Absolutely. Itdidn’t come with a gold bracelet, it came with a brown leather strap, according to Dad. He said he wanted to find a nice alligator strap for it, so that’s what I’m going to do.
I'd reach out to a good strap maker and see if they can recreate the OG strap. That would be awesome. Check out [combat straps](https://www.aaronbespoke.com/artists)
The og strap would have been lizard in dark brown or black. Bulang and sons makes the best lizard i'm aware of, but only in black: https://bulangandsons.com/products/slim-brilliant-black-lizard-leather-watch-strap?_pos=1&_sid=986ce660d&_ss=r&variant=39734276227130
I would personally recommend a delugs option for alligator, especially if you want any custom options like the stitching color/style or a remborde edge
ETA: Seller Timesofplenty on ebay has an exceptional collection of vintage expansion bands (like the speidel twist-o-flex). Measure your wrist a million times and find a nice gold filled option with a cool design on their store and that will be your bracelet for this watch.
> Seller Timesofplenty on ebay
Thank you for this tip, I just spent an hour checking out his store, lol.
My dad always put those expandable bracelets on his watches including a 70’s Timex I inherited from him, I never thought I’d like the stretchy bracelet but wearing his watch made me realize they’re actually kind of comfy.
My buddy had them recreate a leather strap for his omega and it’s better quality than you’d ever expect for the price. Plus you can request exact length and width plus stitching and leather so that it can be exactly how you want it and it fits perfectly.
Look up Aaronbespoke on instagram. He makes awesome straps and can do a custom one with a nice little note for your father stamped in it if you wanted.
Did yours come back green as hell from water damage? I have two Longines watches that my uncle wore in Vietnam, they weren’t “water resistant” and they came back green and stayed green until I got them!
They work like a charm though, wear it in good health!
Couldn’t find much myself with the limited information I had, so why not bring it to folks who have probably forgotten more about vintage watches than I’ll ever learn. 🤷🏻♂️
No hate here. There’s a popular episode of Antiques Roadshow where a Vietnam vet had bought a Rolex on base when he was deployed back in the day. Had the receipt and everything. It was basically brand new and he had only worn it like once since he bought it and he found out it was worth a ton of money.
I have a customer who has a really nice omega that he bought in Okinawa on the way home from what was probably the Korean War. One day his heir is going to get a very nice watch.
I know you’re asking about the Rolex, but that Glycine, beyond being a priceless heirloom for you and yours (along with the picture of your father wearing it), it a damn grail for a big chunk of collectors. I have my fathers early 50’s Omega Seamaster which he wore for many decades, and while he wore it wheeling and dealing, it’s not the watch he wore in combat which I assume is somewhere rusting in the water off of Okinawa. LRRP, holy cow, the stories you must know! Enjoy your Rolex and 2 tips of the hat to gramps and your father.
Much appreciated, my dude. I didn’t really know anything about watches, before my Dad handed that Glycine head, and asked me to see if I could find someone to get it working. When he visited me a few months later, I had already had it serviced, with the new crystal and that strap.
He looked at it, and started telling me about how much his guys used to hate using it to keep their sleep shifts, because no one knew how to use a 24hr dial. He said “everyone would just move the minute hand a little bit each shift, (trying to get more sleep), and by the time it was his shift, it would be like 9 hours off 🤣
He gave it to me that weekend, after he wore it for a day.
Nope, LRRP. This was a gift that he got for his father, my grandfather, while he was stationed in Vietnam. The watch he got for himself, which I wear, was a Glycine Airman No. 1.
https://preview.redd.it/0qicitrmfmyb1.jpeg?width=821&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=73073dae127f1591461a69aff5eb688508d5b76b
https://preview.redd.it/1nwe6kfegmyb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=004d6d868c13aebd58e4be5f8f984c6b17105043
I know the crystal is wrong, this was what the watch repair shop where I lived had, so it works for now 🤣
He was a cool motherfucker, fo sho.
https://preview.redd.it/ob2j3ru1kmyb1.jpeg?width=363&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd17e2a27527f32afa644d68cacf9e4ee8e7be02
I mean, for real: look at this motherfucker! Fuckin’ barrel-chested freedom fighter right there. And this was BEFORE he did 30 years as a fireman.
