Rolex

A gift from my Father last week, what a surprise when we googled it to find what rolex it was !
when he entered a ROLEX shop in Paris in 1975 he just asked for a good diving watch and knows nothing about Rolex since... Every Rolex owners he encountered during these last decades always stands that it was a cheap Rolex because it didn't have the cyclop and he was a little ashamed each time... now what ?

thank you very much Amanico, this watch is such a beautiful gift from my dad, we have a photo of me as a baby in my father's arm with this rolex. He was disguised in Santa and my mother told me that even at 2 months old in his arms when I saw the SD on his wrist I looked up to see if it was my dad up. This watch was associated to my dad in my baby mind. big souvenirs, he had this watch during more than 30 years non stop on his wrist and after the last maintenance in 2004 it stayed in the safe because he wanted a quartz diving watch to be up to date

DRSD as it is known is a superstar for divers.

number 3520XXX bought on the 17th of january 1975 in Paris,
first serviced 13th of august 1987 in Geneva
second and last service in Paris on the 18th of august 2004 before putting in the safe after 30 years of wearing it non stop.

The serial probably puts around late 1972 always an estimations based on other models serial. It was not unusual for a watch to be sold a couple of years after they are manufactured. The inside caseback may have some info. Also the bracelet if it is a 9315 folded links it could have a stamp date.
Wonderful piece of history to cherish.

the original bacelet was worn out and changed, I still have it and it is a folded links, I will check the details. For the inside back I am not willing to open it myself, I live in a tropical environement with +80% humidity and I don't want to risk to contaminate the inside.

No need to open it.  Whenever you decide to service it.  But only use a qualified vintage Rolex expert.  Rolex no longer will service unless you jump through hoops with the "heritage" department.  But there really is no need just keep the crown secure and always watch for any signs of humidity in the watch.

I am willing to schedulde a service soon but I need to find someone to trust before and I am not willing it to get out of my eyes a second
I know a retired from Rolex who told me they had people inside that was stealing old parts after servicing and was selling them outside, they often replaced all parts that didn't need to get replaced just to get the old one asside... so we have to be cautious everytime nowadays. those people were fired the moment they discovered the system

I just noticed it has the open '6' and '9' the 6 from "610m" and the '9' from 29 in the date. waiting for nexts 6, 9, 16, 19, 26 and 29 to show up on the date this month to see if it is also the case. don't want to turn around the clock just to see them, I should have watched the first day I put it on time and date and I didn't knew all that I have learned since. I got it the 29th and I took a picture at this occasion this is why I noticed it since

thank you all for your warm welcoms, it is a new experience for me !

Enjoy it in good health!

will take care of it and will follow the advise I could read in this place to keep it vintage and healthy

Thanks for sharing, Now, thanks to your father, it's your turn to enjoy on the wrist.

I think I am watching it more than reading the time at my wrist lol

and definitely one I hope to copy with my kids in the future.

I hope you enjoy the watch and make new memories as well as remembering the old. Best Drek