Rolex

Hi all!
I would like to share with you a little work done with my friend Pierre ESE 2A, concerning the dial marks of rolex 16600.
Start by saying that the first type of dial is very very similar to the last WG surround dial for 16660, although Beyeler made it, while on the 16600 is manufactured by Rolex itself.
Is also plausible that the service tritium dial for 16660 is the first MK for 16600.
The 16600 replaces the triple 6 at the end of the “numeric” serial case, so we can say that the 16600 comes with R serial.
This is the first series of dial for 16600, we can call it MK1
MK1 (case from R to late U-A)


We can find this dial until the A serial, when the tritium is replaced by Luminova. So we have the same dial but labeled differently at 6, SWISS instead of Swiss - T<25. With the advent of the new luminescence also change the hands, as you can easily see in the picture.
MK2 (case A)


This particular dial is short-lived and will be replaced after just over one year. His successor, MK3, is a Superluminova dial, so the luminescent substance changes again and we can see the new writing at 6 SWISS MADE…
MK3 (case from P to the end of production)


 …overlapped, for my personal experience, with this other type of dial, that we can call MK4. 
MK4 (case from K to the end of production)


we can see clear differences on the coronet, on the depth and the rest of the font in general. I talk about overlapping because we can surely find this dial (MK4) random on K, Z, M cases.
Then there is another dial, with the same characteristics of the MK4 (short FT) but solo SWISS at 6 o'clock (you can note also the absence of 29 and 31 indices), there is no certainty yet, but we think this is a service dial for the MK2.
Service dial

We should also talk about special dial for delivered/assigned/commemorative 16600 SD, as the “Polipetto” for Italian Police Sommozzatori, showed recently by eparisini, and of course, about 16600 Comex, but for the moment, we stop here.
Thanks to my pal ESE 2A
Thank you too for the attention. This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2012-11-19 06:38:18 This message has been edited by amanico on 2012-11-24 13:35:50

If I am not wrong, this is not reserved to the SD.

Interesting observations on the evolution of the Rolex production.

Thanks!

Best,

Nicolas.

in fact we can find similarities especially in the 16710 when we meet the II sticks and II roman... almost random on D, Z, M (M with cal. 3186 also).

but in my first steps in Rolex world i owned and studied all this modern references.

Thank you for this great report.  I know have some new knowledge I did not have 15 minutes ago.  I love the subtle information you can discover hidden behind every Rolex.

You alsways think that vintage Rolex has the history... But the Sea-Dweller is vintage the R serial is +/- 1986 - 1987 so 25 years to be classified as vintage 2012 maker the first R serial vintage.

Thank  you ¢hris and Pierre ESE 2A for sharing this knowledge with us.

Bill

...I must add an important thing i forgot!

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The pictures are worth a thousand words.

The subtle details like the 29 and 31 index are missing are things we miss.

Great and valuable report I can't wait to see the next one.

Also as Nicolas said this reference material can be applied to some of the other Rolex models of the same time period.

Bill

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