16618 Lapis Lazuli Help

[Curran]

My first post on RF!

I have recently been offered the chance to purchase a 16618 Lapis Lazuli dial Sub in a fine condition including original box and papers for a price in the region of £50,000.

This is a piece that I intend to enjoy wearing, but I also hope that it will appreciate with time.

However, I am finding it incredibly difficult to find information on the watch regarding its history and value presumably because of its scarcity.

I was wondering if you guys (and girls) could help me out!

Do you think this is a reasonable price? What do you think of the piece?

ANY information would be MUCH appreciated!!!!

C.P.

[HERITAGE82]

Pictures would be very helpful.

[nickb732]

It seems like Christie's sold one in 2011 for 81,000 CHF and another two years ago (without the bracelet) for 52,500 CHF, so it seems like a decent price.

[Daytona4130]

Killer watch. I'd love to see some pictures!

[The_Walrus]

A quick google search and I found one at Chrono24 for €35,000!

[acr]

Was this watch perhaps the inspiration for the earlier 116618s with flat blue dial?

[997.2]

NO pics!?!?!

[R.W.T.]

I'm surprised the one at Chrono 24 is there actually. I don't like the polish job on that case particularly. It could have been done better. But the price is righteous. You NEVER see these watches for sale.

I think the prices you are seeing are extremely reasonable considering the up trend that was out there a year to 2 years ago pushing 100k USD. The shift in currencies has some effect no doubt and also the economy. People may be a little strapped and wanting to sell.

A guy told me that he had definitely seen one go for close to 100k USD at auction but he couldn't find the link but sent me the 81 K CHF link at that time.

They had been in the 25-30k usd range. That was a HUGE jump and I was totally unaware. At that time 81k CHF was over 90k USD. That one is very nice. The one without the bracelet was kind of poop to me. If I were going to sell that watch...I'd FIND a bracelet.

They were made in extremely short supply. You'll never get an exact number.

The steel and gold 16613 is rarer than the solid gold.

They were all made over a short period of time. There are 2 dial variants that I know of.

You have specific serial ranges. Also rest assured Rolex KNOWS the information. Sure dealers could possibly have ordered a dial and installed it but specifically they know what watches with what serial numbers were shipped with those dials originally.



And since it is Easter weekend...the holy trinity.



Please post photos of the watch you are looking at and I'll try to help vet it.

PM me for more information if you like.

[R.W.T.]

Originally Posted by The_Walrus

A quick google search and I found one at Chrono24 for €35,000!

BTW it's 45,000.00 eu

Not 35,000.00

That's a big difference :-)

[The_Walrus]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

BTW it's 45,000.00 eu

Not 35,000.00

That's a big difference :-)

My search and post was back in February, you are now looking at a different watch

[R.W.T.]

Originally Posted by The_Walrus

My search and post was back in February, you are now looking at a different watch

AH didn't notice that I was away during that time.

...so the other one was REALLY too cheap.

Must not have been as nice for some reason. Wish I could have seen it.

[badass09]

are these lapis lazuli watches made with a different material dial or they just aged differently with the normal bluesy dial...??

[77T]

Lapis is a special stone dial. Not a bluesy.

[Lordofrolex]

Wow never even knew this existed. It's hard for me to see why someone would pay that. It's almost hardly different then the bluesy. But I guess it's more of a collector type piece.

[badass09]

Originally Posted by 77T

Lapis is a special stone dial. Not a bluesy.

Hmmm.. that's something new that i learnt today.. thanks for the info man..

So anyone know roughly for which period of time they were made or had to be specially ordered from rolex..??

[R.W.T.]

1993 ish.

There is some overlap...but very short period of time.

Only a few serial series I would accept as genuine factory equipped.

[SkyKing31]

Lapis on a 116234 would look really cool

[badass09]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

1993 ish.

There is some overlap...but very short period of time.

Only a few serial series I would accept as genuine factory equipped.

Oh ok.. so far i've seen datejusts, day dates, tt subs and full gold subs from that era with lapis lazuli dials.. has anyone seen them on other rolex models..??

[77T]

I have not but remember there are many aftermarket dials made. The only genuine ones wee always 36mm IIRC.


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[badass09]

Originally Posted by 77T

I have not but remember there are many aftermarket dials made. The only genuine ones wee always 36mm IIRC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hmmm i see.. but shouldn't the sub's lapis dials be larger than 36mm...??

[MitchSteel]

I am aware only of DayDates and Datejusts made with Lapis dials.
I'm still looking for a WG DD lapis dial, it's like hens teeth.

[R.W.T.]

Originally Posted by badass09

Oh ok.. so far i've seen datejusts, day dates, tt subs and full gold subs from that era with lapis lazuli dials.. has anyone seen them on other rolex models..??

Yes there are oyster perpetual "date" models in lapis too. Slow set and quickset.

RARER than RARE but they do exist.

[R.W.T.]

And the 93 ish was meant on the subs only.

Datejusts and Day Dates go back to the mid 70's for sure....and continued for a time after the subs were discontinued I'm fairly sure.

[badass09]

Originally Posted by MitchSteel

I am aware only of DayDates and Datejusts made with Lapis dials.
I'm still looking for a WG DD lapis dial, it's like hens teeth.

Saw a wg dd with lapis dial for sale here in singapore.. it's still up for sale but the seller is asking for like $38k plus SGD..

[Daytonaman799]

A steel Dj with a Lapis dial just sold at the Phillips Geneva sale and fetched a big price. The rarer stone dials have done well lately....Lapis, Jasper, Malachite. All super cool. The subs were pretty rare and also have been getting big prices lately. A sub just sold at Sotheby's or Christies i think. They were pretty rare...an even bolder blue than the traditional bluesy.

[R.W.T.]

The dial would be okay in a WG or a stainless watch.

Though dial for sure. Very uncommon in stainless and WG dj is also quite uncommon.

[badass09]

Do rolex still make watches with the lapis dial..??

[Haywood_Milton]

Since the thread has widened to general lapis dial Rolexes, here is a Datejust for sale in London :

http://www.watchcentre.com/product/r...a1ba1-15713401

I have no connection with the seller.

Haywood