GMT 17650 question

[ajg223]

Is it possible for a 866... Serial to have a matte dial? Or is this too late to be correct? Latest I've seen is 8.4 million. Many thanks.

[Sky21]

Anything is possible with vintage Rolex, everything that people think they now know is just a best guess from observations over time. There have been no official numbers ever published by Rolex on this issue. There are some members on this forum who are very knowledgeable and have been collecting, selling, trading, and observing the various GMT models for decades. I believe the general consensus from them is that the cutoff from matte dial to WG gloss dial was actually an overlap where both dials could be considered correct. This overlap has been generally observed beginning somewhere in the 8 million serial range and I've seen a few different numbers thrown around for the actual range. I think if you get to 9 million that's certainly considered too late for an original matte dial, but exactly where in the 8 million is too late I'm not sure anyone knows for certain.

[ajg223]

Thanks. Yeah that's about what I gathered from my research. I read on very detailed thread about different dials that made my head spin. From what I gather it's likely original although it would have been one of the later versions with the matte. It just doesn't seem likely that the dial was changed and it's in the no mans land of switch over...It's definitely an authentic dial so seems likely that it's original but I suppose I'll never know.

[springer]

8.6 million is way out of range for the matte dials. Definitely within the gloss dial era by a couple years.

I guess you're looking at that 16750 on ebay with the matte dial and 8.6 million serial number. (I've had a couple guys contact me regarding this ebay watch.) If this watch was correct, it would have sold long before now.

[onthedial]

@ajg223
Do you have the watch in hand? I'd love to see pics of the dial and case engravings.
___________
Instagram: @onthedial

[ajg223]

Ha springer you nailed it. So you are saying stay clear of that watch?

[springer]

Originally Posted by ajg223

Ha springer you nailed it. So you are saying stay clear of that watch?

It's your money, I'm not getting involved. The seller is here in Dallas I believe.

[Tom1675]

Originally Posted by ajg223

Ha springer you nailed it. So you are saying stay clear of that watch?

I think you knew the answer before you typed the question.