authenticity of rivited rlx bracelet

[fitch]

Hello,
first of all I'm sorry for writing in English instead of German but I feel I can express myself better in English and I hope you don't mind..

I would like to ask for your advice. A few years ago I bought a very nice 1675 from 1976 which had a very good quality rivited bracelet. The jeweler mentioned how rare this was since most bracelets from that time have a lot of play. A fellow collector that I met a few weeks ago noticed the bracelet and told me it was a replica (!) bracelet because it had screws on the links for size adjustments and he told me that original rlx bracelets never had screws... As you can imagine this shocked me.. I immediatly contacted the jeweler and althouhg he was friendly and helpfull he told me there was no way of telling for sure if rolex used screws or not in those days and it was also meaningless to contact rolex because they would not answer to such questions..

are there any experts who can please help me with advice? The jeweler told me that he wanted to compensate me if I felt bad about the bracelet but I would like to know for sure if it might be a replica bracelet before I take him up on his offer..

any advice is highly appreciated!

many thanks,
Sander
die Niederlande

[DeusIrae]

Yes, it is a replica.

Screws are only found in later 'heavy' bracelets. Adjustment of rivet and folded link bracelets is by opening the link by bending the inner metal portion and then removing or adding links.


Ja, is het een replica. De schroeven worden slechts gevonden in later ' zware ' armbanden. De aanpassing van klinknagel en gevouwen verbindingsarmbanden is door de verbinding te openen door het binnenmetaalgedeelte te buigen en dan verwijderend of verbindingen toe te voegen.
(Von Babelfish)

[fitch]

many thanks (also for the very kind babelfish translation).
i also made a few pics:
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2985/rivited16xb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

this is really a vey big disapointment... ;(

[fitch]

what would a good value be for an authentic bracelet? i was thinking around 500 euro but i am not sure about this so i would appreciate your opinion.. /

was würde ein guter Wert für einen authentischen Bracelet sein? ich dachte herum 500 Euro, aber ich bin nicht über dieses sicher, also würde ich Ihre Meinung schätzen.

[DeusIrae]

Original von fitch
what would a good value be for an authentic bracelet? i was thinking around 500 euro but i am not sure about this so i would appreciate your opinion.
For 7206: 300€ (good) - 550€ (new).

Für 7206: 300€ (gut) - 550€ (neu).

Voor 7206: 300€ (goed) - 550€ (nieuw).

[fitch]

Thanks! That gives me some reference when I go back to the jeweler especially since he sold it to me as a "new" bracelet...

[artbroker]

I have seen original riveted bracelets when the where restored they had screw ins instead of thr rivets to make an adjustment easier. These workmanship can be foud either in the US or also in the far east
These bands are not original any more but they are still authentic

[fitch]

do you know if these types still have the folded links in the midsection?

[artbroker]

One of mine has the other not
they have been replaced with full material mid links
So it is hardly to tell without a picture

[fitch]

does these pictures help?

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/8104/riv18hj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8512/riv29oc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img350.imageshack.us/img350/8642/riv32kt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7923/riv49id.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

thanks for your help!

[Spider-Man]

Hi Sander,

I have a 7206 bracelet which also has total #4 screws.

My bracelet was professionally restored by a wellknown watchmaker. He told me that it was the only way to repair these beauties! :gut:

so don't worry. yours could be an authentic one, my friend!

here is a scan of my bracelet:

http://i6.tinypic.com/1zfr62u.jpg

cheers from Germany

[DeusIrae]

Original von Spider-Man
here is a scan of my bracelet:

http://i6.tinypic.com/1zfr62u.jpg
Das ist ein Problem. Massiv Stahl Mitte Armbandglieder 7206 nicht hat.

Hier ein authentische Armband ist:

http://www.upaboveit.com/images/misc/rolex/braceletinfo/7206/2/91_3.jpg

http://www.upaboveit.com/images/misc/rolex/braceletinfo/7206/2/fe_3.jpg

[ehemaliges mitglied]

8o 8o 8o Was sagt man dazu?!

[fitch]

@ spider-man; could you also show me some pictures of the inside of your 7206? many thanks!

[arndt]

Here is mine:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/arndt/7206c.jpg

[fitch]

so is it safe to say that all 7206 bracelet had folded links? even if they have been modified to links with screws?

[DeusIrae]

Original von fitch
so is it safe to say that all 7206 bracelet had folded links?
Yes.

[fitch]

ok, then that makes mine a fake... :wall: time to visit the jeweler... :motz: