How Long into 2018 do you Anticipate Rolex will continue producing the SD43 50th Anv?

[westsiderkg]

Curious if anyone knows how long the red 126600 run will last?

Will Rolex perhaps cease production sometime this summer???

History Guru’s - How long have prior anniversary models lasted into production such as the 50th anniversary sub for instance?

Thanks. :)

[tyler1980]

i think Rolex is just happy to have a hot selling sea dweller for a change. The other one didn't get hot until Rolex stopped making it

[joli160]

About 10 years as the previous anniversary 16610LV

[beshannon]

As long as it sells

[westsiderkg]

Originally Posted by joli160

About 10 years as the previous anniversary 16610LV

Glad my wife doesn't make me celebrate our milestone anniversaries for a whole decade, lol....

[crazycarlitos]

Although Rolex seems to come out with new changes sooner than in the past, I don’t think the sd43red production will be short-lived.

666 lasted about 11 years
16600 for 20 long years
About 5 years with no SD produced
116600 for 3 short years

Thinking SD43 will last about 10 years.. and Rolex will introduce new sd for 2027
I will be shocked if Rolex gets rid of the red letters in SD43.
Happy, but shocked. Lol

[westsiderkg]

perhaps a better question is how soon after the 50th will the revise the dial or eliminate the red color?

[samson66]

No one knows. I'm sure the watch will be around for many many years. It's possible the red lettering may change to white after the first year but nobody knows for sure. I know I'm hoping that happens

[rossi46]

Originally Posted by westsiderkg

perhaps a better question is how soon after the 50th will the revise the dial or eliminate the red color?

Rolex doesn't do short term, gimmicky special editions. The red text isn't going anywhere.

[stevedssd]

Originally Posted by rossi46

Rolex doesn't do short term, gimmicky special editions. The red text isn't going anywhere.

Agree completely

[henry333]

Lol guessing at least 10 yrs

[Thaiguy]

I think it will be around for many years. Ordered mine two weeks ago. Can't wait!

[westsiderkg]

feel bad then for some waiting 4 years in the u.k. for these. guess it's good news though for them as it will still likely be in production if history has taught us anything.

[tng11]

Originally Posted by rossi46

Rolex doesn't do short term, gimmicky special editions. The red text isn't going anywhere.

+1. LOL to all the dreamers who are hoping the text colour will be changed so theirs will rocket in value.

(I will gladly eat my hat if I'm wrong though... but modern Rolex history gives this almost a zero chance of happening.)

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by westsiderkg

History Guru’s - How long have prior anniversary models lasted into production such as the 50th anniversary sub for instance?

16610 LV (Kermit) debuted in 2003, and was discontinued in 2010. That was the year the six-digit SS Subs debuted, so it wasn't just arbitrarily pulled, but was discontinued to make room for the new models.

The 116718LN (YG GMT with green dial, anniversary edition) debuted in 2005, and is still in production. I anticipate it will be until Rolex releases a new GMT case design.

Rolex could pull a fast one and remove the red line from the SD43 in a year or so, without otherwise changing the model. There's really no way to know for sure whether or not they will, but there's ample precedent that they keep anniversary editions in production, without alteration, for many years.

[westsiderkg]

So is Rolex purposely limiting supply on these or did they perhaps just underestimate imitial demand, or do they just not want to produce that many in the first place? Seems crazy some areas have to wait months or even years to get one.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by westsiderkg

So is Rolex purposely limiting supply on these or did they perhaps just underestimate imitial demand, or do they just not want to produce that many in the first place? Seems crazy some areas have to wait months or even years to get one.

There are countless threads on this topic (more generally about the shortage of all SS sports models), with answers speculating on all possible reasons. No one really knows. That won't stop some people from telling you what is "really" going on, though.

[sensui]

Originally Posted by westsiderkg

So is Rolex purposely limiting supply on these or did they perhaps just underestimate imitial demand, or do they just not want to produce that many in the first place? Seems crazy some areas have to wait months or even years to get one.

Truth of the matter is all stainless sports are experiencing a bottleneck from Rolex right now. You can speculate the reasoning (plenty of threads for this) and of course the SD43 is included. From posts/experiences posted here and what I've seen @ local ADs, it is still one of the sports models that's feasible to get without waiting too long if you're adamant and do your legwork.....this isn't a Daytona or blue Sky Dweller right now.

In regards to the original question, I'm going to go with minimum of 6-7 years on producing this reference from history.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by tng11

+1. LOL to all the dreamers who are hoping the text colour will be changed so theirs will rocket in value.

(I will gladly eat my hat if I'm wrong though... but modern Rolex history gives this almost a zero chance of happening.)

all of that assumes Rolex cares about future value of discontinued references. They dont. They care about current retail value and sales of current models.

Rolex after all doesn't even service their own watches anymore once they get old. Patek, or AP will. I would say they have more stake in long term value than Rolex. Rolex thinks you should buy a new one and not service a vintage one.

[aquatimerfla]

Originally Posted by westsiderkg

Curious if anyone knows how long the red 126600 run will last?

Will Rolex perhaps cease production sometime this summer???

History Guru’s - How long have prior anniversary models lasted into production such as the 50th anniversary sub for instance?

Thanks. :)

The 50th anniversary sub was sold for 7-8 years. I expect same from the 50th SD

[eltonbalch]

Based on lack of availability, I thought they’ve already stopped making them...

[Speed]

Please. I doubt folks will be waiting 4 years.

[AK797]

Removing the red text will make the watch less popular at ADs and more popular with greys, the exact last thing they want now.

[westsiderkg]

Originally Posted by Speed

Please. I doubt folks will be waiting 4 years.

I doubt this as well but that's what others are claiming.

[HogwldFLTR]

It has the new movement and everything is updated on it. The prior anniversary models were intro'd on the anniversary and lasted for quite a while. I don't expect this will be any different as there is no reason to change it.

[SeaDweller50]

Originally Posted by AK797

Removing the red text will make the watch less popular at ADs and more popular with greys, the exact last thing they want now.

Agreed. I think there will be many unhappy owners (not here) that were of the belief that it was going to be a Ltd Edition.

[DoctorA]

At least 3-4 years. Look at the 16610LV it was produced for a few years

[Starhutch]

I’m still on the list for mine...will proudly chime in if and when it happens

[Fabrice M]

I don’t think they will remove the red line anytime soon, however they may adjust something such as the typeface, kerning/leading...some little detail... then the first iteration aka the Mark 1 becomes more valuable than the second iteration, then if a Mark III comes out, the mk2 becomes more valuable as well, etc... Right now the MK1 sub 50tn anniversary are selling for much more than the other ones...

[oldman2005]

Yesterday, I dropped by a smaller AD asking about the availability of the SD43 as I had my name of their waiting list for the past 6 months, I was shocked when they told me they have not received a single SD43 yet! I'm looking to buy a second SD43.