Rolex 16550 - Black Surrounds or WG Surrounds - Which is rarer?

[CollectorD]

I have a rolex 16550 - R serial - 1987 with a Fat Font Bezel, Cream Markers, (though the dial remains white), and Black Surrounds along with box/papers. Is that still a rare watch? I guess at the time of the R serial, Rolex replaced the dial to a white dial but kept the markers as they were and just changed the surrounds?

[Toronto Soup King]

Same as my 16550. Dunno if they're rare, Jacek sold me mine for a fairly modest sum a couple of years ago as a summer beater (on white perlon today, really pops). I thought the only interesting trivia about the model is that the marker surrounds are WG, just painted black (and who knows if it's even true, I'm not scraping mine to find out)

[watchcrank]

The white gold surrounds are the earlier dials and much more difficult to find in nice condition. A white rail dial that has not changed color to cream is not seen often.
black surrounds were used as service dials on many later 16550 and 16570. Some say the Black surrounds overlap the last 16550 issue. m

[CollectorD]

Thanks,

So it seems like the Cream Dial with White Gold Surrounds / fat font bezel is the real collector's item.

Mine has the Fat Font Bezel, Black Surrounds, Patina, and a white dial w/ bp. Guess its still collectible and fairly rare but not as rare. I figure Rolex started changing it around with the R serial

[G-Web]

Yes, the cream dials with white gold hands and hour markers definitely command the highest prices. And while they don't fetch prices as high, based on my experience it seems like white dials with white gold hands and markers come up less frequently than cream dials.

But it's good to bear in mind that the 16550 was only made from roughly the mid to late 80's. So while it's not a rare watch per se, finding a good one generally presents a bit of a hunt.

I've owned black, white and cream, and I actually prefer black and white. Yes cream is lovely, but I found it a little challenging in the legibility department. To me though, the bezel font is the best part.

Cheers.
-GW

[U5512]

Originally Posted by G-Web

To me though, the bezel font is the best part.

Cheers.
-GW

Agreed. The wide font on 16550 is just plain awesome!!!