My Father's Watch

What does it mean for a watch that has accompanied my father throughout his life to come to me?

A watch owned by Darren's father, A reliable member of VIVER, Has arrived at VIVER Labs. The request was made to VIVER Labs for an overhaul and polishing, As the client wished to inherit and use the watch purchased by his parents during their honeymoon in 1986.

Rolex Datejust Ref. 16013

This watch is the Rolex Datejust Ref. 16013. It is a representative two-tone model of the Datejust, Produced from 1977 and discontinued in 1988. It is the model often referred to as the 'Rolex two-tone' by many. The current Datejust Ref. 126233, Which is still in production, Does not look much different. It is a traditional model that carries on the heritage of the Rolex Datejust.

Datejust 36 16013

36mm, Champagne/Roman, Jubilee

Datejust 36 16013

36mm, Ivory/Pyramid Roman, Jubilee

Datejust 36 126233

36mm, Champagne, Jubilee

First Overhaul in 38 Years

A mechanical watch requires regular overhauls. However, There are surprisingly many people who do not regularly maintain their watches. This watch was no exception. Because it was so robust and rarely broke down, It was used for a long time without an overhaul even if the time was a bit off. It has also been a long time since it was polished or cleaned. First, We examined the exterior of the watch.

There was rust, Dust, And other foreign substances in the bezel, Case, And bracelet gaps.

Corroded hands, Glass full of scratches

The hands were corroded due to age, And there were many scratches on the glass and clasp.

After checking the exterior, We also inspected the condition of the watch. We checked the daily deviation, Beat error, And amplitude, Then began the full overhaul.

For a perfect overhaul and polishing, The engineer and polisher at VIVER Labs worked together simultaneously.

Datejust disassembled for overhaul and polishing

As the watch had never been overhauled, The rubber gasket had hardened and broken. Naturally, The water resistance was not intact. The movement inside the watch was also full of old oil residue, So the work took a long time.

Process of placing internal parts in a basket for cleaning

Every part of the movement was disassembled and cleaned one by one.

Polishing

Meanwhile, Polishing was also carried out at the same time. All components were thoroughly cleaned to remove foreign substances, And as the scratches disappeared, The watch returned closer to its original Rolex appearance.

Datejust after polishing

After completing the most difficult process, The bezel cut (polishing while preserving the angles of the fluted bezel), The polishing was finished.

Checking the polishing condition

The overhauled movement was placed into the sparkling case, And the glass was replaced and assembled.

Water resistance test

The condition of the watch after the overhaul has returned to normal. Fortunately, It passed the water resistance test, And the figures for deviation, Beat error, And amplitude are also in good condition. With proper maintenance, A mechanical watch can be used almost permanently. Of course, Expert care by skilled professionals like those at VIVER Labs is essential.

Datejust after polishing and overhaul at VIVER Labs

VIVER Polishing Before, After

Discovering New Value in a Watch

Although this watch first met its owner in 1986, It has now been passed down to his son, Who will continue its new value. The name VIVER means Make Value Flow like River, Signifying the idea of finding value in a drawer and letting it flow anew. We hope you experience the added value through a watch reborn at VIVER.

*Please note that the overhaul and polishing services at VIVER Labs are currently only available for products sold or purchased through VIVER.

Overhauling&Polishing a Rolex Datejust from 1986

You can see the process of a watch being reborn in more detail on the VIVER YouTube channel.