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Old 3 April 2015, 12:17 PM   #1
Tebow15
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Is there any more demand for the smurf 116613??

Just asking considering that the sunburst one is now out and about and the only one in production and at AD's.

I bought a sunburst one last week and spent many hours debating on the two before deciding on this one.
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Old 3 April 2015, 12:22 PM   #2
T. Ferguson
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Well, apparently not enough demand as far as Rolex was concerned or they probably wouldn't have discontinued it. But certainly there will be a used market for them as there must be some people who prefer the flat blue - they just apparently are in the minority. It's also possible that Rolex pulled it from the TT to give the gold models a bit more uniqueness (as if they need it, LOL!).
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Old 3 April 2015, 02:04 PM   #3
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Well, apparently not enough demand as far as Rolex was concerned or they probably wouldn't have discontinued it. But certainly there will be a used market for them as there must be some people who prefer the flat blue - they just apparently are in the minority. It's also possible that Rolex pulled it from the TT to give the gold models a bit more uniqueness (as if they need it, LOL!).
The Sub. all in white gold has the smurf blue.
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Old 4 April 2015, 01:59 AM   #4
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The Sub. all in white gold has the smurf blue.
When they discontinued the flat blue on the 116613 it was still available on the YG Sub at that point in time, correct? When did they discontinue the flat blue on the 116618?
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Old 5 April 2015, 12:27 AM   #5
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When they discontinued the flat blue on the 116613 it was still available on the YG Sub at that point in time, correct? When did they discontinue the flat blue on the 116618?

Rolex discontinued the YG Sub flat blue dial the same time as the TT, summer/fall 2013. There are probably still some unsold new ones out there.
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Old 3 April 2015, 12:24 PM   #6
Tebow15
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Hmm. I wonder how many people are on the Rolex decision making board when it comes to something like this. I wonder why it took them four years too to pull the plug on the smurf.
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Old 3 April 2015, 12:34 PM   #7
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I got mine when the flat blue dial was the only option. After the sunburst came back out, I went to an AD and compared my flat blue against it. I liked the flat blue much better. When compared side by side, the sunburst appeared smaller to me. I know it was only an optical illusion, but others have made the same comment.
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Old 3 April 2015, 12:37 PM   #8
Tebow15
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I got mine when the flat blue dial was the only option. After the sunburst came back out, I went to an AD and compared my flat blue against it. I liked the flat blue much better. When compared side by side, the sunburst appeared smaller to me. I know it was only an optical illusion, but others have made the same comment.
Was that the only difference you noticed?
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Old 3 April 2015, 02:03 PM   #9
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I got mine when the flat blue dial was the only option. After the sunburst came back out, I went to an AD and compared my flat blue against it. I liked the flat blue much better. When compared side by side, the sunburst appeared smaller to me. I know it was only an optical illusion, but others have made the same comment.
This is true. it seems bigger. I thought the color was the only difference. What means the Flat Dial?
It seems that comes a YM with black dial and rose gold metal. At least I got a picture of Pinterest
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Old 3 April 2015, 12:58 PM   #10
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Yes, it was.

The sunburst is a spectacular dial, especially in sunlight. I just thought the flat dial better matched the bezel.
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:15 PM   #11
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Yes, it was.

The sunburst is a spectacular dial, especially in sunlight. I just thought the flat dial better matched the bezel.
I Agree, the sunburst is outstanding, on a 16613.

The flat blue truly looks identical in appearance to the bezel of the 116613. It just matches it perfectly, IMO.
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:01 PM   #12
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I think the flat blue match's the ceramic bezel much better.
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Old 4 April 2015, 01:44 AM   #13
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I think the flat blue match's the ceramic bezel much better.
Bingo Clark.
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:03 PM   #14
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Does the flat one pop more in any particular light?
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:07 PM   #15
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Does the flat one pop more in any particular light?
I don't know that it "pops" in the way the sunburst dial does, but I've seen it take on different shades of blue depending on the lighting.
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:19 PM   #16
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Why is it so important to have the dial and bezel match?
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:37 PM   #17
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Why is it so important to have the dial and bezel match?
Just personal taste, really. On the flip side it could be said that the golden cast of the sunburst dial goes well with the YG parts of the watch. Whatever floats your boat.
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:45 PM   #18
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Just personal taste, really. On the flip side it could be said that the golden cast of the sunburst dial goes well with the YG parts of the watch. Whatever floats your boat.
I absolutely agree. Similar to how the flat dial and ceramic looks spectacular with the WG
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:37 PM   #19
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Why is it so important to have the dial and bezel match?
Me personally or in general?

