INCOMING!! New Anniversary Sub Pics!

[SubKing]

I been searching for awhile for the right 16610LV True 50 year Anniversary Sub for awhile.. I was seeing prices all over the place for Y and very early F serials that were not so mint.. Prices that I did not really care to pay (9k to 10k). So I almost gave up and on a couple of occasions, almost purchased a later year 16610LV.. It's getting harder and harder to come across clean un polished, mint examples as it has been a few years since the discontinuation of these Subs; especially for a 2003 first year model which is going on 12 years now and most of them have seen a service or two..

Finally it paid off. I was able to come into contact with a guy who was the original owner of a very early F serial. He didn't wear it much over the years, never had it serviced, never had it opened up, never had it polished.. He still had the protective clear case back sticker on over the green hologram sticker for crying out loud. I removed the clear sticker as it was very dirty and did not want pitting from moisture to occur.

The watch had it all, i.e. double box set, bezel protector, all booklets, papers, anchor, polish cloth, green foam insert, tags and even the original green rolex anniversary tissue that the inner watchbox came wrapped in for goodness sake.. I had to strike a deal with this guy.. It almost didn't happen, but I guess it was meant to be... I had thought the watch was sold in 2004 but come to my surprise, when I received it, the watch was sold dated Dec of 03..

Serial number range is F02xxxx Which would make this a true 50 year anniversary Submariner. I couldn't be more pleased.. The seller didn't seem to understand the significance of a first year production LV. I guess only a small number of us crazy watch guys care about Mk1 dial, oval O, 5 tick, flat four, lime green insert etc.
here are the pics: Enjoy





here is a cool shot of a MK7 anniversary insert compared with my MK1 Lime green insert.

Here is a cool shot of the LV next to my 1680Red.

[zacharyjames]

congratulations! great watch

[Hairdude1]

Congrats!!

[jcd]

Congrats, that's a nice pair! They both look fantastic.

[Evad3]

That looks an awesome example! Many congrats

[Buttercup]

That watch is in amazing condition for its age! Congratulations on your find!

[bhfong]

Congrats! That's a real beauty.

[franzy]

Congrats! That is a great find. It's basically NOS.

[GerardoG]

Great watch!

[joli160]

Very nice find, congrats

[SubKing]

Thanks all so much!

I think the thing I am most pleased with aside from the watch being unpolished and crisp, is the bezel insert is so clean and mint. no scratches or marks, which is really incredible for its age. Can't replace a flat 4 insert.. Rolex will just replace it with a darker green pointed 4 Mk7 insert pictured above.
I'm really happy with it. The LVs are already very collectible and the first year LVs seem to be fetching a heavy premium.. Some people say it's a bubble, but if the watch is no longer available, it's only going to become more rare as time goes on I feel, from a collectible standpoint. Would like to know everyone's thought on that?

[mjclark32]

Great pick up! Love the 1680 too!

[Suboc]

Great find! I've been wanting an early one like that for some time. Seeing yours just makes me more determined to try and find one. Congratulations

[Chanieish]

Love that shade of green! So vibrant. Great story and congrats!!

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by Suboc

Great find! I've been wanting an early one like that for some time. Seeing yours just makes me more determined to try and find one. Congratulations

Thanks so much! Keep looking, don't give up, you can find one.. They are out there, it's just finding a mint example that is priced accordingly and not crazy high like some sellers are asking. Because of the scarcity of them, I guess sellers feel they can ask much higher prices over the later LVs..

[Kiddodoc]

I feel fortunate as I picked up a F serial LV in 2009 for 4,700 and they have definitely gone up in price. Enjoy your LV!

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by kiddodoc

I feel fortunate as I picked up a F serial LV in 2009 for 4,700 and they have definitely gone up in price. Enjoy your LV!

That's a great price congrats! Is your F early serial?

What is the warranty paper dated? I'm curious of the date for serial ranges on the F serials.

[watchwatcher]

Love the lime green bezel...congrats!

[JohnFM]

Two beautiful watches! Will you pick out my next watch for me?

[capote]

Congrats! Big fan of the LV!

[Kiddodoc]

Originally Posted by SubKing

That's a great price congrats! Is your F early serial?

What is the warranty paper dated? I'm curious of the date for serial ranges on the F serials.

Not at home to check and I cannot remember the date but number is low 4's.

[overthehill]

nice!

[SMD]

Very nice, and by sheer coincidence, I have an F02 as well and it too was dated December 2003. Cheers.

[Rags]

Congrats..

[GsurgBM]

Mine is an F serial sold in Nov 2003. Flat 4, mark I etc. Basically the same exact watch. It's a beauty. Congrats on your find.

[GsurgBM]

2

[travisb]

Nice find! Love your 1680 too!

[nick c]

Very nice congrats

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by JohnFM

Two beautiful watches! Will you pick out my next watch for me?

I can certainly do that and will take much pleasure in doing it sir!

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by GsurgBM

Mine is an F serial sold in Nov 2003. Flat 4, mark I etc. Basically the same exact watch. It's a beauty. Congrats on your find.

Very nice piece Brad!

your piece is very similar to mine except your insert seems to be a mk3 flat 4 looks like. Looks very dark exactly like a MK3 flat 4.

Was your insert replaced while you had it? If your serial range is low, it should have a mk1 insert, the higher F's have I believe a MK2 pointed 4 dark insert, then for mk3 rolex went back to the flat 4 but kept the darker green tone.

I would think if yours sold in 2003 it should be a low F and have a mk1 insert.

your insert looks like the middle LV in this pic. The mk1 "lime green" insert is just to the left of the middle LV