SD43 Mark I dial officially discontinued!

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by RobearH

I regard accurate time keeping over trivial nuance. My MK1 dial SD43 kept shit time regarding accuracy (over -10 seconds a day) so I moved it along.

Now I have a MKII and it keeps cracking time right out of the box with less then 1 second deviation a day so far!

Considering it's the same movement, I don't think that has anything to do with the dial. SearChart mentioned some early production runs of the 3235 didn't have proper lubrication on the seconds wheel pivot, which was adversely affecting timekeeping, and was correctable under warranty. Or, you might have come across a poorly-regulated one - doesn't mean the MkI watches are all worse at keeping time than the MkII. Either way, I agree with vivicorsi that it would have made more sense to have it remedied under warranty rather than sell it and buy another one, but to each his own.

[RobearH]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

Considering it's the same movement, I don't think that has anything to do with the dial. SearChart mentioned some early production runs of the 3235 didn't have proper lubrication on the seconds wheel pivot, which was adversely affecting timekeeping, and was correctable under warranty. Or, you might have come across a poorly-regulated one - doesn't mean the MkI watches are all worse at keeping time than the MkII. Either way, I agree with vivicorsi that it would have made more sense to have it remedied under warranty rather than sell it and buy another one, but to each his own.

Thanks but I was aware it’s the same movement. It was simply a matter of ease and confidence. I did not feel I should have to service a brand new watch and have something happen to it while @ RSC. I moved it on w/o losing any $$ and now I have another that suits me well.

[vivicorsi]

[lee fowler]

Glad I had one of the first with a 1st May dated card and a paperweight from my AD.

[rlx123]

Originally Posted by TakeYourTime

Just think... if you are a watch collector and you have several SD43 to chose from (after the current model has been dis-continued at any given day... 5 years, 10 years who knows) which one do you want the most?

If all have box and papers and got served, everyone real collector would buy the MK 1 version IF the price would be the same vs. the MK 2 (maybe even a MK 3 version).

The question is how much MORE would serious collectors pay for a MK1 50th anniversary model, which run a year with that dial? Time will tell.

It's not interesting for me as I would never sale mine. I buy watches for pure enjoyment, not as investm.... I don't even want to write that word

Yes, it wouldn’t you ENJOY it more if know the watch that you wear is a true 50th?

[rambo99]

Originally Posted by Bryantto

Yes, it wouldn’t you ENJOY it more if know the watch that you wear is a true 50th?

sure! and it's the only 3235 movement Rolex out there which doesn't have a crown printed on the dial at 6 o'clock. just make it more unique, more enjoyable.

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by rambo99

sure! and it's the only 3235 movement Rolex out there which doesn't have a crown printed on the dial at 6 o'clock. just make it more unique, more enjoyable.

That’s not correct.

[rambo99]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

That’s not correct.

damn it! this really spoils my enjoyment a little bit.

[Pete17]

Originally Posted by Bryantto

Yes, it wouldn’t you ENJOY it more if know the watch that you wear is a true 50th?

A “true 50th” is one made in 2017.
The mk1 dial is no solid indication of this.
I would rely more on the original warranty card.

Comparing this with the 2003 LV Sub is a mistake imho. That watch was easier to nail down to a 2003 model due to the serial # range and first bezel.

For what it’s worth some mk2 DRSD models are worth way more than the mk1 version due to how the dial aged.

The latest SD50s seem to have the red text popping a little more. A little more vivid in natural sunlight.

The SD50 is an enjoyable watch whichever year you bought it. Superb watch




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[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by Pete17

A “true 50th” is one made in 2017.
The mk1 dial is no solid indication of this.
I would rely more on the original warranty card.

When a watch is purchased is no indicator of when it was manufactured.

A watch purchased in 2018 could easily have been manufactured in 2017 so technically is a true anniversary model even though the warranty card will be dated 2018.

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[Pete17]

It’s a hell of a lot more accurate than the dial type.
If it was purchased in 17 than that’s enough for me.