I don't think it matters per se, I have/had a 16613 with the sunburst dial and it ranges between blue and purple depending on the light. It's truly beautiful, as is yours. I just really like the fact that they changed the dial on the 116613 because I think it looks so similar to the bezel. I like the aesthetic of the look. I also like the fact that they stopped making it. It's no longer in production.
I'm a physician, not a dealer or an expert, this is just my opinion. I love your sunburst and I'd take it in a heartbeat, believe me, I just like the look of the flat blue with the ceramic bezel. Perhaps I'm in the minority. My theory is, Rolex wanted to improve on the 16613, they created the initial rendition, there was a vocal minority, they saw an opportunity to expand the market share and bring back the sunburst and viola, we have an opportunity to debate?! I'm definitely a neophyte on this subject as well as this forum so I'm sure other people can expand on this with perhaps a little more clarity or credibility.
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:40 PM   #20
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Me personally or in general?

I don't think it matters per se, I have/had a 16613 with the sunburst dial and it ranges between blue and purple depending on the light. It's truly beautiful, as is yours. I just really like the fact that they changed the dial on the 116613 because I think it looks so similar to the bezel. I like the aesthetic of the look. I also like the fact that they stopped making it. It's no longer in production.
I'm a physician, not a dealer or an expert, this is just my opinion. I love your sunburst and I'd take it in a heartbeat, believe me, I just like the look of the flat blue with the ceramic bezel. Perhaps I'm in the minority. My theory is, Rolex wanted to improve on the 16613, they created the initial rendition, there was a vocal minority, they saw an opportunity to expand the market share and bring back the sunburst and viola, we have an opportunity to debate?! I'm definitely a neophyte on this subject as well as this forum so I'm sure other people can expand on this with perhaps a little more clarity or credibility.

Rolex is still a business first and I'm sure that they saw the less than spectacular sales numbers of the smurf and the mutiny and probably decided to give the people back what they wanted-the sunburst.
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:33 PM   #21
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I'm sure there will always be a demand on the second hand market.

Anyone think the flat blue dial will ever command a premium over the sunburst due to its fairly short production run?
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:38 PM   #22
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I think part of it is marketing. If the flat blue was the newer model, some would want it more than the sunburst. Although I think I like the sunburst more.
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Old 3 April 2015, 01:57 PM   #23
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I prefer the flat blue but really think both are great.

Think Rolex made the move so that the WG smurf could be unique and exclusively hold the flat blue dial.
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Old 7 April 2015, 06:46 AM   #24
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I prefer the flat blue but really think both are great.

Think Rolex made the move so that the WG smurf could be unique and exclusively hold the flat blue dial.
This seems like a nice answer especially since without the YG contrast the bezel and face look better to me matching on the WG







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Old 3 April 2015, 02:08 PM   #25
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I'm personally not a fan of the TT subs, but if I were to choose between the sunburst and flat blue dials, I'd choose the flat blue.
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Old 3 April 2015, 02:23 PM   #26
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Sunburst dial all day. Not a fan of TT but the dial makes up for it and then some.
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Old 3 April 2015, 03:25 PM   #27
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Am I missing something here? Has the flat blue dial been discontinued or has the WG Sub been discontinued?

Just having a butcher's on the Rolex website and the WG Sub is still showing but doesn't appear to have a sunburst dial.
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Old 3 April 2015, 03:29 PM   #28
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Am I missing something here? Has the flat blue dial been discontinued or has the WG Sub been discontinued?

Just having a butcher's on the Rolex website and the WG Sub is still showing but doesn't appear to have a sunburst dial.
The thread is about the flat blue dial on the TT sub which has been discontinued. It is still on the WG Sub.
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Old 3 April 2015, 03:30 PM   #29
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Am I missing something here? Has the flat blue dial been discontinued or has the WG Sub been discontinued?

Just having a butcher's on the Rolex website and the WG Sub is still showing but doesn't appear to have a sunburst dial.
The flat blue 116613 is no longer being made. The 116619 is as smurfy as ever but i think the op is only talking about tt's.
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Old 3 April 2015, 05:34 PM   #30
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The thread is about the flat blue dial on the TT sub which has been discontinued. It is still on the WG Sub.
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The flat blue 116613 is no longer being made. The 116619 is as smurfy as ever but i think the op is only talking about tt's.
I thought the TT Sub only came with a sunburst dial Oh boy, do I have much to learn!

Thank you, chaps
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