16550 Cream Dial

[wjviper]

Gents,

I’m looking at a 16550 9 mil serial with a cream dial. I really do not see many of these out there for sale. Any experts on these here? Perhaps someone could shed a little light on the different variations or point me to the correct thread.

Thank you

[BNA/LION]

Originally Posted by wjviper

Gents,

I’m looking at a 16550 9 mil serial with a cream dial. I really do not see many of these out there for sale. Any experts on these here? Perhaps someone could shed a little light on the different variations or point me to the correct thread.

Thank you

I encourage you to do a search here on TRF. Lots of information here... Good Luck!

[Tools]

It seems that new members are mainly interested in the latest-and-greatest.

You will have to research the older archives where we actually had discussions about the various examples out there.

Cream dials were a paint failure and only covered a couple of years of the Exp II production.

True Cream Dials are generally considered rail-dials produced in ~'85/'86/'87 with white gold surrounds/hands.

[grizwold225]

I have a 16550 cream dial Explorer II with 9 mil. serial number, rail dial, white gold hour markers and hands. I bought it brand new from Watches of Switzerland in 1987. At the time I travelled a lot and wanted a 2 time zone watch. It was just a white face when I bought it. It was only a couple of years ago, when I was Googling prices, as I have it insured, I actually found out what it was, and the values they were going for, so upped the insurance value on it! I've still got the original sales receipt and all the papers, stickers, booklets and boxes it came in.

[Wiener48]

Josh in Carmel (CA) has some https://www.fourtane.com/product-cat...vintage-rolex/

[wjviper]

Wow! Unreal. I do hope you continue to enjoy it!

Originally Posted by grizwold225

I have a 16550 cream dial Explorer II with 9 mil. serial number, rail dial, white gold hour markers and hands. I bought it brand new from Watches of Switzerland in 1987. At the time I travelled a lot and wanted a 2 time zone watch. It was just a white face when I bought it. It was only a couple of years ago, when I was Googling prices, as I have it insured, I actually found out what it was, and the values they were going for, so upped the insurance value on it! I've still got the original sales receipt and all the papers, stickers, booklets and boxes it came in.

[jatco]

Originally Posted by wjviper

Wow! Unreal. I do hope you continue to enjoy it!

x2..

[sillo]

Originally Posted by grizwold225

I have a 16550 cream dial Explorer II with 9 mil. serial number, rail dial, white gold hour markers and hands. I bought it brand new from Watches of Switzerland in 1987. At the time I travelled a lot and wanted a 2 time zone watch. It was just a white face when I bought it. It was only a couple of years ago, when I was Googling prices, as I have it insured, I actually found out what it was, and the values they were going for, so upped the insurance value on it! I've still got the original sales receipt and all the papers, stickers, booklets and boxes it came in.

Got any pictures? I'd love to see a few.

[jkesquire]

I am close to buying one of these but without box and papers. The watch fully checks out, all original parts, hands, bracelet, bezel etc. the cream is even throughout all parts of the coal/hands/hour markers.

My other option is to spend 10k more for a different one with box/papers however the hour/minute/seconds hands are replacement parts but still true to the period (that is, they have white gold surrounds).

Question is, do I buy the all original watch with even cream fading, or spend 10k for for box/papers but replacement hands? I’m leaning towards the all original watch without box and papers but would love to hear some opinions!!

[1665fan]

Original watch, newer hand and papers aren’t worth 10k more

[Tools]

Buying a rebuilt watch just because it has box and papers, over an authentic, original example is not a good choice.

The only time that box and papers become worth something is when they accompany, and are originally part of, a fully original, collectible, watch.

[16610v]

For cream 16550, the dial color is nearly everything.

Choose the one which looks the color changed naturally and speak to you.

hands are minor issue that you can find one matching color later which is much much less than 10k.

And you are not wearing the paper, sure its good to have a paper together but people are looking at your watch, your watch dial, but not the paper nor box.

Originally Posted by jkesquire

I am close to buying one of these but without box and papers. The watch fully checks out, all original parts, hands, bracelet, bezel etc. the cream is even throughout all parts of the coal/hands/hour markers.

My other option is to spend 10k more for a different one with box/papers however the hour/minute/seconds hands are replacement parts but still true to the period (that is, they have white gold surrounds).

Question is, do I buy the all original watch with even cream fading, or spend 10k for for box/papers but replacement hands? I’m leaning towards the all original watch without box and papers but would love to hear some opinions!!