Dad's long lost Rolex.. found! -- Part 2 - what do do now?
I posted some weeks ago about my father's (we thought long lost) Rolex surfacing. https://www.watchcrunch.com/Scoopo/posts/dad-s-long-lost-rolex-found-351362
I went to visit my mother and got my hands on the watch. I did a bunch of Internet research, removed the band, carefully cleaned some of the grime from the case to somewhat identify it, and took it to a local jeweler who has a watch guy who comes once a week to pick up for service and drop off serviced items. (I took a bunch of pics of it before service but won't bore you all with shots of me scraping grime with a toothpick to uncover identifying numbers)
A few weeks ticked by..
Friday, literally minutes before I'm leaving to again go out of town to see my mother, I receive word the watch is back. Sigh. Timing.
So it's Tuesday before I can get there.
Details on the watch are:
98% sure it's a 1962 - I think the word didn't quite make it to the watch guy I wanted more details from the inside of the case back. Pictures, even! Be that as it may, I'm pretty secure in this year.
Rolex Oysterdate Precision
Reference 6646
Caliber 1210
I expected the jeweler to put a strap on it for me. Disappointed there, too. Oh well, turns out that's easier said than done on this one.. because this thing is small. Like really small. 30mm with a 17mm lug width.
It looks great! New crystal, apparently he did polish it, at least somewhat, the caliber has been cleaned and lubricated and required no replacement parts as it is apparently in excellent condition.
And so, here are a few shots:
As you can see with the quarter for scale, it's small.
Here's another of it next to my Hamilton daily at 42mm
And a couple of it "on" my wrist..
Yeah, small. And apparently I'm some sort of giant, which makes it seem even smaller.
I am now debating with myself about what to do next.. Reading online indicates smaller is coming back, but this isn't just wearing a "smaller" watch.
Do I give it a black leather (I figure alligator) strap that will fit my 8.25" wrist and try to rock it now and then?
Do I give it a black leather strap that is normal sized that I would never be able to wear?
Do I give it a black leather strap that will fit my 5' 2" wife (who already has a little 25mm Rolex Cellini) and let her rock it rarely if ever?
Do I go with a thought I had and had reinforced online by others with similar dilemmas (though not nearly as small/large) and locate a (apparently very difficult to find for a 17mm lug width) Bund style strap? This could feasibly beef up the size of the watch a bit thereby reducing the miniature effect on my wrist.
Are there other options I have not considered? For these above and particularly this question(s) I am asking you, my fellow Crunchers.
What would you recommend? What would you do?
I'm not afraid to wear a small watch. My wrist, my rules. But at the same time I would very rarely ever wear it anyway.. so I want to do the watch and my father's memory justice. I have no desire to make the watch look ridiculous solely so I can "wear a Rolex".
Needless to say, I will not be selling the watch. Ever.
Thank you for reading, and for any and all discussion, suggestions, opinions, etc.
Always had an interest in watches and clocks but never any means to really collect. Recently truly began my collecting journey, and as such am also beginning my education into the subjects of horology...
I’ve got my fathers vintage omega seamaster which is smaller 34mm. I had the same dilemma so I put it on a nice ostrich leather strap and I now use it as a dress watch. This is never leaving my collection either but it’s nice to wear on occasion than sat in a watch box never to be worn.
Great story and fun journey. Also, that is a huge wrist. Enjoy!
Strapcode has a nice 17mm black croc grain for just under 50 bucks.
Holben Fine Watchbands also has 17mm straps for good prices.
Bung it on a bund, it'll look cool. 👍🏻
I have a few vintage watches I never wear due to the straps not being long enough (8+" wrist) but I still enjoy having them in the collection. I have a 34mm 1967 OP that I do wear on a black alligator strap as a dress watch which IMO is what a vintage watch with sentimental value is perfect for.
People here are going to give you green lights because this platform is pro small watch but dude that rolex looks like a kids size. Im all for ~36mm guys but we gotta draw a line somewhere. Id keep it in a safe tbh and let some family/kids take it when they get married or something. Could be a cool gift for their wife
People here are going to give you green lights because this platform is pro small watch but dude that rolex looks like a kids size. Im all for ~36mm guys but we gotta draw a line somewhere. Id keep it in a safe tbh and let some family/kids take it when they get married or something. Could be a cool gift for their wife
It's just fashion. Vintage watches are often quite small because that was the fashion in the 50's and 60's. The fashion in the 2000 was very large watches. ATM it's somewhere in-between. To my eye many watches look like a child is wearing their dad's rather than the other way around.
