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Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

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Re: Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

#41

Post by alexgrover »

ubermonkey wrote: post #35
implements wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s extremely hard to get a decent mechanical watch without the ‘date complication’ - which I thought was odd as it’s a pain to adjust it nearly every month, so much so that you can’t be sure the current display is even correct.

It's definitely true that it's harder to find no-dates, but they absolutely exist. I think one reason they persist is that not every collector is well-heeled enough to keep all their watches on winders. I know if I go to the safe to put on, say, my Omega, I might just put it right back in there if the delta between the actual date and the date when the watch stopped is too large. LOL. I've got some no-dates (mostly d…

Many tool watches are no-date because you don’t typically need it while scuba diving etc.

Personally, I find setting the time much more annoying than the date, especially if the watch has a quick-set date.

Re: Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

#42

Post by quartesixte »

steveBK123 wrote: post #10

Old "tools" like vintage watches, cameras, etc are pretty cool. In my experience they were built to be more serviceable, but also due to less precise manufacturing, there were seemingly a lot more tolerances built into the designs. It's great watching people restore Rolexes, Leicas, etc. Similar to the video here, I have my grandfathers Rolex. He wore it while trimming hedges and doing all sorts of yard work. Why not…

> and the thing has had to go in for service every 2-3 years for weeks at a time to get it to keep time properly.

You can stretch this out to 5 years and get away with it. Also, most mechanical watches need some kind of servicing (usually relubrication) along that time frame. Hence why before the quartz revolution, local watchmakers were both a staple of any community and a necessary service.

You should really see to it that the Rolex is serviced by a reputable watchmaker. 20 years is a long time, even for a Rolex. Rolexes can last decades upon decades if properly cared for.

Re: Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

#43

Post by quartesixte »

steveBK123 wrote: post #15
dylan604 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>These days you see the exact opposite behavior. Everyone has just become so precious about their goods. "It's really expensive so I need to protect it / use it sparingly / use great caution". Look at the entire ecosystem of protective cases for iPhones/Apple Watches/etc. On upscale cars you have the obsession with paint protection films, ceramic coatings, etc. what the wha??? i see people give their toddlers their m…

I think you said it yourself - case or no case. Look at all the people who use cases on their phones, theres an entire ecosystem for it that never existed for startacs. I think its evolved over time but it seems like the majority of people have some sort of case on their phones. Same for portable game systems like the Gameboy brick we all used naked vs all the cases on the switch, etc.

Also became a fashion statement

Re: Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

#44

Post by JRandomHacker42 »

HanClinto wrote: post #26

It's always so fascinating when content creators put out such diverse content. I mainly recognize Marshall for his work as commentator of Magic: The Gathering tournaments (and other related sundry content), and it shocked me the first time I heard one of his watch-restoration videos -- his voice is so distinctive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6TYApKT1Q4

I'm always amused at how little cross-promotion Marshall does - he has decently large followings in two completely different contexts and most of them are completely unaware of each other.

Re: Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

#45

Post by doubled112 »

medellin wrote: post #34
lexapro wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only have a case so that the iPhone cameras don't stick out and I can lay it flat on the table without wobble. I know other people who have it because they want better grip or they just want to customize the looks of their phone. Protection is not always the #1 reason.

Also apple seemingly keeps making the factory case worse. I use to never use anything on my phone with the old iphones that had the all metal cases. Would drop it all the time and never had an issue. Now i drop my phone once and the back is shattered. Honestly getting pretty sick of the direction apple has gone with the iphone. I just want the iphone 7 with better battery life and some hardware upgrades.

Many manufacturers are headed that way. Why are we building things that are held, dropped, put into pockets, tossed, etc out of glass again? Even on the surfaces that don't need to be.

Re: Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

#46

Post by mperham »

quartesixte wrote: post #42
steveBK123 wrote: post #10

Old "tools" like vintage watches, cameras, etc are pretty cool. In my experience they were built to be more serviceable, but also due to less precise manufacturing, there were seemingly a lot more tolerances built into the designs. It's great watching people restore Rolexes, Leicas, etc. Similar to the video here, I have my grandfathers Rolex. He wore it while trimming hedges and doing all sorts of yard work. Why not…

> and the thing has had to go in for service every 2-3 years for weeks at a time to get it to keep time properly. You can stretch this out to 5 years and get away with it. Also, most mechanical watches need some kind of servicing (usually relubrication) along that time frame. Hence why before the quartz revolution, local watchmakers were both a staple of any community and a necessary service. You should really see to…

The current recommended Rolex service interval is 10 years. I suspect most people simply ignore servicing until it doesn’t keep accurate time anymore.

Re: Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

#47

Post by hello_hny »

JRandomHacker42 wrote: post #44
HanClinto wrote: post #26

It's always so fascinating when content creators put out such diverse content. I mainly recognize Marshall for his work as commentator of Magic: The Gathering tournaments (and other related sundry content), and it shocked me the first time I heard one of his watch-restoration videos -- his voice is so distinctive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6TYApKT1Q4

I'm always amused at how little cross-promotion Marshall does - he has decently large followings in two completely different contexts and most of them are completely unaware of each other.

Especially since this YouTube channel might be bringing him more money than anything else now. I only knew about this since LSV brought it up during an LR episode on Marshall's background

Re: Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

#48

Post by HanClinto »

JRandomHacker42 wrote: post #44
HanClinto wrote: post #26

It's always so fascinating when content creators put out such diverse content. I mainly recognize Marshall for his work as commentator of Magic: The Gathering tournaments (and other related sundry content), and it shocked me the first time I heard one of his watch-restoration videos -- his voice is so distinctive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6TYApKT1Q4

I'm always amused at how little cross-promotion Marshall does - he has decently large followings in two completely different contexts and most of them are completely unaware of each other.

What I only realized today is that his watch restoration channel has more subscribers than the official Magic: The Gathering YouTube channel now. That's insane.

Re: Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

#49

Post by flobosg »

HanClinto wrote: post #26

It's always so fascinating when content creators put out such diverse content. I mainly recognize Marshall for his work as commentator of Magic: The Gathering tournaments (and other related sundry content), and it shocked me the first time I heard one of his watch-restoration videos -- his voice is so distinctive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6TYApKT1Q4

I’m a huge fan of his Limited Resources podcast with Luis Scott-Vargas. He sometimes speaks there about his watch restoration work.

Re: Restoring a Vintage Rolex GMT

#50

Post by mryingster »

yboris wrote: post #28

My favorite YouTube restoration channel is My Mechanics - restoring metal objects with tremendous attention to detail and care (creating new parts as needed). I suspect many people who like the watch restorations will like this: https://www.youtube.com/c/mymechanics

He is my favorite of the restoration channels. I don't believe anyone comes close to his attention to detail. I wish he put content out more frequently!
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