What is this 16700? A Frankenwatch?

[502 to Right]

FWIW, the watch has been relisted. Now describing it as a 16700 GMT with a service mid-case with a 4.4 million serial number and no reference to 1976 or a 1976 movement.

[AJMarcus]

Originally Posted by Tools

Indeed, nothing wrong with a properly rebuilt watch. Too many seem to believe that they need their Rolex to be unmolested and original in every aspect, ant that just isn't practical except for the hard-core collector who will never actually wear their pieces.

Value will be less than a mint original, but higher than an abused one. As long as you and the seller are in agreement, it's an excellent example.

Agreed. Thanks for being the voice of reason.

[TuRo]

Originally Posted by Tools

It is more likely that the dial is a service dial, just as the case is a service case. Swiss dials were used for a time after '99 as the Luminova service dial until depleted.

The watch is likely not a "Frankenwatch", it is probably a watch that has sustained use and damage that required the replacement of these parts. The only place you can get a service case is at an RSC.

Without the paperwork for that service you will not have the original serial to reference an approximate original build date. However, that is kind of irrelevant since the only thing left is whatever movement parts that were not replaced.

Yes nothing wrong at all with service parts watches per se imho, just 50-60% of orig. watch price my offer-park eg c £4.5-5K...or so, not the fig they are asking.

Btw OP they will increase in value dependent on model eg a 1601/1603 only a bit slower than orig pieces to a lot slower on sought after units....