Help with 16520 L-series authenticity

[Vintage12]

My first post and looking for help with the authenticity of an L-series 16520 model I'm interested in for the collection. The watch is in great condition complete with all the papers and boxes but is it 100% original...

First question. Mk2 bezel with 225, but with Mk3 dial (5-line, non floating, inverted 6). Is it correct and possible to have the Mk3 dial on an L-series watch, serial L2?

Second question. I was expecting a 78360 bracelet. This watch has a brushed bracelet marked as 78660 M4. When I google that I do not find much, although there is a bracelet like this for sale claiming it is "R-L series". Is it correct?

Thanks you so much.

[fmc000]

Can't see the pics, sorry.

[Vintage12]

Not the best photos but see if these will help. I would have expected a 4-line dial but perhaps it is possible these later L-series had the Mk3 dial. Also I would have expected a 78360 bracelet, unsure about the 78660/M4. Watch is claimed to be 1990 and serial is L2XXXXX.

[fmc000]

For an L2 watch I'd expect the 4-lines MK2 dial too.

I can't help you with the bracelet, I'd have expected a 78360 too. The only other example I can find on the net on this reference is also coupled with a M4 clasp (April 1988) and all the archive sites I can find never mention the 78660.

In any case, M4 is quite early for a L2 watch IMHO.

But, as usual, nothing is carved in stone with Rolex.

[Vintage12]

A closer look at the fonts on the 5-line and comparison with Marcello Pisani's post on the different tritium dials would now suggest this is a Mk4 dial. Although it does note the range (including L-series) is the same as the Mk3 dial and an inverted 6 is still correct. I guess I'm still unsure about this one.

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by Vintage12

A closer look at the fonts on the 5-line and comparison with Marcello Pisani's post on the different tritium dials would now suggest this is a Mk4 dial. Although it does note the range (including L-series) is the same as the Mk3 dial and an inverted 6 is still correct. I guess I'm still unsure about this one.

The dial is indeed a MK4, which is different from MK3 only for the font (serif in MK3, sans serif in MK4) but I still think that for an L2 only a MK2 is correct.

[Vintage12]

Thanks Fabio. I think I might pass on this one.

[Zoran]

Hi there,

I have the MK2 Daytona and mine is a L-427xxx serial.
There have been cross-overs with a MK1 dial and MK2 bezel, as well as a MK2 dial and MK1 bezel. Some later L-serials had the 225 scale with a MK3 dial
However, not in that serial range you provided.

Also, it should definitely have the 78360 bracelet, not the 78660.
This could be a "put together" watch to appeal to the demand.
If the bezel is original to the watch, it should have the 4-line dial or floating dial in the early L-serial range.

I would also pass

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by Vintage12

Thanks Fabio. I think I might pass on this one.