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[brandrea]

Originally Posted by lee fowler

Glad I had one of the first with a 1st May dated card and a paperweight from my AD.

I remember your incoming very well Lee. I love that coffin

[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by Pete17

It’s a hell of a lot more accurate than the dial type.
If it was purchased in 17 than that’s enough for me.


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But you've missed my point.

It could be purchased in 2018 but still be a true anniversary model, but you would never know from the warranty card.

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[vivicorsi]

MK I will be important , the year might be a small bonus but certainly NOT decisive

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by vivicorsi

MK I will be important , the year might be a small bonus but certainly NOT decisive

The very fact there are people on this forum arguing that it will be important means it will be important. It is collectors that make the rules of the very game they play. For instance if you all collectively decide the green lume 116710LN is more desirable for whatever reason than the blue, prices will start climbing.

No ‘normal’ people will give a crap, they will just buy the watch the like/can afford and probably not notice a single differentiating feature between the mk1,mk2...mk15.

[superconductor71]

Originally Posted by Pete17

The latest SD50s seem to have the red text popping a little more. A little more vivid in natural sunlight.

The SD50 is an enjoyable watch whichever year you bought it. Superb watch

Not being argumentative at all, just curious how and where you have observed this? Have you been able to take both Mk1 and Mk2 dials out into the direct sunlight together? If so, very interesting.

If you are just going by photos you've seen, photos are just a bad way to compare. Things like differences in cameras, lenses, location, lighting make a huge difference in photos. Hell even the angle you tilt the dial in one photo compared to another, even if it's in the same location and same time can change color representation. Not to mention, added filters that people love to use can pretty much alter anything.

Case in point, I posted a photo of my SD43 last summer and unbeknownst to me, on an upper deck a bright red umbrella was actually causing a reflection reacting with the sunlight that made the seconds hand on my dial reflect as RED. Craziest thing...lol. People commented wondering if I modded my watch to replace the hand with red. I had a major moment trying to figure out what it was. Sneaky umbrella (no filter, on anything else) just managed to make my SD43 look all tricked out.

My personal opinion is that I would doubt that Rolex changed the pigmentation of the Mk2 dials to "pop" red more, and chalk it up to differences mentioned above.

But totally agree.....fantastic watch, enjoy it!

[Roli4life]

Originally Posted by Swiss Mad!

When a watch is purchased is no indicator of when it was manufactured.

A watch purchased in 2018 could easily have been manufactured in 2017 so technically is a true anniversary model even though the warranty card will be dated 2018.

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I would have to agree. My warranty card is dated in January 2018. I don’t think Rolex made, shipped, and sold my watch over the course of seven days. I think a better way of looking at this would be in batches.

No one really knows how, or when or Rolex actually produces its movements, and puts them into a Watches. What we do know is Rolex has an Orthodox way of shipping units to its dealers.
Sometimes intentionally withholding inventory ( my A.D.only received one in 17, then three in 18) Sometimes even discontinued models make it to the AD long after their discontinuation. I remember one in coming in 2018 for a SD4K from an AD!

So I would have to argue the MK1 would be best described as the anniversary batch, instead of splitting hairs over warranty card dates.
Without word from Rolex manufacture dates simply cannot be verified. That also goes for 17 purchases for that matter.
What we can verify is that Rolex did indeed change the dial after the first batch, and that they did intend for there to be a 50th anniversary for the Sea-Dweller by their own admission (Basel 17)

[904VT]

Probably more on here care now about this irrelevant detail, than will in 50 years. I doubt any 6 digit from the SS line will ever really be collectable or rare. In our generation it's not the SS that will be worth money in the long-run, rather the more rare PM offerings. Rainbow Daytona for one. Those type of offerings.

[Chalet]

I posted this on another thread. I only observed the crown at 6 o’clock and the I vs 1 difference.

Must confess I’ve never really bonded with the SD43, but I plan to keep my early 2017 mk1 just in case I do.

[Pete17]

Originally Posted by superconductor71

Not being argumentative at all, just curious how and where you have observed this? Have you been able to take both Mk1 and Mk2 dials out into the direct sunlight together? If so, very interesting.



