Submariner 16610 A series SWISS dial

[theken]

I found this 16610 at a local jeweler last week and bought it up because of the overall condition and the SWISS (not SWISS MADE) dial.
It is an A series that was sold new by a local Rolex AD in November, 1999.
This Submariner was completely serviced about a year ago and it appears very close to new.
Can someone tell me how many years and series the SWISS dial was used prior to the change over to the SWISS MADE dial?

[padi56]

On modern day Rolex it was the change from Tritium dials to Luminover roughly from 1998 till 2000, A and P series possible late U series, then sometime in 2000 they switched to Swiss Made.But Swiss was used on all Rolex watches till around 1960 but then the lume was radio active radium.

[crman]

my explorer II "U" is just SWISS, just had it serviced, one of my best!

[egzbuen]

Congrats on the 16610.

My A-Serial says hi

[HKtoter]

From your pics I can't tell if you have solid or hollow end links. I do love them LUG HOLES!
I have an "A89****" serial 16710 with a Swiss Made dial, SEL's and Lug Holes too.

I'm trying to get to an approximated range of serial numbers when Rolex transitioned to SEL's and and to the Swiss Made dials.

[theken]

Originally Posted by HKtoter

From your pics I can't tell if you have solid or hollow end links. I do love them LUG HOLES!
I have an "A89****" serial 16710 with a Swiss Made dial, SEL's and Lug Holes too.

I'm trying to get to an approximated range of serial numbers when Rolex transitioned to SEL's and and to the Swiss Made dials.

The serial number of my 16610 is A163XXX.
The bracelet does not have solid end links.
From your post, it seems that the transition to a SWISS MADE dial and SELs was during the A series production.
As I mentioned above, my 16610 was sold new by the Rolex AD in November, 1999, as indicated on the warranty/cosc certificate.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by theken

The serial number of my 16610 is A163XXX.
The bracelet does not have solid end links.
From your post, it seems that the transition to a SWISS MADE dial and SELs was during the A series production.
As I mentioned above, my 16610 was sold new by the Rolex AD in November, 1999, as indicated on the warranty/cosc certificate.

Well, yes and no.. The transition to Luminova was during the 98/99 time frame.. During that time Rolex was producing U, A, and P serials, and so any of those models may have "Swiss" only, with U and A getting some Tritium, and A and P getting some "Swiss Made". But it isn't cast in stone as Rolex tended to use left over parts until depleted and nobody has ever seen everything they have produced..

SEL's came much later... probably with the P serials for most Stainless Steel models, although cases back to W/T have the machined lip to accept an SEL bracelet; then the lug holes disappeared during the Y serials..

Gold and Two Tone got such changes a year or two earlier than SS models..

[mailman]

Originally Posted by theken

The serial number of my 16610 is A163XXX.
The bracelet does not have solid end links.
From your post, it seems that the transition to a SWISS MADE dial and SELs was during the A series production.
As I mentioned above, my 16610 was sold new by the Rolex AD in November, 1999, as indicated on the warranty/cosc certificate.

I have a late A series 16610 A943XXX with an AB2 clasp code. It has a SWISS MADE dial and SEL's. From the info stated, it seems like you're right I think I recall reading this somewhere before also.


I don't know if I've ever seen a SIWSS dial with SEL's either

Nice pick up

[Taxi!]

Nice catch

[AWS]

Originally Posted by theken

I found this 16610 at a local jeweler last week and bought it up because of the overall condition and the SWISS (not SWISS MADE) dial.
It is an A series that was sold new by a local Rolex AD in November, 1999.
This Submariner was completely serviced about a year ago and it appears very close to new.
Can someone tell me how many years and series the SWISS dial was used prior to the change over to the SWISS MADE dial?

How is the lume on the watch? Just curious as I have a 14060 U series with SWISS dial and I'm amazed how well it still glows.

Nice watch.

[Michael M.]

Awesome find!

[avusblue]

Nice piece and good pickup. Your watch was made right in the same time frame as mine. Non-SEL, "Swiss" (versus "Swiss Made"), lug holes, and Luminova. Very desirable. See "Rolex transitions are never clear cut." Well done and enjoy that beautiful Sub.

Cheers,

Dave

[nkalra]

I have a 1998 U series Rolex Submariner with the "SWISS" dial. I was thinking of trading it and getting the new Submariner with the Ceramic bezel, but after reading this post, it seems that the watch I have is rather rare, so now will likley keep it..

[padi56]

Originally Posted by nkalra

I have a 1998 U series Rolex Submariner with the "SWISS" dial. I was thinking of trading it and getting the new Submariner with the Ceramic bezel, but after reading this post, it seems that the watch I have is rather rare, so now will likley keep it..

Nothing is rare with Rolex watches just some made in smaller numbers than others. And seeing the Sub is Rolex biggest seller in the sports line there will be many high hundreds even thousands with Swiss on the dial its not considered as collectible.

[nkalra]

Granted these watches are mass produced, it's all relative. The fact that "SWISS" was only on the dial during 1-2 year time frame (and not on all models during that time), must make these watches harder to find.