Thoughts on these 16523s

[cemil]

Hello everyone.

16523 is a reference which is very special to me. Even though steel/golds are not as requested as ss, I love them. So I found these two examples which are on sale, and I noticed some points which confused me a little. As you all know, when buying a watch like this, details are very important.

Here are the info.

Watch 1
Year: 1995
Serial: W
Dial: MK3
https://ibb.co/3FFSg5x

According to my research this is a MK III dial (source: https://magazine.bulangandsons.com/b...enith-daytona/) and it was in production only between 91-93. The watch is a W Serial which is 1995-96. Isn't it weird?

Watch 2
Year: 1991
Serial: E
https://ibb.co/tmQMdQ2

And here we have two issues. First, the original paper states that the watch was sold in July 92. An E serial being sold in July 92 is normal??? And I can't be sure if this dial was the dial with which the watch came with. Technically speaking, E serials were in productions when the Mk III dials were being mounted.

If you have time and willing to answer I would have these questions too.

What price do you think they should have?
Which one do you think is more of a collectible piece?

Thank you all in advance.

All of this hustle is because of those fake/secondhand warranty papers in circulation... I can't be sure for anything and I feel completely lost.

[1665fan]

No such thing as a W serial number with inverted 6....

[cemil]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

No such thing as a W serial number with inverted 6....

Right??? What do you think for the second one? Do you think an E Serial with a July 92 papers is normal? July 92 is written by hand.

[jaisonline]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

No such thing as a W serial number with inverted 6....

Even on precious metal models? I'm not questioning you. Just I know we have seen some strange things (combos) in the past with 165xx PM models. It appears Rolex wasn’t as strict with updates on gold models as with the SS models. E.g. changes on SS models trickled down slowly (or even sometimes faster / before ) to the PM ones such as bezels. I need to look at my 165xx notes which aren’t with me.

[1665fan]

I suppose it’s possible with the 2 tone beaing a slow seller some inverted 6 dial might have been put into watches into later years( but never an inverted 6 in SS at W serial).....with that I do prefer the second watch which is older and I should definitely be inverted 6...it could have easily take a year or year and half to sell so that’s why the date could be so late on the papers.