Restoring a Retired Welders Rolex GMT 16750 Pepsi 

Nothing more beautiful than a tool watch that was used and worn not just stuffed in a safe. If you got them WEAR THEM!

it is called weld spatter, not splatter......I know, I am a weldor and wear my 1016 Explorer all the time, even working on cars, I have owned it since 1973...great video and channel, cheers, from an old weldor in Florida, USA

i love seeing someone who actually wears and tells a story with a watch rather than hold it to a "grail watch" state

It’s so satisfying to see a high-end, a luxury watch, let’s say it, being used and used a lot, to actually do what it’s supposed to do: tell the time and continue doing so, well, in all conditions and for a long period! And what a magic to see it come back to its original splendor! A marvelous restoration, bravo! Thanks for the video!

As a former welder I'll confirm that is well splattered

You charged £395? That’s a steal compared to what I paid in LA for a service to replace the mainspring on my Sub!

I rather liked it in its original state, scratched and dirty! Far cooler than a Rolex that's hardly ever been out of a safe!

It's hard to look at, but that's what Rolex is made for. Working in a harsh environment. The end result is impressive. Good work 👍👌

Its beautiful to see a watch being used and having the scars of whole life !!! I wouldn’t fix too much . Maybe the Saphire and the movement and leave the rest

Fascinating to watch this. My grandfather was a watch and clock maker. He had a very successful business and was still repairing timepieces until his death in the early 70's. My father trained as a watch and clock maker, but he unfortunately gave it up. My brother and I are addicted to fine timepieces, so I guess it's in the blood.

amazing, really love that u said the price as well for the job. Most watchmakers keep this on "silence" on their video.

Nice repair , I like the sympathetic approach to not over restoring 👍🙂

love the way the red on the bezel has faded

Really enjoyed the detailed explanation of the service. It’s also great to see a well worn Rolex that has lived a hard life and continues to run.

Wonderful. Love the character that has developed on this watch

Absolutely therapeutic, great work!

Beautiful bezel. Well worn, and well serviced to bring it back to life.

This is an excellent channel. I especially like the fact that only one manufacturer is the subject of the channel’s content. This makes for a more informative video as the watch maker is so familiar and experienced with the repair techniques and most common causes of failure of the brand’s movement.

What a turnaround. Beautiful conservative restoration. A tool watch used for what it was intended for. Great to see this one brought back to usable service again. Thanks for sharing.

Beautiful restoration. Love seeing older GMTs still in daily use.

Those older Rolexes were tool watches indeed - tool watches in the same way as SnapOn are tool spanners and StahWille are tool screwdrivers. And the dirt on that one, oh wow. I buy a fair number of used watches and straight away they go in the ultrasonic, but I've not had one like that GMT. So, only 3:50 in, time to watch the rest of the video!

Brilliant production & very fascinating…….I’m always in awe of the watchmakers craft……well done…👍

Wow! Great restoration will maintaining the watches heritage!

Great work! You absolutely transformed that watch into something brand new

The absolute best kinda’ timepiece…high quality, well-loved, & well-used…good restoration 🍻love the battle scars on case

Beautiful watch and amazing job!

thanks for sharing, pretty amazing job you did on this....I love the fact you left the "life"in the watch

I find this so therapeutic. You brilliant artisans

Good job mate. And do not care about haters.

Very nice work and beautiful watch

Incredible work.

Nice work, its a beautiful watch

Great video and a credit to your profession !

Such a great meticulous job!

*A well loved watch, which did its job well.*

Great to see another video, thanks

Very interesting! Cool to see how he used it so heavily for so many years and it lasted.

Wow....NICE work!

Amazing job!

Wow great video, that dial is so special

Informative and educational video. I've learnt a few things from this, thanks

Nicely done

It would be nice to see a bit more of the polish work that was done. Some side views at the end would be perfect. Great work!

Amazing job

I like to see a watch that has been worn. Top quality video

I am a watch collector/dealer myself, this is so satisfying to watch bro! Cheers from Singapore

Super job

Love it man! Bravo

I don't know too much about watches, but for all that tedious work I was expecting you to charge much more. Unbelievable that you can work with so many tiny parts. 👍👍🍺🍺

great video, would have liked to see more of the case restoration

You can tell the watch was worn and loved as it should be,

I found this really satisfying 👍

Nice to see one beaten and used 👍🏻

Nice video! Justo discovered youe channel. Interesting how a Rolex could be aforded by a welder back in the day.

Brilliant!

