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Genuine? Rolex 15000 Date case - Serial #716xxxx

Tomyumgai

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Picked this up for a a decent price but after inspecting it carefully, I found. The engraving/etching on the case to be a little questionable. Furthermore, this is for the 3035 movement, which I believe should have a sapphire crystal with a cyclops but I received it with an acrylic crystal - no cyclops. The crown action is surprisingly impressive for its age but the step appears to be snapped off and lodged inside the stem threads. Nothing a little alum powder can’t handle.

Im planning on building a 15000 and modifying an SH to fit in replace of a 3035. I’ve done so on two other builds and they’re still holding up rather well, but in 162xx cases.
My main question is - what are your thoughts as far as authenticity? In addition, why would an acrylic crystal be mounted to it?

I may be wrong as far as which crystal material is composed of, but why no date mag?

Thanks in advance. Pictures are to follow.
 

Rx4Time

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Engravings look off. Look at the zeros in 1500. It might be genuine, but at bare minimum I think it's been reengraved.
 

Tomyumgai

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Engravings look off. Look at the zeros in 1500. It might be genuine, but at bare minimum I think it's been reengraved.

The zero’s is what I’m specifically in question of. I measured the case specs and they appear to be correct - 34mm without the crown and the lug holes look fairly healthy. There are some scuffs on the rehaut that I can accept. All these lead to me feeling it’s gen aside form the “15000” and the plexi w/o mag.

Im not too familiar with compatibility’s or “same case as x” but possibly an air king at one point or another? Lug shapes seems okay but unless I have a side by side, it’s questionable and may be returned to the seller
 

Rx4Time

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Tomyumgai

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It's possible the original engravings were worn off and redone.... poorly. It does look like some did come with plexi. Here's a 1987 example for sale. No good thoughts on the lack of a cyclops beyond what you are probably thinking....is it actually a different model like a 14000 air king or a 14200 OP, which I am leaning towards.


https://shop.hodinkee.com/products/1987-rolex-oyster-date-reference-1501?variant=42903591695

Thank you for your input. It IS possible that it may have been a 14200. Comparing the design of the movement housing, it’s identical to my 16030 case, which would confirm that it does take a 3035. And in that case, I could be wrong, but I am under the impression that plexi would take a 1570 and glass would be for 3035. Again, may be wrong on that.
 

Rx4Time

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Thank you for your input. It IS possible that it may have been a 14200. Comparing the design of the movement housing, it’s identical to my 16030 case, which would confirm that it does take a 3035. And in that case, I could be wrong, but I am under the impression that plexi would take a 1570 and glass would be for 3035. Again, may be wrong on that.

Please let me know what the outcome is. Perhaps you can decide one of the ones you've built before with the modified SH and see if it fits the same? The bad news is if it's a plexi, you can't install a sapphire. You can install a plexi with cyclops since there were 15000 with plexi and still be accurate.
 

hanski

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Tomyumgai

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According to those guys over at VRF, the engravings can be pretty bad on vintage cases:
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/vintagerolexforum/viewtopic.php?f=207673&t=248425&p=557188#p557188
Look at that Register Design - really, really bad. But they say it’s okay.
If everything else appears/measures genuine and case has a legit patina, then it could be legit.
im not an expert in the 15000 cases, so I can’t offer much more guidance. Good luck.

Thank you for your input. It is greatly appreciated!
 

tripdog

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Gen - engravings were done by hand, not machine when these cases were produced.
 

lorenzo1910

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Weren't the 5 digit AirKing with sapphire crystal?
My first (gen) Rolex was a 14010 (bought new) from the early 90's... was it with a plexi? That really doesn't look like...
 

manodeoro

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Weren't the 5 digit AirKing with sapphire crystal?
My first (gen) Rolex was a 14010 (bought new) from the early 90's... was it with a plexi? That really doesn't look like...

If I'm true ... plexi on 15000 Oyster Date / sapphire on 14000 Air-King
Specs really close as you can fit a 25.286 on a 15000 case though you could have to rework the 15000 bezel a bit