Thinking about buying this 16800

[antonw86]

Hi!

First post here and I start off by asking for your help...


I'm thinking about buying this 16800 with 9.2 million serial. I have a few questions though and would really appreciate your input on this. First, the serial would date this watch to around 1985, right? Is it possible that a watch manufactured this late could have left the factory with a matte dial, or has this dial been put in to replace the original gloss dial?

How can I tell to what extent this watch has been polished? Should this ref have really noticeable bevels on the lugs?

Thankful for any advice/input you might have!

[antonw86]

Anyone?=)

[Im Lauf der Zeit]

Lower crown guard way overpolished?

[Daytona4130]

Your watch is either late '85 or early '86 I think. I'm pretty sure it SHOULD have a gloss dial with WG surrounds. I think that 1984 was the last year of the 16800 with a matte dial, and no gold surrounds.
Whether it's a factory change dial or not, I don't know.
And, I think those bevels, or "chamfers" are not original, but polished in later. They look slightly larger than they would have been originaly. It's a good looking watch, but polished (probably) and possible re-dial, I wouldn't do it.

[Daytona4130]

Originally Posted by Im Lauf der Zeit

Lower crown guard way overpolished?

I think it looks very overpolished. We need more pics!!!

[GB2]

16800 Matt dial was still on the Rolex catalog september 1985...

Imho, the very last one is 9.0M


Transitional period : we can find 8.6 WG and 8.8 Matt.

[Daytona4130]

Originally Posted by GB2

16800 Matt dial was still on the Rolex catalog september 1985...

Imho, the very last one is 9.0M


Transitional period : we can find 8.6 WG and 8.8 Matt.

Ok. So dial is definitely good then. I still think it's a bit overpolished. Thanks GB2!

[GB2]

Imho, take care!!!

I think 9.2 is too last.
And personally, I do not buy a Matt dial 9.0

[dysondiver]

not loving the polish ,, at that point ,,,, move on.

unless its a crazy good price ,
and welcome to the forum , some of the real experts will be along soon.

[Wing Zero]

1. I personally would not buy any 16800 with matte dial higher than 8.5 million
2. Dunno if it's just the picture... but those crown guards look like PCG (Pointed Crown Guard).

[springer]

Originally Posted by GB2

16800 Matt dial was still on the Rolex catalog september 1985...

Imho, the very last one is 9.0M


Transitional period : we can find 8.6 WG and 8.8 Matt.

The red Subs were depicted until 1979 in the Rolex owner's manual! My point is, it wasn't possible to purchase a red Sub in the late 1970s.

[springer]

The serial number is way past the accepted range for matte dials on the 16800. It could be possible but not probable. Most collectors would pass on a matte 16800 with a 9XXXXXX serial number.

The crown guards have been "ground down" excessively.

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by springer

The serial number is way past the accepted range for matte dials on the 16800. It could be possible but not probable. Most collectors would pass on a matte 16800 with a 9XXXXXX serial number.

The crown guards have been "ground down" excessively.

Agreed. 9mil is way too late for a matte dial. This dial is not original to the case.

[Daytona4130]

so i was right maybe!?! wrong dial?

[springer]

Originally Posted by Daytona4130

so i was right maybe!?! wrong dial?

Yes Jack....you were right! You da man!!!!!!!!!!!

[Daytona4130]

Originally Posted by springer

Yes Jack....you were right! You da man!!!!!!!!!!!

hahaha, Thank you! i am trying to become a 16800 expert, and i was upset that i was wrong. But glory be! thats not the case!

[greekbum]

Its a transitional watch. Having bought 100's of these and also keeping good records i can say this. I have bought many 16800 with glossy wg dials in the late 8.2 serial range and I have also bought with matte dial in the 8.3 range. The majority of these buys were in the late 90's from original owners. My own conclusion is 8.2-8.3 is the top of the range for matte dial. Could 1 or 2 show up in a higher serial? sure.. is it common? It wasn't my experience.