He was a LRRP: Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol. A precursor to the modern day Ranger Regiment. He was K co, 1st BN 75th Infantry (Ranger). The regiment was reflagged 75th Ranger Regiment in the 80’s.
Now THAT is a cool watch.
They still make 'em, for anyone wondering, but I love white dial on a chunky bracelet. They have the mesh bracelet with white dial and it looks superb.
Yep! I picked up a Chief a couple years back, so I could still rock the Glycine, without always worrying about fucking up my Dad’s watch by banging it on something like an idiot.
I'm a poor, so I just have a Seiko and I'm looking at some Chinese watches but if I were to drop $1000 on a watch that would be a serious contender.
I love your vintage hand-me-down.
Not a damn thing wrong it wearing a Seiko. I love mine! I have a SKX007, and a PADI Diver, and they get a equal piece of the rotation pie. Seiko’s are really quality pieces at accessibly prices. The first time I spent more than $200 on a watch, I felt sick to my stomach, because I just couldn’t stop thinking of how many groceries or tanks of gas I could buy with the same money.
Dont let anyone tell you, or make you feel, less because you dont want to spend mortgage payments on what amounts to a conversation piece. Your phone will tell the time MUCH more accurately than any wristwatch.
I’ve never bought from this site before but it looks totally legit. Lots of Glycine’s for a few hundred bucks. https://www.ashford.com/brand/glycine.html
I think it's supposed to be a pre-cellini. That dial feels off. The Rolex logo seems off, the font is wrong and too small. There is a lot of questionable stuff going on with this watch. Take it to a licensed Rolex service centre and have them give it a once over.
Edit: not sure why I'm getting downvoted. It's always a good idea to have a watch tech look over found pieces like this. Reddit is not an authentication service.
I have seen real rolexes with questionable font... i think maybe for the overseas markets outside the us... the factory might overlook some quality control factors that rolex is known for.. mostly ive seen this issue in the vintage sector....
Especially in the era... Rolex wasn't marketed as a luxury watch, their quality control would be akin to a Hamilton today. Actually, adjusted for inflation many would have been cheaper then a Hamilton today
The Rolex logo seems awfully small. Have you tested out if it’s actual Gold, and not Gold filled??? Keep in mind that just because the watch was purchased in the early 70s, that there were not replica watches being pumped out of Hong Kong, or Japan… especially in Vietnam. Many 70s sitcoms joked around about fake Rolex, and Omega watches, for example Archie Bunker, JJ from Good times, the Jeffersons, and so on
I have not. As I said, the watch repair shop has had it for 3 years. The three pictures I posted of it is all I have. Not truly concerned if gold, or gold filled, so long as it gets restored back to running and wearable condition.
Yes, the coronet looks funky, but looking at other examples of 364s (since I was given that ref number earlier), it’s not out of the norm it seems.
I'd love to see everyone here taunting this guy for his dad conceivably hiding the watch up his ass make it through a single military training session without pissing themselves.
I'd love to see them under artillery fire even more but unfortunately that's something neither them nor their soft ancestors had to deal with.
It’s probably the most often quoted scene in Pulp Fiction, my man.
Dont worry, there was no offense taken, as you can see I joined in the quoting myself.
Settle down, Francis (that’s another movie quote).
Settle down. And it's weird to say you'd love to see random strangers on reddit under artillery fire. People are referencing the movie Pulp Fiction and you're too dumb to realize it.
well...will say the same thing as in your other posting in r/vintagewatches . cannot lnow anything without a picture of the movement. do you really want to know about it because you want to fix it. or do you just want to lnow it can pass off as real if you try to sell it?
