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Old 1 July 2021, 08:21 AM   #1
Archimede
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Sea-Dweller 16600 dial variations

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Hi all

I’ve found a sea dweller 16600 from 2008 with M serial for sale and I’m interested. However the watch in question comes WITHOUT the minute markings under the ‘Swiss made’ text at 6 o’clock.
I’ve tried to understand if there were different dials around 2008 but I could not find reliable info. On chrono 24 there are examples both with and without minutes markings. Anybody can help?

For reference, the only info online I found is this: https://www.watchprozine.com/rolex/s...s/5595173/732/


Thanks so much
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Old 1 July 2021, 05:46 PM   #2
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Well in the real world seeing dials are made in 3 different factories now all owned by Rolex there has always been and always will be tiny variations on most all dials in production runs.
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Old 2 July 2021, 01:57 AM   #3
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Sea-Dweller 16600 dial variations

For the 16600 SD 2008 M-series there are both dial variations, with and w/o minute markers below SWISS MADE.

The four line texts are also slightly different. Post a picture of the watch you are interested in. The combination of minute markers and text style will tell.
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Old 2 July 2021, 06:29 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padi56 View Post
Well in the real world seeing dials are made in 3 different factories now all owned by Rolex there has always been and always will be tiny variations on most all dials in production runs.
This does seem to be true. I've got a 2004 F serial Sea Dweller where the spacing between Oyster Perpetual Date is larger than most, and the a in swiss made lines up differently. I've only ever been able to find other 2004 SDs with this dial, none before or since.
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Old 2 July 2021, 06:35 PM   #5
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Sea-Dweller 16600 dial variations

Here is my M serial 16600. Not sure if serial number related, but I left part of my serial in case it matters.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Old 2 July 2021, 09:50 PM   #6
7enderbender
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Looks same as my 2006 Z-series. Same missing minute markers and spacing of the ft and m line.
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Old 3 July 2021, 07:10 AM   #7
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Hi guys
thanks so much for your answers. I don't think I can post images here, so here you are two links:

https://berkeley.box.com/s/ezi6imftl...bprttvda8hbww2

https://berkeley.box.com/s/n6di2vorr...k8xnuosuixyuvl

This is the watch I'd like to buy.

Please let me know what you think!
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Old 3 July 2021, 07:22 AM   #8
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Sea-Dweller 16600 dial variations

Quote:
Originally Posted by Archimede View Post
I don't think I can post images here.
Why? Here are OP's photos ...



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Old 3 July 2021, 07:37 AM   #9
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Why?
thanks for posting the images
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Old 3 July 2021, 07:39 AM   #10
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@saxo3 Does the dial look ok to you?
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Old 3 July 2021, 07:44 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Archimede View Post
thanks for posting the images

I quickly assembled a comparison for you.

Left is yours. Right is a 2008 M8xxxxx

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Old 3 July 2021, 07:48 AM   #12
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Sea-Dweller 16600 dial variations

Quote:
Originally Posted by Archimede View Post
@saxo3 Does the dial look ok to you?

Look in detail at the text form, the letter positions, and the markers close to 'SWISS MADE' That looks very similar to me.
The quality of your photos is not so good. Can you get better ones?
Have a look at all minute markers at the outer radius of the dial. Sometimes tiny bits are missing.
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Old 3 July 2021, 07:51 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saxo3 View Post
Look in detail at the text form, the letter positions, and the markers close to 'SWISS MADE' That looks very similar to me.
The quality of your photos is not so good. Can you get better ones?
Thanks so much!! Amazing work :) Yes, I agree, they seem very similar. To be honest, even if the seller is a not a shop, I had good feelings during the message exchange we had. He accepted to let me see the watch in person, so I may do this tomorrow.

I'm always a bit scared for this kind of watches, but it seems all good for now...
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Old 3 July 2021, 07:59 AM   #14
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Sea-Dweller 16600 dial variations

Look very carefully at the entire dial, the hands, the insert, the lugs, the crown guards, the case, the HEV....

Take your own photos, under good light conditions. Also use a pocket UV lamp for lume inspection, take photos under UV.
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Old 3 July 2021, 09:25 AM   #15
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Thanks. What should I look for specifically with UV?
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Old 4 July 2021, 01:42 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by Archimede View Post
Thanks. What should I look for specifically with UV?

The dial indexes and hands have Superluminova. Under UV you can better see inhomogenities or defects of the lume.

But I would not expect any issue for a 2008 Sea-Dweller. UV can be very useful for tritium inspection of older dials.
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Old 5 July 2021, 05:37 AM   #17
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Thanks very much. The watch looks very good under UV.
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Old 5 July 2021, 05:37 AM   #18
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and it is in overall good shape
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Old 5 July 2021, 12:05 PM   #19
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16600 is such a nice reference
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Old 5 July 2021, 04:08 PM   #20
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Swiss only with minute markers. I think from late 1990’s.don’t remember.
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Old 14 July 2021, 10:25 PM   #21
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Sea-Dweller 16600 dial variations

Quote:
Originally Posted by Archimede View Post
Thanks very much. The watch looks very good under UV.
How did the story continue?
You have seen the watch and taken some photos that you will share here?
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Old 10 August 2021, 09:59 AM   #22
Archimede
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Dear all,

I apologize for the delay. I finally saw the watch in person and liked it very much. I think that it is a legitimate version of the dial. The conditions of the watch were superb.
Thanks for your support!
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Old 15 August 2021, 07:06 AM   #23
saxo3
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Sea-Dweller 16600 dial variations

Quote:
Originally Posted by Archimede View Post
The conditions of the watch were superb.
Thanks for your support!
Did you buy?
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