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16800 insert questions

M
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Dan S Dan S
IIRC, transitional 16800 pieces from the early 1980s are the exception to this.

The early 16800s had the matte dial of the earlier 1680. The later 16800s adopted the glossy dials which also went into the transitional 168000 and subsequent Subs.

As a general rule, the bezel pip ring should match the hour markers. The size of it varied - on original bezel inserts the “pip ring” would stay within the borders of the surrounding triangle. On service inserts the ring is thicker and exceeds the border of the enclosing triangle. Or that’s the general consensus of the hive mind at least wrt to pips.
 
Dan S
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M morningtundra
The early 16800s had the matte dial of the earlier 1680. The later 16800s adopted the glossy dials which also went into the transitional 168000 and subsequent Subs.

As a general rule, the bezel pip ring should match the hour markers. The size of it varied - on original bezel inserts the “pip ring” would stay within the borders of the surrounding triangle. On service inserts the ring is thicker and exceeds the border of the enclosing triangle. Or that’s the general consensus of the hive mind at least wrt to pips.

OK, you are really making me doubt my sanity, so to double-check, I just looked at about 50 ref 16800 examples from 1981 to 1984 on HQ Milton with matte dials and lume plots with no white gold surrounds on the dial. Every single one had a lume pip with a metal surround. Every ... single ... one.

Maybe I am misunderstanding your comment. Are you saying that all of these are replacement inserts? Can you post a link to the hive mind consensus that says these early matte dial 16800 watches should have an insert without a metal ring?
Edited:
 
M
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Dan S Dan S
OK, you are really making me doubt my sanity, so to double-check, I just looked at about 50 ref 16800 examples from 1981 to 1984 on HQ Milton with matte dials and lume plots with no white gold surrounds on the dial. Every single one had a lume pip with a metal surround. Every ... single ... one.

Maybe I am misunderstanding your comment. Are you saying that all of these are replacement inserts? Can you post a link to the hive mind consensus that says these early matte dial 16800 watches should have an insert without a metal ring?

I can't and you may be right, but that's my understanding. And considering the vast number of loose inserts (and dials) floating around, who the hell knows for sure... And we know Rlx used up inventory on these transitionals.

Out of curiosity, were many you observed "ghosted" or otherwise "beautifully aged"?

I apologize if I opened a can of worms, and sent you down a bottomless rabbit hole...
 
jaguar11
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R3D9 R3D9
From what I’ve seen with other examples, it seems fairly common for these early 80’s pearls to turn much darker than the dial and hands. I’ve seen it on dozens of examples. Just one of those quirks, I guess?
mine is the same with a much darker pip but with metal surround....
 
Dan S
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M morningtundra
I can't and you may be right, but that's my understanding. And considering the vast number of loose inserts (and dials) floating around, who the hell knows for sure... And we know Rlx used up inventory on these transitionals.

Out of curiosity, were many you observed "ghosted" or otherwise "beautifully aged"?

I apologize if I opened a can of worms, and sent you down a bottomless rabbit hole...

1981/82 Submariner booklet. Yellow and white metal surrounds on the appropriate inserts for 16808 and 16800, respectively. Extending outside the triangle. The 5513 illustration appears to show the pearl without surround, as expected, entirely within the triangle as you described.


booklet3.jpg 5513_booklet4.jpg
Edited:
 
ATWG
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I had initially made the same mistake in my original post. Much like Dan, out of curiosity I went to a few dealer sites and found all matte 16800’s with metal rings.
 
SuperHero
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R3D9 R3D9
I have a better picture to share now! I’ve noticed subtle differences between a variety of compatible inserts... the 40 in particular... how long the bottom part of the bisected vertical line of the four seems, in particular, to vary.

1F738F1A-7D6B-4C9E-82B8-9CD76F4138D1.jpeg

Now that’s a well used Sub! Love it!
 
M
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Dan S Dan S
1981/82 Submariner booklet. Yellow and white metal surrounds on the appropriate inserts for 16808 and 16800, respectively. Extending outside the triangle. The 5513 illustration appears to show the pearl without surround, as expected, entirely within the triangle as you described.


booklet3.jpg 5513_booklet4.jpg
You are indeed correct and I am wrong. Apologies for the misdirection.
 
M
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ATWG ATWG
I had initially made the same mistake in my original post. Much like Dan, out of curiosity I went to a few dealer sites and found all matte 16800’s with metal rings.
Yes, I am misinformed.
 
Dan S
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M morningtundra
You are indeed correct and I am wrong. Apologies for the misdirection.

These are healthy debates, since it prompted me to make some extra effort and find those booklet photos. Now we have a record of it.
 
Fabrice M
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The pip is the best part of this watch. Do not change it, it is a perfect example of a beautiful aged tritium pip. The dial is very nice and the hands are starting to change colors. It’s not uncommon for a tritium watch to have the hands aged at a different rate from the dial. It is not possible from the pictures to see the sides, which is crucial to the value of the watch: has the case been polished and how much? does the watch still have visible bevels?
 
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