Sea Dweller purchase advice required

[brissleboy]

Hi everyone, first post here so go easy on me!

I'm in the market for a Sea Dweller (16600) but can't believe how much they appear to have gone up in price since they were discontinued! I have been offered a couple and would appreciate some feedback as to whether they would be a good purchase or not:

'Y' series, £4.3k
'D' series £4.5k

Both include full papers and have just been serviced.

I really wanted an M series (last one I believe) but these seem to be even more expensive...

I am based in the UK.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

[colin hill]

I believe this watch will only continue to rise in value as with all other discontinued models, sub, gmt, etc.They are very robust models, Just check it hasn't been over polished before you buy as there are a few of these out there at the moment demanding high prices, as i have seen,the condition has not been that great.

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by brissleboy

Hi everyone, first post here so go easy on me!

I'm in the market for a Sea Dweller (16600) but can't believe how much they appear to have gone up in price since they were discontinued! I have been offered a couple and would appreciate some feedback as to whether they would be a good purchase or not:

'Y' series, £4.3k
'D' series £4.5k

Both include full papers and have just been serviced.

I really wanted an M series (last one I believe) but these seem to be even more expensive...

I am based in the UK.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

Assuming both are in similar condition and still have nice, crisp lugs etc.................

I would get the Y-serial since it has drilled-through lugs. I can't speak to whether or not that is a good price since you are UK based, but it seems fair since the watch was just serviced. I can tell you that the prices are not going to decrease. I bought an A-serial just a couple years ago for $3,200 with box/papers in really decent shape.

[Clay]

I agree with Jason...Get the Y series......You gotta have lug holes...

Here's my Y series....Good luck..

[brissleboy]

Bit of a novice question but the drilled lugs being the 'holes' above and below the helium escape valve? Are these better to have then?

Cheers for the reply guys!

[Paulie 50]

Originally Posted by brissleboy

Hi everyone, first post here so go easy on me!

I'm in the market for a Sea Dweller (16600) but can't believe how much they appear to have gone up in price since they were discontinued! I have been offered a couple and would appreciate some feedback as to whether they would be a good purchase or not:

'Y' series, £4.3k
'D' series £4.5k

Both include full papers and have just been serviced.

I really wanted an M series (last one I believe) but these seem to be even more expensive...

I am based in the UK.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

Buy the lug holed model, you won't regret it, and, as previous posters have stated, the SD is only going to rise in price. Buy and enjoy.

[Clay]

Originally Posted by brissleboy

Bit of a novice question but the drilled lugs being the 'holes' above and below the helium escape valve? Are these better to have then?

Cheers for the reply guys!

Yes, those are the lug holes......"Better" is a relative term.....

Some people like them and some do not...It's personal preference really...

The lug holes speak more to the "old school", the Sea Dweller as it originally was (1665).....It also makes it much easier to take the bracelet off and exchange it for a NATO strap for example.....

Either way the Sea Dweller is a great watch...

[Numismatist]

Given that both of your samples are almost the same price, I'd go with the lug hole version.

[brissleboy]

The choice seems to only be heading in one direction then... I am guessing that the Y series SDs must be the last with lug holes?

What must the watch come included with, can somebody point me in the direction of a checklist?

Cheers

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by numismatist

given that both of your samples are almost the same price, i'd go with the lug hole version.

x2

[dricig]

Good luck with the search, that's the fun part!
Both are similar in price and have full papers which is important but condition is the big deal. I see a bunch for sale that are overly polished, this is evident on the HEV (Helium Escape Valve) side with rounded HEV edges and polished HEV.
As for price, the best time to buy is the present since prices will continue to rise.
Lug holes or not? well, not that big a deal except that non hole is a newer watch. In a few years when the SD is vintage, the non hole version, having been made in far fewer numbers, may actually be preferred.
Collectors are a fickle lot!

dave

[Clay]

Yes, Y series was the last year with Lug Holes.....
In fact there were only 4 years that the Sea Dweller had Lug Holes and a Luminova dial....
A,P,K & Y series.

[S52]

Its crazy how much the SD has appreciated over the summer... before i left for my deployment in May nice ones with box and papers seemed to hover around the 5k mark... now those are fetching 6k+ only 3 months later... I should have squeezed the trigger on one before I left... still have a few weeks to wait till I get home to make a deal

[padi56]

Originally Posted by brissleboy

Hi everyone, first post here so go easy on me!

I'm in the market for a Sea Dweller (16600) but can't believe how much they appear to have gone up in price since they were discontinued! I have been offered a couple and would appreciate some feedback as to whether they would be a good purchase or not:

'Y' series, £4.3k
'D' series £4.5k

Both include full papers and have just been serviced.

I really wanted an M series (last one I believe) but these seem to be even more expensive...

