Help with 16618 Submariner with Swiss only dial ??

[Timeguy123]

Dear folks
I am planning on buying a 16618 Submariner with blue dial. It’s T serial. It’s got Swiss only dial. Is that dial viable to be the dial the watch was bought new ? I am under the impression that a T serial watches did not come with Swiss only dial. What are your thoughts ? Thanks in advance.

[037]

The 'Swiss' dial is perhaps a little early for a T serial but could have been changed during service a year or two later once Luminova dials were available. The original owner might have wanted the latest feature.

Or, the T serial case could have been leftover at the factory and shipped a year or two later with everything as configured. Parts are made in batches and it's not out of the question that a large batch of gold case could have been made and serialized, then took a while to be ordered, assembled and sold.

Serial numbers are a rough estimate, not a hard science, so either scenario is possible.

[Tools]

Internet charts are only useful on the stainless steel models, and then only within a couple of years. PM models typically lag by a year or more.

The T serial was made from 1996 through ~1999, so it is very reasonable to see a Swiss dial on a gold model.

Check the clasp code too.

[Timeguy123]

Much appreciate your input and time. Thank you.
Lastly , how many links should 16618 come with ? 13? Thx