is a typical two-tone Date-Just. It looks original and in good condition. It's worth in the $1,500 range.

Age alone doesn't enhance values of Rolexes unless they are rare and desireable for reasons that only Rolex collectors care about.

Check out Timezone.com and TURF.com (The Ultimate Rolex Forum). Timezone has a marketplace and brand forums. Both are very helpful.

[Jeff Alton]

Thanks for the info! I have never fancied a Rolex, unless I win one at the 24!

It is interesting to learn about them as a complete novice/newb.

I will check out the other forums mentioned.

Cheers

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Watch gurus... Need some help!

I am wondering if any of the Rolex gurus can identify the model of these three watches and offer a ballpark guess at what they may be worth?? These are heirlooms and we need to establish a rough (really rough) ballpark of their value.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Hey Jeff,

Unfortunately, #1 & #2 look like fugazis at first glance. I'd say #3 could be OK (two-tone DateJust), but it's highly suspect just by the present "company" it is keeping.

For the two "gold" models (#1 & #2) just flip them over and look for the 18k (Day-Date) or 14k (Date-Just) hall marks stamped into the case lugs:

If there are none, then you have your answer. There should be 18k/750 hallmarks on the bracelet clasps and on the underside of the case-back as well (which you would need to remove to see).

On the two-tone Date-Just (#3), look to see if there is any gold "wearing off" on the bracelet or bezel. If so, you guessed it.

Another giveaway on fairly-modern Rolex movements is the winding/time advancement. For instance, if you pull the crown out on #3 to set the time and turn it clockwise, the hands should advance forward in time (not backwards). Most fakes with Chinese, Japanese, or even Eta movements will advance the hands forward when turning the crown counter-clockwise.

If you are so inclined, remove the bracelets and take close-up (hi-rez) pics of both sides of each case between the lugs (ref.# and serial #) and post them here.

[Shuie]

It's been years since I've looked at this stuff, but they all look wrong to me. The font on the date wheels looks wrong, president bracelets look wrong, president bracelet on a Datejust, bezels look wrong. New correct looking jubilee bracelet on the third one that also has a wrong looking bezel and an acrylic crystal (maybe an older watch w/new bracelet??, font and case look okay) . If you are thinking of buying these, you really should get them checked out by a watchmaker or the local authorized dealer.

[Dottore]

What Shui says. They just don't look right. Look like Patpong specials.

[vash]

the second hands. do they sweep smoothly?

that first one looks weird. is there is crown emblem on the knob? what does the clasp look like on the bark band? clasp-less right? just a tiny crown emblem showing you where the joint is?

[Jeff Alton]

They very well could be fakes, we will take them into a local Rolex dealer and see what they say!

[VaSteve]

Just don't take them to where Normy took his. They can be fooled. LOL

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

They very well could be fakes, we will take them into a local Rolex dealer and see what they say!

No need really.

Like I mentioned, #1 & #2 are fakes. To confirm, just verify there are no 18k/14k hallmarks on the back of the case lugs (as seen in photo above). On #3, just pull the winding crown all the way out to set time. If the hands move forward/ahead when you are turning the crown counter-clockwise, then it's also fake.

[Jeff Alton]

Looks like they are fakes! Oh well, the Scottish lads visiting with us are happy none the less!

Cheers

[Joeaksa]

Eric is spot on here.

I have a real President with the bark finish band and the band in the top photo just does not look right. Band is not raised enough to be a real Rolex version.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Eric is spot on here.

I have a real President with the bark finish band and the band in the top photo just does not look right. Band is not raised enough to be a real Rolex version.

a rolex guy told me that a legit watch can take a beating and still look "fabulous" (his words not mine)

those bark bands are kinda cool.

[Jeff Alton]

Turns out number 3 is an original.

Cheers

[vash]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Turns out number 3 is an original.

Cheers

sweet!

eric has the eye for this sorta thing!!

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by vash

a rolex guy told me that a legit watch can take a beating and still look "fabulous" (his words not mine)

those bark bands are kinda cool.

The bark band on my watch is over 30 years old and looks brand new, so have to agree. I do not wear it often due to the value on the watch, but it sure looks nice.

[aigel]

So, how did you find this all out?

G