1st Rolex (16800): How Did I Do?

[benbradstock]

Hi All,

I'm a longtime Omega forum member, and have a small collection of Omega/Longines/Zenith etc...

Like some others, I avoided Rolex for years because of the image (did not want to appear flashy). And like many, I came around to Rolex after gradually learning how great the watches are. After a couple of months of daily scouring this forum (to learn) and eBay etc.. (to shop), I just won this 1986 16800.

On my budget of $8K, I knew it would be tough to get everything I wanted, but I feel I came close: creamy and uniform patina on dial and hands, white-gold surrounds (which I slightly prefer), original-looking bezel, somewhat polished but with correct-looking brushing and contours still evident). I should receive the watch on Wednesday, but here are some photos from the seller. Any thoughts/criticisms/suggestions?

Thanks in advance, Brad

[1665fan]

Nice patina! Looks like a keeper

[Redmy]

Nice. Looks like dial is turning matte

[Dan S]

I like the color of the lume.

[bayerische]

Patina is wonderful.

[Cooper33]

Good looking example, nice find!

[swish77]

Solid! Congrats!

Tough to check every single box on your vintage dream watch, but this is a very nice-looking classic/vintage Sub. Stunning patina.

[FTX I]

Awesome

[joli160]

Lughole at 10:00 has become a crater due to wrong polishing.
Coronet on the clasp polished away.

Nice looking lume.

(Poor pictures from which you cannot judge anything btw)

[oysterquartz17000]

I joined the transitional club two weeks ago! Welcome! I was lucky, I only paid 5k USD for mine, full set box and papers

[FrankNYC]

Nice score! For its age, it would be difficult to find an unpolished example--and if you do, expect to pay handsomely for it!
Wear it in good health!

[benbradstock]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the compliments and constructive criticism.

I’ve had the vintage watch “sickness“ for a few years now. Reading endless educational posts on Omega forum etc (including those where the noob presents his proud purchase only for it to be outed as a redial, Frankenwatch etc), I think I’ve learned enough to avoid the most common mistakes.

When the relatives come over for the holidays, I won’t even try explaining to them why this imperfect watch was more expensive than a new-looking example.


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[benbradstock]

Originally Posted by joli160

Lughole at 10:00 has become a crater due to wrong polishing.

Coronet on the clasp polished away.



Nice looking lume.



(Poor pictures from which you cannot judge anything btw)

I’ll probably post more pictures once I receive it. How do you recommend posting HD photos? The upload feature seems to only allow 1250 x 1250.


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[dane75]

I don't know enough to say how you did with technical expertise, but it's a really nice looking and classic watch. Congrats on the pick up and I hope you enjoy it for years to come.

[mrs_LA]

Looks great. Patina is nice and even! Congrats!

[colpol]

Nice & looking forward to some wrist shots

[joli160]

Originally Posted by benbradstock

I’ll probably post more pictures once I receive it. How do you recommend posting HD photos? The upload feature seems to only allow 1250 x 1250.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1250 x 1250 is more than enough.

What I meant with a poor picture is that the ones you provided are "typical" seller photo's. They look photoshopped and or filtered in some way. Why so many pro sellers do this ?
Always makes me believe they want to hide something ?
I have no knowledge about these techniques but I prefer real photo's without being doctored.

Lot of vintage lovers disagree with me but I would have the watch recut by Rolliworks when service time comes. Plenty meat left to make it look brand new.

Enjoy wearing your watch

[crazymcmichael]

Originally Posted by benbradstock

Hi All,

I'm a longtime Omega forum member, and have a small collection of Omega/Longines/Zenith etc...

Like some others, I avoided Rolex for years because of the image (did not want to appear flashy). And like many, I came around to Rolex after gradually learning how great the watches are. After a couple of months of daily scouring this forum (to learn) and eBay etc.. (to shop), I just won this 1986 16800.

On my budget of $8K, I knew it would be tough to get everything I wanted, but I feel I came close: creamy and uniform patina on dial and hands, white-gold surrounds (which I slightly prefer), original-looking bezel, somewhat polished but with correct-looking brushing and contours still evident). I should receive the watch on Wednesday, but here are some photos from the seller. Any thoughts/criticisms/suggestions?

Thanks in advance, Brad

Wow perfect example very nice! Good find.

[theflywrist]

REALLY good start! Beautiful example, full of charm! Looking forward to photos when the watch is on your wrist!

[Boaters]

Very nice the patina is beautiful ... congratulations great find

[Glosstritium]

Datewheel is not the correct color... Its probobly a replacement.. Also should have open 6 and 9s but both colors will have it... Does the end links have round top 593 or flat top? That's just some things

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by joli160

1250 x 1250 is more than enough.

What I meant with a poor picture is that the ones you provided are "typical" seller photo's. They look photoshopped and or filtered in some way. Why so many pro sellers do this ?
Always makes me believe they want to hide something ?
I have no knowledge about these techniques but I prefer real photo's without being doctored.

Lot of vintage lovers disagree with me but I would have the watch recut by Rolliworks when service time comes. Plenty meat left to make it look brand new.

Enjoy wearing your watch

Agree. Dealers' photographers will edit to enhance the beauty of a piece and mute the blemishes. In this case, there's definitely been some distress to the dial, probably by moisture, hence the spotting. So, I'd be curious to see how all that spotting and gloss-to-matte effect looks in real life and if it's more prominent. I hope I'm wrong, but I'd venture that the dealer's price reflects the slight damage/changes to that dial.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by joli160

Lughole at 10:00 has become a crater due to wrong polishing.
Coronet on the clasp polished away.

I've seen a lot worse on both counts. I think the photo and lighting/angle is probably making that lug look a lot worse than it is.

Originally Posted by Glosstritium

Datewheel is not the correct color... Its probobly a replacement.. Also should have open 6 and 9s but both colors will have it... Does the end links have round top 593 or flat top? That's just some things

Hmmm .... not sure I agree about the date-wheel color. It's too late to be the brushed metal/silver date wheel, like the ones you see on some 1680s. Most of the 16800s I've seen have this white date wheel as an original part.

Here's another 16800 (8 mil. serial) with what looks like that same color date wheel.

[SubMarine]

Overpolished example

[oysterquartz17000]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

Overpolished example

Thats a bit harsh. The guy just got himself a nice new vintage watch and you make a comment like that without even explaining yourself.

[csfischer20]

I really like the look of that watch. The patina is beautiful. It's not perfect, it's vintage... but that is expected. For 8k I personally think you did fantastic. I'm not a purist, I confess. I've been slightly looking for a nice example of a 1981 16800. Great find!

[benbradstock]

Thanks for the comments!

I'm fine with constructive criticism; this ain't my first rodeo. I'm aware that it's been polished, and I didn't want to shell out the $15K for a perfect example.

Delivery delayed until tomorrow, so we will all know once I have the ability to take more and better undoctored photos and put it on the timegrapher app.