Love it. Lets not forget that many Rolex watches were originally "tool" watches ( as the video maker mentioned) and were intended to be worn in any environment. It wasnt until the last 15-20 years when Rolex prices started moving higher and higher that people started to view them as more of a luxury item than a work watch. Todays Rolex watches are incredibly well made, def better than the older versions. Im lucky enough to have several subs and gmts and they get a lot of wrist time., however, i would probably struggle a little if they were getting the beating this one got.

Great job. It may be my imagination but it seems like there are more quality watchmakers or just any watchmakers in England then there is in the United States. It's such a dying art in this throwaway society of ours. I have over 100 watches and I hesitate to buy vintage watches which is what I prefer because it is increasingly difficult to find a good watchmaker or any watchmaker to service and repair watches. It's not a problem with my Rolexes because I can send them to Rolex of New York. Although out of the dozen or so that I've sent they did refuse one entirely. I recently came to own a 1927 Hamilton railroad pocket watch grade 992 that appears to be an excellent condition sets runs and keeps good time but because I only see one service mark on the case back and because the amplitude drops from 280 down to 230 from dial up to pendant up I wanted to have at least a COA done or a repair if necessary. My local jeweler sent it to a watchmaker who basically refused to do the COA. It appeared from the conversations I had that he may not have felt confident in taking on the watch. I wish I could find a competent watchmaker anywhere. I'd love to see the watch done on camera like the GMT was even if it meant sending it to Europe... I gladly pay the cost. Oh well.

Wonderful

That’s a fantastic deal. My yacht master cost me $908 for its service. Great work!

Very nice

What would be an expected cost range for clean and service of a watch that has no need for replacement parts or cosmetic work? Simply, cleaning, oiling and calibration.

Very nice work. Just enough restoration but keeping it's patina. Took a long time to wear that patina in and shame would be to replace case and bezel too. Then it looks like all the other Rolex watches at the Pawn Shops. (It's where I do my watch shopping)

A very nice video. You explained the service requirement quite well. I suppose it's human nature to delay and push off the maintenance intervals. I am surprised at the charge for service. It seems quite low considering the amount of attention lavished on the piece.

Superb

Nice!

what would the value be before and after such nice restoration?

Great video. What watch you are wearing?

that's a very reasonable price for the great work done here

Do you use any type of cleaning agent in the tank whilst cleaning the case and bracelet?

When welding, metal spatter can get all sorts of places. Scarring occurs. Is it possible that isn’t dirt inside but grindings from it eating itself?

How does dirt get into a sealed case? I own a 2006 gmt coke. It was serviced in 2014 when I purchased it. Probably due for a service even though it’s keeping great time.

Wow ,I weld and wouldn’t where a watch at all 😮

A masterly piece of work. I would have chosen a new bezel after consulting the owner.

I would just clean it up, replace the crystal and keep the case as is with welding splatter, as it's part of the history of the watch, but great result regardless!

I have a milgause which will need serviced soon what would the price be for that thanks

Nice video. Could do with more case refinishing for me. I enjoy that more than the movement. But, just my opinion

I'd like to know the cost for this job

I'm quite surprised anyone even mentioned dirt, I watched the video and I don't even remember the dirt. In their defense (not really) there are channels that add "patina" to restorations but I would NOT expect that from this channel in a million years. I don't know what those people are smoking but please don't stop making videos I very much enjoy these and there's always going to be a bunch of idiots out there. Nature of the internet. This watch is nuts, half of me is physically ill from seeing slag on a Rolex and the other is amazed someone did that to it and that it survived.

What screwdrivers do you use?

Looks great but if it were mine I’d replace the bezel.

looks like a lot of DNA under that bezel..

Wait, are there rolex with hollow end links?

Weld spatter

Great job, onya mate 👍🏾 🖤 Why would you even respond to Boofheads and Trolls? 🤔 👊🏾

Nice vid, i've subscribed to your channel. Btw, it's weld spatter not splatter ;-)

I wear my GMT master 2 everyday. 24/7 I almost never remove it. It’s understandable.

This welder must be rich!!! Not a single welder here in the Philippines can possibly own a rolex. Not to discriminate but welders here are considered entry level workers with at the most can make $10 daily salary. One can possibly own a cheap seiko but they will not use it like this welder did to his rolex!!! 😱😱😱

Great video, you are very talented .

Nice work! I would have just Service the movement, clean the watch, change the Crystal but leave the case and bracelet unpolished

Is the welder was a millionaire or what ?

My brothers watch looks like this. Tore up.

Wow. Who would do that to a Rolex?

Wow they must be paying that welder a very good wedge !.

£395 really is a good price for a full refurbishment. (Especially that watch🫣) Maybe the expression: “rough as a welders bench” should be changed…🤔