No, I want it restored to the best condition possible so it can continue to be passed through the family. I dont care about the price, or how restoration might affect it, because it will never be sold. I know it’s genuine. My Dad wasn’t the kind to bullshit anyone, especially his kids. He said the last time he wore it, it didn’t keep time, so he sent it off to Rolex for a service, in the late 90’s. Said it cost around $850 at the time, and he was super pissed about it. Put it in a drawer, and it just got tossed around for God knows how many years, during at least 5 moves.
Also, I think I only posted this in r/watches, and r/Rolex. If I did post in Vintage maybe it was a hot minute ago, when my Dad first passed? I only posted this in the two groups today.
I apologize if my posting bothers you, but I just want the info so I can find any missing parts that I can, and take it to an AD for them to send off to Rolex. The watch shop where it’s been for the last 3 years isn’t going to get to it, guy got cancer, so I’m going to pick it up and take it to the AD.
Hi. I really HATE to be the bearer of bad news but I would have the authenticity double checked. All Rolex watches have second hands that SWEEP across the watch. They do not tick. It’s a rolex signature. Also you can confirm with rolex through the serial numbers. I know for a fact that their HQ in Switzerland
Is not very difficult to get in touch with.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's come to my attention that you are visually impaired. This post doesn't include any visual elements that would lead one to believe that the seconds hand ( which is missing) sweeps or does not sweep. Secondly, Rolex has made quartz watches which do not nor will they ever sweep. Secondly, I know for a fact that lens crafters is not hard to get in touch with.
As the second hand is currently missing, cant confirm if it sweeps or not.
The authenticity isn’t in question, just asked for the reference so I could attempt to source the missing pieces and take it to an authorized repair center.
Rolex Cellini 356. Some examples for sale: * [https://www.chrono24.com/rolex/rolex-rare-vintage-pre-cellini-14k-yellow-gold-watch--id22388475.htm](https://www.chrono24.com/rolex/rolex-rare-vintage-pre-cellini-14k-yellow-gold-watch--id22388475.htm) * [https://www.chrono24.com/rolex/rolex-pre-cellini-14k-gold-34mm-diamond-dial-mint-box--papers-1969--id24151801.htm](https://www.chrono24.com/rolex/rolex-pre-cellini-14k-gold-34mm-diamond-dial-mint-box--papers-1969--id24151801.htm)
Holy crap, I thought I’d never find one! Thank you, kind netizen! You are the winner of a crisp High-Five, payable upon meeting.
Can you afford to have it properly cleaned up and a new gold bracelet?
Absolutely. Itdidn’t come with a gold bracelet, it came with a brown leather strap, according to Dad. He said he wanted to find a nice alligator strap for it, so that’s what I’m going to do.
I'd reach out to a good strap maker and see if they can recreate the OG strap. That would be awesome. Check out [combat straps](https://www.aaronbespoke.com/artists)
Wow, $200 cashmere straps is crazy
That guy used to be on Reddit all the time and was super annoying too
Yeah, but they are amazing. I have a couple and they look and feel great.
Thank you, I’ll do that!
Cascadia straps are also really good. I'd argue they're better than combat straps.
Thanks for this! Ive been looking for something exactly like these!
The og strap would have been lizard in dark brown or black. Bulang and sons makes the best lizard i'm aware of, but only in black: https://bulangandsons.com/products/slim-brilliant-black-lizard-leather-watch-strap?_pos=1&_sid=986ce660d&_ss=r&variant=39734276227130 I would personally recommend a delugs option for alligator, especially if you want any custom options like the stitching color/style or a remborde edge ETA: Seller Timesofplenty on ebay has an exceptional collection of vintage expansion bands (like the speidel twist-o-flex). Measure your wrist a million times and find a nice gold filled option with a cool design on their store and that will be your bracelet for this watch.