People here are going to give you green lights because this platform is pro small watch but dude that rolex looks like a kids size. Im all for ~36mm guys but we gotta draw a line somewhere. Id keep it in a safe tbh and let some family/kids take it when they get married or something. Could be a cool gift for their wife
The size is correct for the period it was made. Those who appreciate vintage watches or vintage style watches prefer they remain as close to "period correct" as possible.
I wear a 32mm A11 WW2 watch and it's a favorite. I also have a 47.8mm Seiko Arnie.
Nobody told these guys they were wearing a kids watch.
or this guy
Wear it. Love it. That’s all that matters. Nice story!
Love the story. I hope one day my kids will give so much care and attention to some of my prize pieces.
It does look rather small, but if your wife will wear it I would put it on a nice strap and let her enjoy it. My wrist is a whole lot smaller than yours at 6.75" and I'm not sure I could pull off 30mm. I mean, to each their own though.
Good luck with it.
NATO (olive green would be cool) or bund will make it wear larger 👍 Also give it some time, I have a 31mm UG which initially gave me a “knee jerk” reaction that it was too small, but after a week it was just right. It’s no coincidence that Men’s watches were this size from the 1930s-1980s!
You do have a large wrist. If you can’t come to rest with it’s size after some wearing, I 2nd the suggestions of bunt strap you got above. The watch is far to good looking for a Nato imo.
I would place it in a safe place, I was the unfortunate family member charged with the responsibility of looking after my dad’s late 50s early 60s Rolex OP which was small but might be 34mm, I had the watch serviced by Rolex Canada more than 35 years ago, never wore it, passed it along to my nephew who never wears a watch, already retired from working a daily grind while in his 30s. Watch cannot be in a safer place.
Put it on a fancy strap and give it to your wife... 😇
Get a stamp on it and rock that sucker!
Not a round watch but this guy didn’t seem to care about wearing a small watch
For the strap, get it custom made with alligator.
Beautiful #vintage #rolex.
I really love this subtle style.
Hey man, first off I really enjoyed reading your post and well done to going to the effort of finding out the details and getting it running. If it were my watch I would put it on a nice alligator leather strap and keep it safe in my watch box and then you or your wife can wear it whenever you feel like it.
💪💪
The size is correct for the period it was made. Those who appreciate vintage watches or vintage style watches prefer they remain as close to "period correct" as possible.
I wear a 32mm A11 WW2 watch and it's a favorite. I also have a 47.8mm Seiko Arnie.
Nobody told these guys they were wearing a kids watch.
or this guy
Fashion almost a hundred years ago does change. Just as someone would look strange wearing a zoot suit right now. And yes Muhammad Ali wearing a small cartier is the most famous example of someone wearing a small watch, doesn’t mean its a general principle for everybody. I don’t totally disagree with you but just food for thought. The authors question didnt seem to be “is this a well made watch”, or “does this watch fit the period it was made in”, rather, “would it look good today”? You could argue watches unlike suits never go in or out of style but would be another convo
I would go to aaron bespoke, veblenist, delugs, etsy, etc and get a custom strap made for it.
Wear it as a dress watch and don't worry about the size. Smaller for a dress watch is a good look anyways
I’d go for the bund strap. That’s what I do with my Accutron Spaceview.
I would give it to a female in the family with a small wrist to enjoy.
If you go with the bund strap option, why not try and make one yourself? It's not hard, you can pick the perfect size/shape/leather yourself, and you add some family value to it too. I made quite a few bunds myself, takes about 2 hours per.
Thank you all for the suggestions. I wish I could reply to each one individually rather than just with emojis, but the way this site works it would double the number of replies and would be awkward.
Please know I have read and re-read each and every post!
After much deliberation on what to do, last night I decided I would like to go with a Bund. I eventually reached out to a company who makes custom bands and briefly gave the outline of the story and the sizes that matter. The founder quickly replied back with options and assured me it is no problem to make one appropriate for all dimensions involved. I have replied and made a selection of stitching color and asked to move forward.
Later today I got to thinking.. and looked up the company site again and went to the About, then did a quick search here on WatchCrunch.
Lo and behold, Ivan from @twostitchstraps is a fellow Cruncher! 😀
Sometimes it can be a small world. 🤝
I am thrilled he's a member of this community and am looking forward to our next step in this journey of bring life and love to my father's old watch and to his memory!
Such a cool and valuable find! I'm happy that we're able to help with a custom strap, and I'm looking forward to the Part 3 when the strap arrives. :)
Ivan