Sea Dweller dial markers

[Ron53]

I bought my Sea Dweller new in 1988 (or thereabouts). I have always been curious about the dial markers, which are plain with no raised metallic edge to them. At first I though my dial had somehow 'missed' the part of production when they were put on, but ofc since have seen pix of many Sea Dwellers, some have the raised edges to the markers and some are plain like mine. Can someone explain why this difference occurs? Is there some significance to it?
Thanks

[toph]

yours will be a 16660 model sead dweller as opposed the latter 16600.
I am not certain of all the dates and variations etc BUT i do know the 16660 sea dweller was available with a matte black dial without the white gold surrounds and also latterly ( possibly concurrently for a while)with white gold surrounds and a glossy shiny black dial just like the 16600 that was in production up until very recently. Your dial on that watch is usually more valuable than the gloss and gold surround variation by 25-30%. Although that is for the value of the whole watch and will depend on condition and everything else on the watch

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Ron53

I bought my Sea Dweller new in 1988 (or thereabouts). I have always been curious about the dial markers, which are plain with no raised metallic edge to them. At first I though my dial had somehow 'missed' the part of production when they were put on, but ofc since have seen pix of many Sea Dwellers, some have the raised edges to the markers and some are plain like mine. Can someone explain why this difference occurs? Is there some significance to it?
Thanks

Please post a picture of your watch and if it is a 16660 matt dial it will be well before 1988.

[toph]

Originally Posted by padi56

Please post a picture of your watch and if it is a 16660 matt dial it will be well before 1988.

yeah i thought that but wasn't sure, was it about 83 or 84 it changed?

[Ron53]

Thanks for quick response - I will try to post a pic tonight when I get home - havent got the watch with me atm.

[Mickey®]

Originally Posted by Ron53

I bought my Sea Dweller new in 1988 (or thereabouts). I have always been curious about the dial markers, which are plain with no raised metallic edge to them. At first I though my dial had somehow 'missed' the part of production when they were put on, but ofc since have seen pix of many Sea Dwellers, some have the raised edges to the markers and some are plain like mine. Can someone explain why this difference occurs? Is there some significance to it?
Thanks

Post pics or it didn't happen. I finally get to post that! Always cracks me up when I see it posted.

[Ron53]

Hi
Got home and photographed it.
Hope that helps.
Thanks

[Mickey®]

Originally Posted by Ron53

Hi
Got home and photographed it.
Hope that helps.
Thanks

It is a beautiful sought after model...not "missing" a thing!!!
Let me know if you want to sell it!

[Ron53]

Had a hunt around and dug out the box.
Seems I kept all the original paperwork.
According to the circular green/gold stamp (I recall one was on the back of the watch, an identical one is stuck on the front of the guarantee) it is a 16660.
And the guarantee is dated 10/6/88.
Also included is an 88/89 credit card sized Rolex calendar.

[tifosi]

That is one beautiful SeaDweller! Not a thing wrong with it. Enjoy it for many years to come.

[Ron53]

The earlier poster was right about the date of the watch.
(Had to Google how to find the serial number - sorry for being a newb on this)
I didn't realise the serial number was perforated on the guarantee paper
It is 8098XXX
Which appears to date it in the 83/84 years.
The watch was definitely new when I bought it in 1989 from an official Rolex dealer.
The guarantee paper is dated by the dealer 10/6/88. The valuation from the dealer is dated 20 May 1989. I suspect that is the date I bought it...but it is possible I went back later for an insurance valuation.
So oddly this watch must have been around for four or five years before being sold.
(I got the serial number info here http://www.ginault.com/Rolex/Sea-Dweller-16660.html) That watch pictured at the top is just like mine. It also gave a good explanation of my original question.
Thanks for the replies

[MoBe]

That`s a Sea Dweller worth keeping if you ask me.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Ron53

The earlier poster was right about the date of the watch.
(Had to Google how to find the serial number - sorry for being a newb on this)
I didn't realise the serial number was perforated on the guarantee paper
It is 8098XXX
Which appears to date it in the 83/84 years.
The watch was definitely new when I bought it in 1989 from an official Rolex dealer.
The guarantee paper is dated by the dealer 10/6/88. The valuation from the dealer is dated 20 May 1989. I suspect that is the date I bought it...but it is possible I went back later for an insurance valuation.
So oddly this watch must have been around for four or five years before being sold.
(I got the serial number info here http://www.ginault.com/Rolex/Sea-Dweller-16660.html) That watch pictured at the top is just like mine. It also gave a good explanation of my original question.
Thanks for the replies

Thats why a stated if it was a 16660 it was before 1988 but the codes are only a rough estimate when a case was stamped,and not necessarily when a fully assembled watch was made.

[brownbear]

[sleddog]

A wonderful looking 666 SD Ron!!
Definitely a keeper....