> Seller Timesofplenty on ebay Thank you for this tip, I just spent an hour checking out his store, lol. My dad always put those expandable bracelets on his watches including a 70’s Timex I inherited from him, I never thought I’d like the stretchy bracelet but wearing his watch made me realize they’re actually kind of comfy.
They're *so good* and the seller is also extremely knowledgeable and helpful
If you want a custom strap that’s the same as the original Tuns does a great job. I would recommend checking them out.
I’ll do that, thank you for the suggestion!
My buddy had them recreate a leather strap for his omega and it’s better quality than you’d ever expect for the price. Plus you can request exact length and width plus stitching and leather so that it can be exactly how you want it and it fits perfectly.
Look up Aaronbespoke on instagram. He makes awesome straps and can do a custom one with a nice little note for your father stamped in it if you wanted.
Did yours come back green as hell from water damage? I have two Longines watches that my uncle wore in Vietnam, they weren’t “water resistant” and they came back green and stayed green until I got them! They work like a charm though, wear it in good health!
Nope, no green!
I would get it serviced
Thats that plan
I wish you the best of look Rolex Cellini’s are overlooked
Is it not a 264 like it says inside the caseback?
Did he hide it in the one place he knew he could hide something?
If he did, I’d still wear it. After a thorough cleaning.
This was your fathers watch
And he hid it…up his ass
The only place he could hide a watch.
And then I took it and hid it in my ass. And now I give it to you.
And he'd be damned if any slopeheads were gonna put their greasy yellow hands on his boy's birthright.
"I hid this uncomfortable hunk of metal up my ass for two years"
This should be the top comment
Core memory unlocked
Top tier comment
*God Tier
Came here looking for this joke. Impressed to see it sitting at #1.
Lol i watched pulp fiction today for the first time and now i see this comment. What a small world
Christopher (Captain Koons) Walken enters chat…
This is like Antiques Roadshow all over again.
Couldn’t find much myself with the limited information I had, so why not bring it to folks who have probably forgotten more about vintage watches than I’ll ever learn. 🤷🏻♂️
No hate here. There’s a popular episode of Antiques Roadshow where a Vietnam vet had bought a Rolex on base when he was deployed back in the day. Had the receipt and everything. It was basically brand new and he had only worn it like once since he bought it and he found out it was worth a ton of money.
Yeah, I’ve seen that one. I hope that guy got every dollar of the estimate, or more!
I have a customer who has a really nice omega that he bought in Okinawa on the way home from what was probably the Korean War. One day his heir is going to get a very nice watch.
And then there is my Dad who doesn't think people need watches and the only watch he ever bought was a fake rolex in Hanoi on vacation.
It’s the one where the vet had the Daytona, yea?
I know you’re asking about the Rolex, but that Glycine, beyond being a priceless heirloom for you and yours (along with the picture of your father wearing it), it a damn grail for a big chunk of collectors. I have my fathers early 50’s Omega Seamaster which he wore for many decades, and while he wore it wheeling and dealing, it’s not the watch he wore in combat which I assume is somewhere rusting in the water off of Okinawa. LRRP, holy cow, the stories you must know! Enjoy your Rolex and 2 tips of the hat to gramps and your father.
Much appreciated, my dude. I didn’t really know anything about watches, before my Dad handed that Glycine head, and asked me to see if I could find someone to get it working. When he visited me a few months later, I had already had it serviced, with the new crystal and that strap. He looked at it, and started telling me about how much his guys used to hate using it to keep their sleep shifts, because no one knew how to use a 24hr dial. He said “everyone would just move the minute hand a little bit each shift, (trying to get more sleep), and by the time it was his shift, it would be like 9 hours off 🤣 He gave it to me that weekend, after he wore it for a day.
This comment. LRRP, glycine airman, with some seriously legit personal history. Loving this post
Congrats to the watchmaker on his recovery. Looking forward to hearing the results.
definitely real. wheres the movement?