If you are just going by photos you've seen, photos are just a bad way to compare. Things like differences in cameras, lenses, location, lighting make a huge difference in photos. Hell even the angle you tilt the dial in one photo compared to another, even if it's in the same location and same time can change color representation. Not to mention, added filters that people love to use can pretty much alter anything.



Case in point, I posted a photo of my SD43 last summer and unbeknownst to me, on an upper deck a bright red umbrella was actually causing a reflection reacting with the sunlight that made the seconds hand on my dial reflect as RED. Craziest thing...lol. People commented wondering if I modded my watch to replace the hand with red. I had a major moment trying to figure out what it was. Sneaky umbrella (no filter, on anything else) just managed to make my SD43 look all tricked out.



My personal opinion is that I would doubt that Rolex changed the pigmentation of the Mk2 dials to "pop" red more, and chalk it up to differences mentioned above.



But totally agree.....fantastic watch, enjoy it!

Fair points mate. I have only held three in my hand. Two mk1s and a single mk2 which I was lucky enough to nab.
No two at the same time.

The lighting plays a huge role on these new dials. I could be mistaken but the mk2 doesn’t seem to be such a deep red as the mk1. Just my opinion.

Gotta love how the dials go from gloss to matte depending on the lighting.





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[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by rambo99

damn it! this really spoils my enjoyment a little bit.

Since Rolex didn't start using the 6:00 coronet until last year, that means every DJ41 produced in 2016 and 2017 had a 3235 without a coronet. The SD43 is hardly the only one.

[MAWhite]

Curiosity got the best of me so I opened the safe and got out my SD43 from June 2018.
MK1
I guess that's cool but actually I do like the 1 and the crown better.
best,
Mike

[rlx123]

Originally Posted by Chronographer

As an SD43 mk1 owner, I could not even begin telling you how unimportant the 1 _ 2 thing is to the enjoyment I get from it.

But if someone trades you a new mk2 for your used mk1, you would take it in a heartbeat right?

[Gravity]

What most don't notice is that the Mark I actually does have the crown but it is etched into the crystal. I would never have known this until I took this macro picture. I haven't checked a Mark II but I'd doubt they would have one on the crystal and another behind it on the face. It's hard to catch but I'm sure now someone will check. Great attention to detail making things you can only really see when magnified.

Regardless, fantastic watch either way.

[jonnyz1245]

Originally Posted by Gravity

What most don't notice is that the Mark I actually does have the crown but it is etched into the crystal. I would never have known this until I took this macro picture. I haven't checked a Mark II but I'd doubt they would have one on the crystal and another behind it on the face. It's hard to catch but I'm sure now someone will check. Great attention to detail making things you can only really see when magnified.

Regardless, fantastic watch either way.

All modern Rolexes models have had the crown etched on the crystal for at least the last 10 years and maybe more. I am sure someone can chime in with the exact year. I fully expect both versions of the SD43 to have the crown etched at 6pm.

Edit: I just did some research and it looks like they started rolling it out across references beginning in 1999.

[Gravity]

Originally Posted by jonnyz1245

All modern Rolexes models have had the crown etched on the crystal for at least the last 10 years and maybe more. I am sure someone can chime in with the exact year. I fully expect both versions of the SD43 to have the crown etched at 6pm.

Interesting, never caught it on doing macros of my others. Prob just hard to catch and very dependent on angle and lighting. thx

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Bryantto

But if someone trades you a new mk2 for your used mk1, you would take it in a heartbeat right?

Oh yeah.
In less than a heartbeat

[liu_watch]

Wow I love the newer version so much more!

[JePro]

Originally Posted by WatchLurv

These threads... Make me chuckle.

Me too

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by Gravity

Interesting, never caught it on doing macros of my others. Prob just hard to catch and very dependent on angle and lighting. thx

To add to what Jonny said, the LEC (laser-etched crown) was introduced as an anti-counterfeiting measure, similar to the engraved rehaut. It wasn't an indication of the movement generation, as the new dial coronets are.