Are you going to wear that thing or what???

[Clay]

Believe it or not, after a year and a half I am still getting emails regarding this watch, so I thought I would post an update:

About a year and a half ago some of you may recall that I came across and purchased an NOS Y series (2001) 16600 Sea Dweller...

The watch came as a nice complete B & P set and still had all of the case stickers intact...
Apparently it had been sized at the AD, brought home, put in a drawer and then never worn...It was perfect

(The Y series is the last to have Lug holes and also the last to come with the little anchor, for those who care about these kinds of things)

At the time there was some question as to whether or not I could bring myself to actually wear the watch...The views of the members here were mixed, but if I recall the majority favored the stickers coming off and the watch being worn and used for it's intended purpose...

Well, it's been a year and a half and the watch is still sitting, stickers intact and unworn...I just couldn't do it!!!

I had thought, for a very brief period about selling it, but despite a number of very nice offers, I just couldn't bring myself to part with it...

Now I know the 16600 is not a rare reference, and not even vintage, but it's one of my all time favorites just the same...

I have other Sea Dwellers to wear...And there's just something about seeing this watch in it's pristine state that gets to me...

What will become of it??? It's anyones guess...

But I do want to apologize to all of those who think it madness to keep such a nice watch sitting within the confines of a dark safe.

What can I tell you...

[JohnBoy]

Clay, its your watch! It is not likely to bankroll your retirement, but it probably won't cost you much to keep it like BNIB. Do what makes you happiest!

[Gaijin]

Clay I love your passion for keeping it stickered and intact.

If that is what makes you happy and one of the ways that you enjoy your Rolex collection then by all means keep it that way.

I have a stickered up LV that I am going to keep pristine and I too enjoy taking it out for a look.

[Puffy]

Nice to have to look at

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[jackruff]

I have NOS watches that I know I will probably never wear but I do have them on display and enjoy looking at them every day....Part of the enjoyment is knowing that they are old and unused!!!
Enjoy looking at it Clay if nothing else.......

[rmpickard]

I applaud your great willpower!

[Vincent65]

I can see both sides, but I'd wear it. The thing is, if you do, it's 'just' another 16600, and, as you say, not really vintage or rare either, but a very nice - and worn - SD. The thing that makes this one special is that it is a little rarer and a lot more desirable because it has not been used, so I understand your position. Still... I'd strap it on and enjoy it on the wrist!

[MichaelB_Can]

I agree with you. A friend of mine was going to buy a 50 year old motorcycle that had 0 miles on it ! Bran new (HD) to ride it ! I couldn't believe it . Thank god the owner wouldn't sell . And it still sits bran new unused !


Mike B , Canada ⌚

[Im Lauf der Zeit]

All the pondering of "to wear or not to wear" on TRF makes me think of this picture of an Italian car/motorcyle fan using a pristine and rare (fewer than 300 made) $1mn+ Ferrari 275 to haul an even rarer MV factory race bike. Folks... if this car can be a tow vehicle, your mass-produced tool watch can and should be be worn daily.

[JustinK]

I think you should wear it. Maybe you could start by wearing it around the house to watch TV and similar low impact activities. Eventually you will feel comfortable enough to wear it out in the wild.

[Gaijin]

Yea, but the whole point is that he does not want to take the stickers off. Anf\d that is ok. He wants the older watch to stay like new and enjoy that aspect of it. If he wanted a Seaweller to wear maybe he would buy abother. This thing with the stickers intact is to keep it how he bought it. I get it.

[harry in montreal]

That pic of the ferrari being used as a tow vehicle takes the cake. i can practically smell the clutch burn through the screen. you sure its not a firebird (AOD) with a body kit on it? it looks very f-body like. LOL

[LA_LEC]

I see nothing wrong with keeping a watch in pristine condition. It is honoring the very essence of the watch. There is only 1 time in a watches life that it is in that state.

Removing the protective barrier of factory placed stickers and wearing it will make it just another "used watch". Keeping them on are like stopping time. Just think in 10 years when he (or someone) else finally does remove them...it will like stepping back in time!

I have a fully stickered 16610LV and I am keeping it that way for the vary reason I stated above. I really LOVE the watch. I love looking at it in the factory fresh stickered state. I really do and I am admiring it that way. I also have an other 16610LV that I wear so that I can enjoy the watch on my arm 24/7.

[montpyt]

Do what makes you happy

[DrLindaPhD]

Oh gosh. I'm like a little kid. If I get a new toy, I want it right away and I want to play with it. I could not have the will power to leave that in a safe and not show it off to everyone I know. I would have to wear it the day it came in the mail. But, that's just me. I'm one of those annoying people who lets her daughter open gifts the day before Christmas because I can't wait : - )

[SennaFan]

this is very important

that we don't lose

the value...


and compromise

the integrity of it.

Andy, I'm throwing myself

at you and...


all you can think about is a toy

[Beaumont Miller II]

No need to apologize to me...

[HRV]

na keep it Clay and enjoy the feeling you get when you look at it, one day something will happen...but not today