I am based in the UK.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

Well as both watches have been serviced the case stamp is mostly irrelevant.As we all should know Rolex watches in general are good for 50 plus years no matter what the case stamp is.These case stamps are only a rough estimate when a case was stamped anyway.And in reality they are much like any other serial on any product we buy.But with Rolex today many think this case stamp is the most important which its not condition of watch is.Now with models like the 16600 SD its not changed a lot since introduction in 1988/9.The changes are hardly worth a mention let me see the non lug hole case started to appear around late 2002 early 2003.Then we had a LEC crystal plus a few minor fonts and thats about it.So the SD had quite a long run and all basically the same except for the case stamps and a few very minor cosmetic details.Perhaps in 20-30 years the lug hole ones might get a slight premium. But the SD in any form would not be on a must have list for any serious Rolex watch collector far to many around IMHO buy the cheapest one.There is much Internet hype about the SD value yes perhaps there has been a increase. But thats only to those willing to pay hoping to make a fast buck, but would doubt if prices will hold the SD is not a rare watch much like the other modern day Rolex watches.

[brissleboy]

I am not looking for my purchase to be an investment per se as it will be a daily wearer, I just want to make sure I'm not paying over the odds for something. Obviously, if some years down the road it was worth what I paid for it then that would be an added bonus!

If they only used Luminova dials for 4 years, what did they use before and now - Tritium? Don't they lose their luminescence over a period of time?

I am swayed towards the lug hole model as it is a little more 'retro', if that is the right word!

[landroverking]

I would go with the cheaper one.
As far as collectors go. People collect Subs, there are fewer SDs.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by brissleboy

I am not looking for my purchase to be an investment per se as it will be a daily wearer, I just want to make sure I'm not paying over the odds for something. Obviously, if some years down the road it was worth what I paid for it then that would be an added bonus!

If they only used Luminova dials for 4 years, what did they use before and now - Tritium? Don't they lose their luminescence over a period of time?

I am swayed towards the lug hole model as it is a little more 'retro', if that is the right word!

They changed over from the Tritium type dials around 1998 on all Rolex models now they had a lume life of around 12 years.From 1998 on they use Luminover or now Superluminover and whatever fancy name Rolex wants to call it.Now this lume glow should last the life time of the watch, like I said in my post because both watches have been serviced buy the cheapest.

[SWIMPRUF]

Y series.

[Ski Dweller]

I wear my as a "daily" and each time I visit an AD, they see the watch and tell me to put it in a safe and stop wearing it. Sorry, but it isn't worth that much and I'll be long gone before it EVER has a chance of being the Paul Newman Daytona or any such thing. The Sea Dweller would have to head north of $45000 for me to "put it in a safe". I presume that won't be happening. I don't put $45000 cars in a safe. In fact, I go off road with them and beat them up. You can't get much in the way of decent SUV for under $45000. So, Im not sure what all the hubub is about.

[brissleboy]

Just want to say a big thank you to those that have contributed to this thread, I really appreciate it! Looking to move on the purchase within the next day or so.

Cheers everyone!

[Sky-Dweller]

The last production serial of the SD was V not M.

[cdnwatchguy]

I prefer the lug holes myself so I would suggest the Y. As everyone else has said, the price isn't going down. Here's my K serial.

[brissleboy]

The deal is done, should take delivery in approximately 7 days! I am pleased as punch, looks like I'll be hanging up my Omega Speedmaster sometime soon...!!

[Numismatist]

Originally Posted by brissleboy

The deal is done, should take delivery in approximately 7 days! I am pleased as punch, looks like I'll be hanging up my Omega Speedmaster sometime soon...!!

Congrats! Which one

[cdnwatchguy]

Originally Posted by brissleboy

The deal is done, should take delivery in approximately 7 days! I am pleased as punch, looks like I'll be hanging up my Omega Speedmaster sometime soon...!!

A Sea Dweller and Speedmaster makes the perfect pair. A complete collection really.

[nauticajoe]

Either way, you will be owning one of the best diver watches out there.

Good luck!



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- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brissleboy]

Went for the Y series, prefer the lug holes too! A good day, a good result!

[Cabaiguan]

Originally Posted by cdnwatchguy

A Sea Dweller and Speedmaster makes the perfect pair. A complete collection really.

Totally agree. These two watches are very complimentary and they don't break the bank.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by S52

Its crazy how much the SD has appreciated over the summer... before i left for my deployment in May nice ones with box and papers seemed to hover around the 5k mark... now those are fetching 6k+ only 3 months later... I should have squeezed the trigger on one before I left... still have a few weeks to wait till I get home to make a deal

S52

Good hearing from you. Good luck on your SD acquisition.

And, thank you for your service to our country and its citizens.