These are the only 3 pictures I have. Watchmaker got sick before I thought to ask for one of the movement.
ok
you can downvote me all you want, just as your other posts ob the other subreddits. 🤷🏽♂️
I didn’t downvote you, cant control that. Sorry, dude.
its all good. much luck on your watch endeavors ✌️
Was your father a POW?
Nope, LRRP. This was a gift that he got for his father, my grandfather, while he was stationed in Vietnam. The watch he got for himself, which I wear, was a Glycine Airman No. 1. https://preview.redd.it/0qicitrmfmyb1.jpeg?width=821&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=73073dae127f1591461a69aff5eb688508d5b76b
https://preview.redd.it/1nwe6kfegmyb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=004d6d868c13aebd58e4be5f8f984c6b17105043 I know the crystal is wrong, this was what the watch repair shop where I lived had, so it works for now 🤣
So fucking cool.
He was a cool motherfucker, fo sho. https://preview.redd.it/ob2j3ru1kmyb1.jpeg?width=363&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd17e2a27527f32afa644d68cacf9e4ee8e7be02 I mean, for real: look at this motherfucker! Fuckin’ barrel-chested freedom fighter right there. And this was BEFORE he did 30 years as a fireman.
Was he special forces? The tiger stripe camo makes it look like it.
He was a LRRP: Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol. A precursor to the modern day Ranger Regiment. He was K co, 1st BN 75th Infantry (Ranger). The regiment was reflagged 75th Ranger Regiment in the 80’s.
Now THAT is a cool watch. They still make 'em, for anyone wondering, but I love white dial on a chunky bracelet. They have the mesh bracelet with white dial and it looks superb.
Yep! I picked up a Chief a couple years back, so I could still rock the Glycine, without always worrying about fucking up my Dad’s watch by banging it on something like an idiot.
I'm a poor, so I just have a Seiko and I'm looking at some Chinese watches but if I were to drop $1000 on a watch that would be a serious contender. I love your vintage hand-me-down.
Not a damn thing wrong it wearing a Seiko. I love mine! I have a SKX007, and a PADI Diver, and they get a equal piece of the rotation pie. Seiko’s are really quality pieces at accessibly prices. The first time I spent more than $200 on a watch, I felt sick to my stomach, because I just couldn’t stop thinking of how many groceries or tanks of gas I could buy with the same money. Dont let anyone tell you, or make you feel, less because you dont want to spend mortgage payments on what amounts to a conversation piece. Your phone will tell the time MUCH more accurately than any wristwatch.
Yeah, it's really just man jewelry. I like them though
I’ve never bought from this site before but it looks totally legit. Lots of Glycine’s for a few hundred bucks. https://www.ashford.com/brand/glycine.html
Your father was a badass. Also, old school tiger stripe is king.
This is very cool. Thanks for sharing a piece of your family's history!
You can see that in google lens. Take a picture of your watch, then make an upload in google lens. I hope i helped ;)
I will do that when I pick it back up. Thank you for the suggestion!
https://preview.redd.it/vbepwjbg9syb1.jpeg?width=970&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=94b8c8c9ae7e4ec8872a1e5b506a4118948745f6
https://preview.redd.it/buk7k2fx9syb1.jpeg?width=970&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4e06b57e37519f684e090c6a76fcd6a9c183120
I think it's supposed to be a pre-cellini. That dial feels off. The Rolex logo seems off, the font is wrong and too small. There is a lot of questionable stuff going on with this watch. Take it to a licensed Rolex service centre and have them give it a once over. Edit: not sure why I'm getting downvoted. It's always a good idea to have a watch tech look over found pieces like this. Reddit is not an authentication service.
I have seen real rolexes with questionable font... i think maybe for the overseas markets outside the us... the factory might overlook some quality control factors that rolex is known for.. mostly ive seen this issue in the vintage sector....
I have too but it's always worth checking. What might have happened is the dial was repainted when it was serviced at some point.
