16610 m-serie, wrong glass?

[Marikong]

Just bought this 16610 M-serie been told that it is untouched.
Is it truly the right glass for this watch and serie? It looks that it has AR and I think that the mag in cyclops makes the date look to big compared to similar 16610 from 2007.

Thanks for help :)

[thesharkfactor]

Your date font seems very bold. I think the last of the 5 digit watches has AR on the cyclops (M&V serial)..but that date font is not right. There are very high quality fakes of this model out there, the only giveaway to the trained eye being the bold date font...I'm suspicious of this watch, have you any more details on it?

[Marikong]

Thank you for your answer, it have the fullest, with stamped certificate and also sold here in Sweden, and tag with correct numbers. with the Byers name on it so I am pretty sure it’s legit, how ever curious if the glass have been changed to a “cheap” or wrong glass. Or if it was sold like this. Sold from Rolex dealer in Sweden 2010/5

But also compared to other 16610 I se the same od look this have.
It’s like it’s times x3 when looking if you now what I mean.

[jaisonline]

Speaking about only the crystal...
I believe 16610s didn't come with AR coating until G ('10) and random serials.

I do know RSC replaces 5 digit non-AR date crystals with AR ones when it needs replacing. At least in my 2 recent experiences.
E.g. my last 2 16710s that had 1 crystal chip each were replaced with AR ones by RSC (NYC and Dallas). The 2018 was done late last yr and the other is being done now. Rolex put on the invoice an Anti-reflective crystal was being put on (“SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL D29.5 1.8 CYCLOPS ANTI-REFL &GASK...$180)

[Marikong]

Ok i Will check

[Daveclock]

I sold my 16610 2010 random serial number a while ago, sadly.

But in my limited knowledge if the crystal was changed by RSC - it then has "S" in the LEC?

Here is my AR date mag, hope this may be of some help?!

[jaisonline]

Originally Posted by Marikong

So it looks like I’m been fooled by the seller if he says it’s untouched.

Don't be so quick. I don't see too many 16610LNs with a repro date wheel or crystal . Just doesn’t make sense since the watch doesn’t command vast prices on the secondary markets like the 16610LV and 16710. When I get home, I’ll look at my own M serial 16610.

Do you see the Rolex laser engraved crown on the crystal?

Note: according to this link, AR crystals started with late V serials in 2009. Sorry, I was slightly off in my post above.

http://thegreengmthand.com/about/use...iglare_cyclops

[jaisonline]

Originally Posted by Daveclock

I sold my 16610 2010 random serial number a while ago, sadly.

But in my limited knowledge if the crystal was changed by RSC - it then has "S" in the LEC?

Here is my AR date mag, hope this may be of some help?!

RSC stopped using the sideways S inside the crown last etching. Now all service dials have the same crown as reg crystals.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showpost...1&postcount=15

[thesharkfactor]

Does it have the laser etching on the glass as it should have.. you can check by placing the flashlight from your mobile phone right on the edge of the glass, the LEC will light up if you have one.
If it's not there, then you have an aftermarket crystal..and I would suspect a history of a broken glass and subsequently a damaged date wheel with both items having been replaced with aftermarket parts.

Just speculating.. have a look with your flashlight and come back.

[SubMarine]

Looks like a perfect and unpolished example to me. Congrats!

[Benjamin Choi]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

Does it have the laser etching on the glass as it should have.. you can check by placing the flashlight from your mobile phone right on the edge of the glass, the LEC will light up if you have one.
If it's not there, then you have an aftermarket crystal
Just speculating.. have a look with your flashlight and come back.

Do all the 16610s have the laser etched crown on glass? I have a V-series. I don't see it.
Thanks.

[jaisonline]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Choi

Do all the 16610s have the laser etched crown on glass? I have a V-series. I don't see it.
Thanks.

...started in 2001, and was then implemented throughout the entire Rolex line including the Cellini models in 2003.

http://thegreengmthand.com/about/use..._serial_number

[bluered]

Comparing my m seris 16613 serti that never been touched no Ar coating and my date wheel seems to have thinner numbers not so bold as your picture.

[Marikong]

I took the watch to Rolex AD here in Sweden for a checkup.
The watch were sold new from Rolex shop in late 2010, the watchmaker says nothing wrong with the glass or the date wheel, all genuine watch.
Checking inside the watch to, Pressure tested and ready to get pickup from shop.

[Monte Cristo]

Great news, now you can sleep at night

[csaltphoto]

Great news! Still might need a service though. I bought a similar watch that was basically unworn from about the same time. The service place opened it and it looked like a Rolex catalog picture but all the lubricants had dried up and while it passed a pressure test, the gaskets were dry. I left it there since I wanted it to have a new happy life.

[phwtan]

I had a similar issue with my 2008 V series LN that I bought used. The date looked slightly more bold than other 16610s. Felt a bit nervous after I noticed it as I’d read on forums that the “tell” on some high-end replicas was a bolder than usual font!

I found a small number of late M series 16610s on chrono24 that had similar bold dates and felt more at ease. Came across quite a few LVs that also had slightly more bold dates too, so maybe they shared components between the LNs and LVs.

Still felt the need to confirm with Rolex to be 100% sure, so I asked the technician at Rolex service centre in St James , London when I brought it in to get the bezel insert replaced. He thought it looked fine and he brought it out back to his more experienced colleague to verify as well and they both agreed it wasn’t a problem and that it was original ! What a relief !