Mostel
4358
Professor
Thank you for your reply-- being thoughtful and kind... it is minutia... and nothing else... except the crazy faith in a brand name-- which is very dependent upon insanity--that drives collectors to insanity... it is patently absurd that a few tick marks or the shape of an O could hike the price of an otherwise same watch many thousands or even 5's of thousands... I can not be swayed otherwise, even though I do own said watch. I do not collect watches for ridiculous 'reasons' such as these... but occasionally I benefit from them. Is it unreasonable to call collectors insane, gullible, etc? I certainly am both when it comes to watches!!! ! And there can be NO QUESTION a brand like Rolex plays upon that madness decisively, on purpose, and shamelessly. Which does not stop a single one of us from buying in.. Graciously, M
Identifying future classic Rolex from the 1990-2018 era - Part I: Rolex 16610LV
I was recently chatting with a friend. He was bemoaning the fact that the current “hot” steel Rolex were just impossible to get from an AD and were now trading at a substantial premium in the grey market. A steel Daytona 116500 is now fetching $18,000+. I...
Very interesting post and future series.
It always amazes me the level of detail that a Rolex collector pays attention to. So, some great education on the fly for me. But damn it, I'm not falling down that trap (I keep telling myself). If they don't become collectors' darlings, do we get $$$ bac...
Looks that way.
I was offered nearly 10 times what I paid for mine the other day so definitely the cat is out the bag. M.
Most probably a champion, in this category.
I had it, not a MK 1, but a MK 5 which I regret a lot having it let go... This was a very cool modern Sub. Now, there are a few others which are worth a serious consideration. You want a maxi dial in a Sub? The Yacht Master was the first! And the only Sub...
You’ve nailed it yet again Joe.
Thank you so much for such an in-depth very well presented explanation of this great reference. Although I have to say the quality of the wrist shot you used makes the post 😉. The moment I saw it I knew it was something special and a watch that must sit i...
Very educating, Joe. Many thanks for taking us to that journey
and yes, Fat 4 is a must
Ah, Captain...my Captain...
I don't know whether to quote Walt Whitman or Grand Funk Railroad. One thing is sure, you rascal...Ms Piggy will see what you've posted. And she won't be happy.
Very interesting and timely post Joe.
Especially for someone like me who is a newbie in the world of Rolex. Sincerely appreciate all your time and effort taken to piece this together! 😃😃😃 I look forward to the next part of this series!
I think when secondary market prices of the "new" watches have moved skywards.....
.....it really makes sense to look at neo-vintage or transitional models like this.
Headmaster Baron!
tnx for this very informative document. Although on second thought....it will probably cost me money....
I'm with Z.
I am awed by your (and others) knowledge of the details of Rolex dials. So far beyond what I can ken. I'll buy new(ish) and hope I live long enough to see it grow in value. In the meantime I do applaud your post.
Well.....
..... this is the first of a series of 6 or 7. So maybe there will be a modern Sea-Dweller coming.
I'm looking forward to more of this.
While i can't, and never will, wrap my head around this degree of detail I find it fascinating. And it helps me in other areas of collecting. So keep it up. (And definitely examine the SD!)
I felt i went back to thepurists forum year 2002 - 2004 now
This is what i want to see more in this forum. Quality Post. Good One Baron.
Thank you, Baron, for such a detailed and enlightening post to begin this series.
There are many things here I was completely unaware of, and I’m grateful for the lesson. This is a piece I’ve considered off and on for the past few years, but it has jumped up here in the last month or so. I also have a Hulk, so I go back and forth betwe...
Hi Bill!
The "thin 4" on a Mark 1 is always replaced. I asked my friend and Rolex watchmaker, if it is damaged the change it. Rolex had only "thin 4" to replace, they dont have the "fat four" inserts. Rolex dont sale the green insert, it is only in change with the...
Thanks Walter.... but I am Joe.
I did suspect that the inserts had been replaced but could not prove it. Also, with Rolex one can never be 100% certain of anything.
Excuse de confusion JOE!
I agree,100% your statement about Rolex watches, everything is posible! Have a nice day!
Baron, thank you for this very detailed post. I really do appreciate but you put salt into my wounds
back in 2009, this Green Submariner was intended to be my first beautiful watch. A friend strongly advised against buying a Rolex and introduced me to JLC. I do not blame him because I used to have JLC that I loved, but deep inside me I always regretted n...
Educational and informative
Thank you for taking the time to write this excellent article. Before reading it I didn’t realise how many details can change during the lifetime of a specific reference. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks Maxfcc1
I think historically, Rolex made many more "iterations" within a reference than they do now. Today, a new Sub looks essentially identical to every other new Sub. Historically, there were more iterations. The next post in this series will look at another e...
I am not sure if the first sentence under the LV picture is correct ...
You are saying that the 16610 LV is 100% inhouse, but as far as I know the balance spring is not inhouse. Albeit Rolex has developed their proprietary Parachrome spring already in 2000, Rolex did not use it for the 16610 LV models, to my knowledge. Prior ...
Thx so much for this impressive & great write-up & pictorial, J !.. :))
.. One of those articles, to be bookmarked and re-read again ! Not only did I enjoy the fine details but also your comprehensive information ! Looking forward to reading your further parts of the Series ! Thank you again € My Very Best, hs.
Appreciate this trip down the rabbit hole ( oval O in hole, regular O in down)
LOL. This is a great post. And anyone who owns an LV should bookmark it. With that said, it's really a Rolex marketing chronology. The diary of a brand who knows its collectors are 'insane', gullible, and susceptible to utter nonsense. It has nothing to d...
Professor Brian Cox......
.......I do enjoy reading about his thinking. "The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonesense."...
Professor
Thank you for your reply-- being thoughtful and kind... it is minutia... and nothing else... except the crazy faith in a brand name-- which is very dependent upon insanity--that drives collectors to insanity... it is patently absurd that a few tick marks ...
Great detective work! Question...
...to the Rolex experts here. Do you think the same level of future collectability and desirability applies to the last no date Seadweller 116600 in 40mm? Would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.
Thank you very much for this educational post.
I learned so much from the details. I started looking at this model in a different way. Is it safe to assume that MK 1 is the rarest of the different dial variations, or simply the most collectible due to the model being attributed to be “the” anniversary...
Good question
I think I view the Mk1 and Mk2 as similarly rare and equally collectible. Yes, I think it’s a nice bonus that the Mk1 is the original and the one that celebrated the Sub. If it was me, I would be happy with Mk1 or Mk2.
Thank you.
I think this is reflected on the resale sites. Models listed as MK1 are at a significant premium compared to the others. Now I understand.
I consider the MK 1 to be the “true “ anniversary model.
I always wondered why an anniversary model was produced by Rolex for more than one year. Thanks to this article, I arrived at the conclusion that there was an anniversary model, unknown to me at the time.
IMO watches are like financial assets. Current price is determined by the expected terminal value discounted by a certain rate by collectors and would-be buyers.
Thanks for this story. It’s definitely very informative.