3185 vs 3186 movement

[BillA]

People ask more money for a watch with a 3186 movement vs. the 3185.
I have seen it in the Explorer (16570) and the older GMT’s like the Pepsi. (16710)
Should I care about the movement? I don’t see it, its buried in the watch.
Most likely I will never see it rather than a repair person who will open it up.

Is this equivalent to the nonsense “error” dial on the GMT (16710). Rolex probably made a zillion of the ones with the stick dial.

[GMT Aviator]

There were only a few 3186 movements fitted at the very end of the 5 digit GMT run. Their perceived ‘rarity’ is what seems to command the extra £££’s.
The reality is it makes no difference and if I’m honest, I’ve had more problems with my 3186 movements than I ever had or have with my 3185’s.
As for stick dials.......they are fitted right now as replacement dials at RSC, so they are not rare or desirable at all. It’s just internet based hype to inflate the price.

[Brny11]

If you are a collector, it makes all the difference in the world. Otherwise, no difference at all IMO.


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[BillA]

Originally Posted by Brny11

If you are a collector, it makes all the difference in the world. Otherwise, no difference at all IMO.


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Why is that?

[Cooper33]

Originally Posted by BillA

Why is that?

Because collectors tend to search for more unique pieces. And, in numbers, a 16710 with 3186 movement is more unique. I don't care, and agree that the "sticky dial" is total BS.

[BillA]

Originally Posted by Cooper33

Because collectors tend to search for more unique pieces. And, in numbers, a 16710 with 3186 movement is more unique. I don't care, and agree that the "sticky dial" is total BS.

I see your point, but we do not know how many watches Rolex put the 3186 movement in, they don’t release that info.

[Tools]

You never know what catches the interest of people willing to spend their money.

[EEpro]

I wouldn't pay a dime more. Get a warranty if you get a watch with a 3186. The jumping hour hand goes smooth while setting the hour and is only periodically picked up by the movement rendering the watch useless save for the 24 hand.

[ThatExplorer]

I own a EX2 with a 3185, those who are selling the same watch with the “rare” 3186 are scamming you out of more money. Yes it is worth a little more but jumping the price 2k is psycho. People claim the 3185 was “unreliable” but keep in mind that movement had a LOOONG run with the GMTs and Explorer II. People claim the hour hand was loose when jumping it, I can say since a service mine is tight as a can be.

Just my personal experience. Nothing wrong with a 3185 IMO.


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[Nikrnic]

The first thing that comes to my mind when I read a for sale add for a 5 digit piece with a 3186 under the hood is : "Price Hype"....I know it's relevant as far as maybe holding its value but I cant justify it for myself as it's not anything superior to a 3185. The 3186's did have problems.

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[037]

Originally Posted by GMT Aviator

There were only a few 3186 movements fitted at the very end of the 5 digit GMT run. Their perceived ‘rarity’ is what seems to command the extra £££’s.
The reality is it makes no difference and if I’m honest, I’ve had more problems with my 3186 movements than I ever had or have with my 3185’s.
As for stick dials.......they are fitted right now as replacement dials at RSC, so they are not rare or desirable at all. It’s just internet based hype to inflate the price.

This sums it up perfectly.

Between the two the 3185 would be my choice all day, every day.

[Saaci]

Echoing everyone's sentiments here. If you plan to wear the watch and use it to tell the time, there is no functional difference between 3185 and 3186. Might as well get the cheaper one. If you are speculating on watches that may increase in value in the future then perhaps you see value in the 3186 movement.

[eskiserkan]

The ones with 3186 comes with rehaut on the case for 16570 so these are produced less than the regular ones. Paying 1-2k more is normal for these.
For the 16710 there are watches with 3185 inside /stick dial and with 3186 inside rectangular dial. Imho condition is much more important on these rather than caliber inside. Most of them on sale are polished lugs, soft edges etc. which ruins overall look of the watch.

[doramas]

No significant advantages.
Disadvantages? Paying much more for an almost equal movement

[padi56]

Originally Posted by GMT Aviator

There were only a few 3186 movements fitted at the very end of the 5 digit GMT run. Their perceived ‘rarity’ is what seems to command the extra £££’s.
The reality is it makes no difference and if I’m honest, I’ve had more problems with my 3186 movements than I ever had or have with my 3185’s.
As for stick dials.......they are fitted right now as replacement dials at RSC, so they are not rare or desirable at all. It’s just internet based hype to inflate the price.

