Sub 16800 with wrong dial from factory?

[amv1981]

Hi all,

New to the forum, but not to the watch game. Noob when it comes to Rolex watches though:)

Rolex Sub 16800 with serial 86XXXXX (my 1985) appears to have mixed dial and crown, and to my knowledge it is a steel version with mods.

But I am having a hard time finding similar dials on other subs. What could this mix/hybrid be made from?

I have the original steel bracelet which makes me believe its an all steel version from the beginning.

Pics below

BR

/A

[NKflyer]

It's difficult to tell from your photos which bits are yellow gold or not. But a factory two-tone sub from this era would be stamped 16803, not 16800.

[rootbeer7]

if not stamped 16803, then dial, bezel (I think) and crown are added. If marked 16803, then SS bracelet not original (to that watch)

[saskmh]

Without looking at the authenticity of the parts... The watch is either a 16803 with the incorrect steel bezel, or it is a 16800 with the incorrect dial, hands, crown and insert.

[Gina Marie]

Very common mod back in the day. In the 80s folks loved 2 tone watches and would (gasp) take a ss version and swap the dial, hands, bezel, and crown to get a 2 tone watch. My first gmt was a similar mod to my surprise. No worries. Those parts are not too expensive but if you are buying them budget some cash to purchase and sell what you have there now.

[amv1981]

Ty all for input. Really appreciate it.

2 tone is so 80s indeed:) Time changes for sure.

It's stamped 16800, so dial must have been changed as well I guess.

The bezel also has gold inserts in the marks, and the crown is defo swapped.

/A