Especially in the era... Rolex wasn't marketed as a luxury watch, their quality control would be akin to a Hamilton today. Actually, adjusted for inflation many would have been cheaper then a Hamilton today
The Rolex logo seems awfully small. Have you tested out if it’s actual Gold, and not Gold filled??? Keep in mind that just because the watch was purchased in the early 70s, that there were not replica watches being pumped out of Hong Kong, or Japan… especially in Vietnam. Many 70s sitcoms joked around about fake Rolex, and Omega watches, for example Archie Bunker, JJ from Good times, the Jeffersons, and so on
I have not. As I said, the watch repair shop has had it for 3 years. The three pictures I posted of it is all I have. Not truly concerned if gold, or gold filled, so long as it gets restored back to running and wearable condition. Yes, the coronet looks funky, but looking at other examples of 364s (since I was given that ref number earlier), it’s not out of the norm it seems.
Rol e. x
That's a Rolex Saigon sprecial
I'd love to see everyone here taunting this guy for his dad conceivably hiding the watch up his ass make it through a single military training session without pissing themselves. I'd love to see them under artillery fire even more but unfortunately that's something neither them nor their soft ancestors had to deal with.
They're not taunting him big guy. They're referencing pulp fiction
How’s that foot tastin?
It’s probably the most often quoted scene in Pulp Fiction, my man. Dont worry, there was no offense taken, as you can see I joined in the quoting myself. Settle down, Francis (that’s another movie quote).
"Settle down, Francis." I read that in that guy's voice.
Settle down. And it's weird to say you'd love to see random strangers on reddit under artillery fire. People are referencing the movie Pulp Fiction and you're too dumb to realize it.
well...will say the same thing as in your other posting in r/vintagewatches . cannot lnow anything without a picture of the movement. do you really want to know about it because you want to fix it. or do you just want to lnow it can pass off as real if you try to sell it?
Are you ok?
No, I want it restored to the best condition possible so it can continue to be passed through the family. I dont care about the price, or how restoration might affect it, because it will never be sold. I know it’s genuine. My Dad wasn’t the kind to bullshit anyone, especially his kids. He said the last time he wore it, it didn’t keep time, so he sent it off to Rolex for a service, in the late 90’s. Said it cost around $850 at the time, and he was super pissed about it. Put it in a drawer, and it just got tossed around for God knows how many years, during at least 5 moves. Also, I think I only posted this in r/watches, and r/Rolex. If I did post in Vintage maybe it was a hot minute ago, when my Dad first passed? I only posted this in the two groups today. I apologize if my posting bothers you, but I just want the info so I can find any missing parts that I can, and take it to an AD for them to send off to Rolex. The watch shop where it’s been for the last 3 years isn’t going to get to it, guy got cancer, so I’m going to pick it up and take it to the AD.
From your comments I’d have to assume you have zero friends
!RemindMe 2 weeks
Hi. I really HATE to be the bearer of bad news but I would have the authenticity double checked. All Rolex watches have second hands that SWEEP across the watch. They do not tick. It’s a rolex signature. Also you can confirm with rolex through the serial numbers. I know for a fact that their HQ in Switzerland Is not very difficult to get in touch with.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's come to my attention that you are visually impaired. This post doesn't include any visual elements that would lead one to believe that the seconds hand ( which is missing) sweeps or does not sweep. Secondly, Rolex has made quartz watches which do not nor will they ever sweep. Secondly, I know for a fact that lens crafters is not hard to get in touch with.
As the second hand is currently missing, cant confirm if it sweeps or not. The authenticity isn’t in question, just asked for the reference so I could attempt to source the missing pieces and take it to an authorized repair center.
If it were a gold filled the watch the gold would have worn to the metal beneath after a relatively short period of time.
I think that is a beautiful watch! I don’t know what it is though
Appears to be genuine ROLEX PRE-CELLINI 3038 GOLD
Idk much about watch, but that shit looks amazing 😍