Buying a Rolex 16600

watch3s · Nov 11, 2023

JayBe
Maybe if it were the sole value-determining factor, but as others pointed out, there´s other things too.

take a look at the one in the f/s section. back in 2014, i mustve spent months looking and researching before actually buying my first one. its tough to chase discontinued models. but happy hunting

JayBe · Nov 11, 2023

watch3s
take a look at the one in the f/s section. back in 2014, i mustve spent months looking and researching before actually buying my first one. its tough to chase discontinued models. but happy hunting

I see what you mean. The chasing is the part of the fun, but this one came to me without me actively looking for one. The seller is not a collector and needs to sell. I am quite satisfied with the sides of the case in question, they seem even.
We are talking semantics here. If it is polished to a degree, where you need macro photos to even debate it, its not critical to me for a watch that I want to wear. It is is visible from half a meter, then it becomes an issue for this purpose to me. I am happy that no-one regarded it as nuts to talk about this specific watch as "unpolished". I mainly wanted to get an idea, what a discount on the market average I should have in mind given the worn condition of the watch.

watch3s · Nov 11, 2023

JayBe
I see what you mean. The chasing is the part of the fun, but this one came to me without me actively looking for one. The seller is not a collector and needs to sell. I am quite satisfied with the sides of the case in question, they seem even.
We are talking semantics here. If it is polished to a degree, where you need macro photos to even debate it, its not critical to me for a watch that I want to wear. It is is visible from half a meter, then it becomes an issue for this purpose to me. I am happy that no-one regarded it as nuts to talk about this specific watch as "unpolished". I mainly wanted to get an idea, what a discount on the market average I should have in mind given the worn condition of the watch.

well supposedly, the seadweller has been considered the last bargain rolex left in the bunch of the old 5 digit serials. this is a topic i have tremendous interest in since, i have a smaller wrist and the aesthetics of the old 5 digit serial line suit me best. that being said, other than going for that day date idea i revisit every few months, the seadweller itself has been on the radar for me as well. Decent seadwellers used to be quite readily available on the forums for $10k or less and they would sit and sit. Words like mint, unpolished are always debatable. My watch of choice is usually the polar 16570 which was discontinued just slightly before i finished college. So i was in the same boat myself in 2014, seeking an "unpolished" 16570. funny enough, i eventually also bought a polished and beat tritium dial polar explorer 2 , head only and just had it lasered to be an everyday piece. Ironically, there used to be plenty of 16570s for around $4000-$4500 before the market shifted. But who knows how the market will shift now, prices seemed to be cooling a bit.

JayBe · Nov 13, 2023

So, just to close the topic: I fell for them, the price was right and I took them home. We found that they have been frequently and recently serviced by an independent watchmaker, the price went below my benchmark, so I am happy.
Thanks again to everyone for advise, encouragement and criticism. I love this place.

mikeo1 · Nov 16, 2023

Not quite ready for the close🤪
I've owned both--the 16600 and a 1680. I found the SD to feel heavier, thicker and wore a fair bit smaller than the Sub and I enjoyed it's presenc.; The unpolished "thing" just rolls my eyes--the SD does not have the same bevel edges as a Sub so easily duplicated and no real indication; more importantly I think If a Rolex is more than 10 years old and has been serviced, you can bet it's been polished. The SD may currently be the last "bargain" rolex but I would suggest it is more likely to be remembered as the last actual "tool" watch.Rolex manufactured--a role that is seems has now been left with Tudor.

JayBe · Nov 16, 2023

I've learned my lesson to never utter the words Rolex and unpolished in one sentence again. Next time I'll speak of "acceptable condition of the case" or something similarly less controversial. 😉

Speaking of case, it seems to me that the 16600 had at least two case variations. This is hard to tell. Who knows what's factory anymore after all these years, but: There are 16600 with and without chamfers on the net.
Does anyone have any info on that?

Otherwise, I'll be practicing more enjoying and less caring. The smaller dial size fits me well and I don't find it to be chunky at all.

Buying a Rolex 16600

watch3s

JayBe

watch3s

JayBe

mikeo1

JayBe

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