Is it Worth Waiting for the Follow-on to the Submariner 16610 "Z" Series?

[S2000 Driver]

If history is any indication, it would appear that the follow-on to the "Z" series may be introduced relatively soon.

Has anyone here heard of possible changes / improvements to the Submariner 16610 "Z" follow-on series which would make it worthwhile to wait? BTW, what will the new series designation be and when will it become available in the US?

I would be willing to postpone my purchase, if appropriate. Thanks for your help.

[TARDIS]

Originally Posted by S2000 Driver

If history is any indication, it would appear that the follow-on to the "Z" series may be introduced relatively soon.

Has anyone here heard of possible changes / improvements to the Submariner 16610 "Z" follow-on series which would make it worthwhile to wait? BTW, what will the new series designation be and when will it become available in the US?

I would be willing to postpone my purchase, if appropriate. Thanks for your help.

I have read the following may be expected with the 'Q' series Submariner:

• Maxi dial
• Beefed up lugs
• Ceramic bezel
• Movement update? maybe.

Availability Feb 2008?

Price increase? Yes I would think so, but no more than 15%.

None of this is firm it is base on speculation read from other forums.

Steve

[mansion]

Originally Posted by TARDIS

I have read the following may be expected with the 'Q' series Submariner:

• Maxi dial
• Beefed up lugs
• Ceramic bezel
• Movement update? maybe.

Availability Feb 2008?

Price increase? Yes I would think so, but no more than 15%.

None of this is firm it is base on speculation read from other forums.

Steve[/COLOR]

Guys,

All this is pure speculation. The rumoured changes are a concoction of hearsay, wishful thinking, polling of members' wishes. And things picked up on other forums (who are no better informed than anyone else).

Ignore them all! Believe them at your peril.

If you like the Sub as it is, go for it. If you hesitate, there is no guarantee that the new one will please you more. And then you may want to wait for the speculative Explorer III. Or the rumoured GMT III. Or the anecdotal Date Just. Or the gossiped-about SeaDweller.

Take the plunge.

[D4UK]

no official/confirmed changes due to the Sub range yet... only change after the Z serial is that I believe the serials will become more random and may not have the letter code anymore..

There are rumours that the bezel may be revised to a ceramic one - one day - but this def will not be before next April (2008) Baselworld exhibition and not even likely to be that early...

not sure what the state of play is re: the rolexrolexrolex chapter ring inscription... this may appear on the next versions of the sub. but many members tend to think this is a bit too bling and detracts from the tool aspect of the sports range (sub in particular)

[Solo118]

Wait a year? Not worth it you could probably wear the sub for a year and flip it for a small loss if you are in love with the new model if it comes out

[padi56]

Look guys the sub basically has not changed much in over 40 years.Sure there have been very minor cosmetic changes,and movement improvements.Its stood the time sure in near future,you could see the ceramic bezel and the new hair spring.But can the cal 3135 movement be improved accuracy wise I would doubt it.Now one of the biggest improvement I would like to see is the introduction of a ball bearing winding stem rotor.IMHO this has been the Achilles heel in nearly all the Rolex movements.Now fat case thin case, fat hands thin hands, lug holes no lugs holes date letter no date letter.Do these minor cosmetic changes,really improve a already excellent watch,so why wait get one now.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by padi56

Look guys the sub basically has not changed much in over 40 years.Sure there have been very minor cosmetic changes,and movement improvements.Its stood the time sure in near future,you could see the ceramic bezel and the new hair spring.But can the cal 3135 movement be improved accuracy wise I would doubt it.Now one of the biggest improvement I would like to see is the introduction of a ball bearing winding stem rotor.IMHO this has been the Achilles heel in nearly all the Rolex movements.Now fat case thin case, fat hands thin hands, lug holes no lugs holes date letter no date letter.Do these minor cosmetic changes,really improve a already excellent watch,so why wait get one now.

Well said, Padi.....some valid points there!!

[jac67]

I have also heard the next serial will be Q, but who knows. Should come out second half of this year.


John.

[Tombstone]

I like my sub and my SD in time if they change I may look into an additional sub or SD. I could never part with what I have now. If it were me I would get one now and wait to see what the future holds. April (2008) Baselworld is a long way off and who knows what will come to pass then.

[scotw]

I had a similar dilema with buying my ExpII, should I wait to see if the chapter ring would get an update or some other changes (crown, dial) would take place?