Exactly that but afraid today many buy the hype to wear the hype.

[DGB]

The 16710 was issued from 1989 to 2008.
In the second half of 2007 they changed the movement to 3186, so the proportion of the latter movement is small, circa 5%.
If you aim for a rare bird in this model, the 3186 would be the one.
Now Rolex being mass produced, these would be in the thousands, still you have much less 3186 then 3185 which makes it attractive to collectors.
You can’t identify a 3186 from outside, unless you see the case number or you open the watch.
The 3185 hands wiggles when you change the hours while the 86 won’t, a full rotation of the crown will change more hours with the 3186 (5-6 hours for the 85 v/s 7-8 to the 86).
Also the fact that you have the newer movement in the older model, the 3186 equips the 116710, that some may criticise the shape and prefer the slimmer lugs, makes it somehow more desirable for collectors.



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[SkyJuice]

I have both movements, not much difference in real world.

[sillo]

In day to day wearing there isn't really a difference at all.

Some of the really early 3186 movements had an issue with the click spring breaking, but these watches are over ten years old now and should have mostly seen a service to fix the issue with an updated part.

[iliketime]

have 3185 and 3186, only main difference? the gmt hand wiggles a bit during adjusting

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by sillo38

In day to day wearing there isn't really a difference at all.

Some of the really early 3186 movements had an issue with the click spring breaking, but these watches are over ten years old now and should have mostly seen a service to fix the issue with an updated part.

My 2013 scattered serial had to get repaired after the spring broke. $750 service. 6 years old this year.

The repaired click spring felt no different than the previous one did before it broke. I was expecting it to be more like the 3187 upon repair. The click spring in the 3187 of the 2019 216570 was considerably more robust.


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[037]

Originally Posted by sillo38

Some of the really early 3186 movements had an issue with the click spring breaking, but these watches are over ten years old now and should have mostly seen a service to fix the issue with an updated part.

My 2018 116710LN had issues moving the independent hour hand. I'm not convinced it was limited only to the click spring on early modules.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by 037

My 2018 116710LN had issues moving the independent hour hand. I'm not convinced it was limited only to the click spring on early modules.

Me either. I don't think it was ever solved.


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[Alpino]

.

I have 3 Rolex with 3186 movments, 116710 (2009) / 16710 (2007) / 16570 (2011) ... I never had any issue with all 3 of them .


Regarding "hype" , what do you think of a SD at around 10k$ compared to the same SD except a mark (comex) on the dial at 150k$ ??? Is there really a difference on your wrist ?

[ashbaug2]

It seems to me that collectors need to find ways to create rarity within models so that they can say theirs is "more rare" and thus commands a higher price (or justifies an absurd price paid?). I am far from a vintage Rolex expert, but it reminds me of the old saying: "if everyone's special, no one's special"

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by eskiserkan

For the 16710 there are watches with 3185 inside /stick dial and with 3186 inside rectangular dial.

Some stick dials had the 3186 too. Not just the rectangle dials. Almost the same movement so not worth it to me. If you're a collector or concerned about max investment potential the 3186 is the one to get though. Condition comes first for me.
Watches that originally came with the stick dial will always command a premium Imo. Internet hype or not it's a selling point. As opposed to a beat up 90s example with a service stick dial.

[sillo]

Originally Posted by 037

My 2018 116710LN had issues moving the independent hour hand. I'm not convinced it was limited only to the click spring on early modules.

Originally Posted by EEpro

My 2013 scattered serial had to get repaired after the spring broke. $750 service. 6 years old this year.

I stand corrected.

[Casey VP-26]

I love the internet hype on the 16710 with the 3186 movement.

[BillA]

Thanks for all the comments, I agree it is just a hype.

[Casey VP-26]

I disagree, Lots of people putting that "hype" in their pocket

[sillo]

The whole Rolex market is built on hype. People are buying watches they don't even like because other people tell them they should.