worth repairing

[Corstjens1]

Saw this rolex bubbleback and wanted to know if it would be worth restoring it or even bother restoring it in this condition. Also if anybody could give me an estimate of the price of what it would cost ?

[oldhippy]

Rolex wouldn't touch this. The biggest problem will be getting spare parts. Finding someone willing to undertake this will also be tricky. Dial restoration in itself will cost around £200. You will need very deep pockets. 

[Klassiker]

It's not a hobby project, that's for sure. It needs expert handling from someone with access to spares, but for sure it can be done. No idea of costs or value in renovated condition. Probably Rolex is one of the few brands where it would make financial sense, but you will need to invest plenty to get a return.

[jerryvs]

dont touch that movement without spare parts 

[clockboy]

The problem with sort of restoration is until it is stripped down there is no way of knowing what needs replacing or if it is possible to repair. So there is the cost of the time used to strip down to pay for with a high probability of returning the watch back as received or in a stripped down state. Not many customers are willing to part with money with this scenario. 

[JohnR725]

5 hours ago, oldhippy said:

Rolex wouldn't touch this.

Rolex keeps changing their policies on vintage. I heard at one time they wouldn't touch anything vintage and their definition of vintage we would consider modern. Then they change their mind and I believe there's a nonrefundable of valuation fee that I can't quite remember the price but it's very very expensive. This is so they can go through and verify that every single part is indeed what it's supposed to be heavens for bid if you put a generic stem in. Then they work out the additional money beyond the evaluation fee it would be extremely expensive.

then from a collecting point of view you may not want to refinish the dial as that would cut into the value considerably. Collectors get very upset of things that been changed.

2 minutes ago, clockboy said:

The problem with sort of restoration is until it is stripped down there is no way of knowing what needs replacing or if it is possible to repair. So there is the cost of the time used to strip down to pay for with a high probability of returning the watch back as received or in a stripped down state. Not customers are willing to part with money with this scenario. 

this is always the problem with the restoration. Especially in a case like this for the automatic is covering up the watch and we can't see its condition. then if you went to somebody authorized by Rolex to work on watches they can't even work on these because they cannot get the parts Rolex does not sell vintage parts. Which means you have to get the parts from other sources and it could be challenging if it's a major restoration.

 

[nickelsilver]

One thing on these old bubble backs is very often the unjeweled holes in the automatic are severely worn. It can be very tricky to bush these without a lathe and faceplate or jig borer. They have practically nonexistent oil sinks, so ideally for aesthetics it's good to install blind bushings from the inside. Otherwise they're like any other old movement,  with the added factor that there is zero parts support from Rolex (even to account holders), and NOS stuff is hoarded and when sold it's for a premium, so it's used parts off Ebay if you're lucky.

[Watcher]

If your watch is the larger Rolex Cal 620 bubbleback (there is a smaller one Cal 520) then you should watch Mark's video where he replaced the balance staff on a 620 Bubbleback. It is one of his early Watch Repair Channel videos.

'How to fit a new balance staff to a vintage Rolex watch'  YouTube

There you will see in fast forward the dismanteling of the movement and then its restoration with a new balance staff. It fired me and I have since restored several with parts from eBay. Yours with the subdial would be well worth the effort and expense. It could cost a few hundred dollars but would be worth one or two thousand. The dial should clean up with fine brush and should not be restored. It is a gem. The movement bridges and automatic parts can be chemically or ultrasonic cleaned.

Here is one that I kept

You should also look over the bubbleback club site to find a watch like yours.

http://www.bubblebackclub.com/pub_products_by_category.php?categories_cat__=dtsqerlllbwx&categories_cat_id=14

 

 

Edited May 30, 2021 by Watcher
added photo and typo

[clockboy]

12 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

Rolex keeps changing their policies on vintage. I heard at one time they wouldn't touch anything vintage and their definition of vintage we would consider modern. Then they change their mind and I believe there's a nonrefundable of valuation fee that I can't quite remember the price but it's very very expensive. This is so they can go through and verify that every single part is indeed what it's supposed to be heavens for bid if you put a generic stem in. Then they work out the additional money beyond the evaluation fee it would be extremely expensive.

then from a collecting point of view you may not want to refinish the dial as that would cut into the value considerably. Collectors get very upset of things that been changed.

this is always the problem with the restoration. Especially in a case like this for the automatic is covering up the watch and we can't see its condition. then if you went to somebody authorized by Rolex to work on watches they can't even work on these because they cannot get the parts Rolex does not sell vintage parts. Which means you have to get the parts from other sources and it could be challenging if it's a major restoration.

 

Going back a number of years ago I owned a Rolex GMT master manufactured in 1952. I took it to Rolex for insurance valuation purposes and I told they would service it but any parts that needed replacing they would have to make.

I thought  ££££££££ so I thanked them for their time and walked. 

[Nucejoe]

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