In the end I decided that I loved the look of the watch the way it is and any changes are likely to be pretty minor so why wait when one can enjoy the watch now?

If a new one does come out and you really want it, you can always flip your Rolex for a new one, one of the joys of Rolex is the pretty strong 2nd market, meaning an upgrade shouldn't break the bank.

[nko51]

Everyone should have at least one classic such as the SS Sub date. New models changes will always lay in the future, waiting is not an option. Buy now!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

I'd get one NOW!

Reason: The Sub Date is perfect as it is, and IF there are going to be changes made to it, I believe that the 16610 will be even MORE sought after.

About the rumours about change of the 16610: It is STILL only rumours, and IF there are going to be made any changes, I believe that the changes will be made FIRST on the all gold sub, then the TT and finally on the SS.

BTW: Rumour has it that there will soon be a "SUBMARINER DATE TT BLUE" in big writing on the bezel of the TT Blue Sub, to comply with the latest good-taste design of Rolex!

[Obsession]

I always suggest to buy the latest version of old case, if you buy a Z serial Sub 2007 then it will probably the last version of this case and most successful version. After release of new version every few years there will be updates to reduce mistakes. It 's last chance to buy a Sub last Rolex in the world till April I will probably buy a Z serie 2007 blue TT.

[Arturo]

With respect to the folks with ceramic bezels, such just detracts in my view from the "tool" aspect of the watch. Plus I was reading that it would be undreds to replace such bezel in lieu of the current $90 for the current metal version. I have never had luck with ceramic, no matter how well baked, and can see it cracking or shattering. If they upgrade the Sub to have a maxi dial and the new clasp with all solid links, that could be OK. But of they mess with the bezel, that would not be good in my opinion.

[Solar]

Hard to know about the ceramic. I don't have enough personal experience with it to say, I don't know how much testing Rolex has done to know the longterm longevity of the material used, so who can say.

The look is very interesting, I've read conflicting opinions here so like everything in life, everyone has an opinion on aesthetics. Look at the picture Welshwatchman has in this forum under another thread of his "gold ingot" 18k GMT II; the bezel looks like a gorgeous black liquid, absolutely beautiful. Then, the metal insert on my GMT II pepsi looks beautiful to me too..........

I do know that the metal bezel inserts have been in use for fifty years with good results. I don't know if the ceramic bezels, if used in extreme cold (I live in Eastern Ontario, Canada, and lung-crackling below zero cold is not uncommon here in the winter), will a tap or blow to a cold bezel crack it easily? No idea.

The look is a different thing; some like it, some don't. I could go either way, though for practical reasons I'd prefer the metal insert.

Be that as it may, if there are no major problems with the ceramic bezels on watches being sold now, then I really do see the Subs and SD going to ceramic bezels completely by 2009 to complete a design change meant to capture the bling-hungry buying demographic that Rolex seems to be romancing.

Just my 2 cents only.

Chris

[sub2004]

I hope the "new" sub does not look like the new ss gmt II.

That would be "sub" standard. No pun intended

[Rubenonfire]

Buy now. Worst case scenario you can always flip the current Sub for a new one. I don't think there's a lot out there that could be done to the Sub to make it MORE attractive. My guess is that it's all downhill from here for that beauty....

[Teofilo]

Originally Posted by sub2004

I hope the "new" sub does not look like the new ss gmt II.

That would be "sub" standard. No pun intended

I think that the TT version of the new GMT II(and the gold ingot for those that can afford it) will become very popular watches once we are used to the new bezels. I just dont think that the ceramic bezels go nearly as well on a SS watch.

[mike]

Any thought about getting a nice pre-owned Sub? In the event the 16610 is changed/updated I doubt it would be before Bazel next year and there would be the normal lag time till the new reference hit the dealers.
At least you'd have a nice piece in the mean time, and selling wouldn't incurr quite the hit a new one might give if you really wanted to go to any updated version.

Just a thought.

[Welshwatchman]

If you bought a Z plater Sub now and then fell in love with its replacement shown (hypothetically) in 2008 there would be no problem, surely?

The prices on the old sub will then firm right up, as have the SS GMT currently, with the result that you would have only lost "pin money".

My guess is that nothing will happen with the SS Sub until at least 2009 and you would not want to part with the 11610 in any event.

[D4UK]

I tend to think it will be 2010 before the SS Sub get revised... same 3 year cylce as seen on the GMTII recently

2008 YG
2009 TT
2010 SS

alof this is pure speculation though.