Nipple dial for my 16808

[Modiferous]

I have an 16808 70XXXXX series serial number that when I got it had this dial on it

would like to put the correct nipple dial on it.

I found this one for sale, does it look like the real thing or aftermarket?





Assuming I find a real nipple dial does my original dial have some value in exchange or for sale? It is in very good condition as you may see.

I just don't want to put some crappy distressed nipple dial to replace my pristine one, so I suppose I need to look hard and long for a good nipple dial.

[MorningTundra]

That dial is in terrible condition. Is it super cheap?

[Modiferous]

It is in fact very inexpensive, which is why I wondered if it was even real.

But...I've seen far worse looking nipple dials where they are asking 5X more.

Here's one that they are asking a little over 3X more than the one I post above. The markers do look better but the first impact visual of the dial is pretty bad.

[Modiferous]

Here's another. It's in good shape, but it's greenish, which I suppose some might view as coveted. And it's $3000.

[Modiferous]

Between say, a 1980 or 1981 16808 like mine or this one:
https://watchrapport.com/products/ro...980-like-new-1
and say a 1987 16808 like this one:
https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-su...6808-blue.html

was the only change over the years the Nipple Dial? The hands and bezel stayed the same on the 16808?

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by Modiferous

I have an 16808 70XXXXX series serial number that when I got it had this dial on it



would like to put the correct nipple dial on it.



I found this one for sale, does it look like the real thing or aftermarket?











Assuming I find a real nipple dial does my original dial have some value in exchange or for sale? It is in very good condition as you may see.



I just don't want to put some crappy distressed nipple dial to replace my pristine one, so I suppose I need to look hard and long for a good nipple dial.

Did you just put the words hard, long and nipple into the same sentence? And you’re only talking about a watch!

I think it looks good with dial already in there. But I guess it’s you who needs to be happy with it.

[TimeLord2]

you might be better off selling this one as is and getting one with a nipple dial you like if they are that expensive to replace with an original dial. But you are right, out of all three, the first one looks the best. But the lume plots do not look attractive IMHO. I see two other options.
1 - Purchase this dial and see if perhaps Michael Young could work some magic with a dial restoration http://www.classicwatchrepair.com/, which is one of the services he offers. I would get the gold markers cleaned up and re-lumed too.
2 - I have heard Rolex still has some Nipple dials for the GMTs but with luminova plots instead of Tritium. Not sure if that is teh case for a 16800. If you went that route, which may take an email or letter of interest to the Geneva headquarters as I don't think the USA RSC would do it or even know of this option, then they would probably replace the hands too with luminova. Then you would have a period looking watch that has active lume. Good luck!

[Modiferous]

I’ve located a perfect or near perfect 16808 nipple dial but asking $4000. which includes the bezel and hands. Still even at $4000 or close a perfect dial is better than paying around $3000. for one of the distressed dials I pictured above.
I don’t think I need the bezel and hands? was what I was wondering.

Yes someone else suggested getting the watch factory serviced and having them put the “correct” nipple dial in but I read horror stories of people with Red submariners having a hard time getting Rolex to install a correct red service dial in cases where the original dial was trashed and had to be replaced.

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by Modiferous

I’ve located a perfect or near perfect 16808 nipple dial but asking $4000. which includes the bezel and hands. Still even at $4000 or close a perfect dial is better than paying around $3000. for one of the distressed dials I pictured above.
I don’t think I need the bezel and hands? was what I was wondering.

Yes someone else suggested getting the watch factory serviced and having them put the “correct” nipple dial in but I read horror stories of people with Red submariners having a hard time getting Rolex to install a correct red service dial in cases where the original dial was trashed and had to be replaced.

I’d take this deal if all checks out. Hands and dial matching are a bonus and you can sell bezel separately if necessary.

[Modiferous]

I guess that $4000. deal for the nipple dial / hands / bezel was a good deal because it already sold. I have to keep looking...or consider the Rolex factory service option.

[Modiferous]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2

2 - I have heard Rolex still has some Nipple dials for the GMTs but with luminova plots instead of Tritium. Not sure if that is teh case for a 16800. If you went that route, which may take an email or letter of interest to the Geneva headquarters as I don't think the USA RSC would do it or even know of this option, then they would probably replace the hands too with luminova. Then you would have a period looking watch that has active lume. Good luck!

The one U.S. Rolex AD I talked to said something about how Rolex for some time now has had a policy of not replacing any parts on Rolexes older than 30 years unless they have the parts in stock. But, that doesn't really say much? and it wasn't exactly clear to me what the AD was saying anyway?

That they would not replace any parts on older Rolexes at all, if old parts not in stock? or would replace them only with newer parts?


I also cannot figure out how to EMAIL Rolex in Geneva directly.

[TimeLord2]

The guy behind the counter I spoke with at RSC in BH, CA said they would insist on replacing the dial, hands and insert and suggested I just use a CW21 certified watchmaker. This was not the case as they did agree to not replace any of those parts (dial and hands…) and just service the watch. They did insist on replacing the insert, which was not correct (1675/8 version not 1675/3…) but would have also returned the one that was on the watch. This, after I paid for their authentication, which was required prior to them agreeing to service the watch and took about 4-6 weeks. I never did get it serviced through RSC though.

This was part of a longer conversation on Luminova dials. Somebody posted this in response to something I said. It's a GMT 1675 service nipple dial with Luminova plots, and hands, says SWISS at the bottom instead of the usual T SWISS T. https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=814463

As far as contacting Rolex, Geneva, I googled and found this, which also has a phone number: https://headquartersof.com/rolex-headquarters-contacts/
Perhaps call and ask for the email address?

[Modiferous]

I received an email back from Rolex USA (following up from another email I received from Rolex Geneva) and they said that the nipple dial has not been available through either service center (US or Switzerland) for "many years" and that the only available dial through Rolex is the same style I have on my watch now, available in either blue or black. So service through Rolex to get a nipple dial is not currently an option.

[Modiferous]

I still have this on my mind, but what I have realized is that to change the dial alone to Nipple might not be enough.

Apparently the bezels too are different on Nipple Dial watches versus later 16808s.

(You have to read the thread to understand exactly what is going on here.)

You see the Nipple Dial bezels have a more three dimensional nib at the top:



versus on the 16808s that came later:

[TimeLord2]

It's been quite a while… Are you still looking for a dial? And I suppose hand set and bezel insert now. Does the 16808 share the same feet as on the 1680/8. Are they interchangeable? I'm assuming not, as the movement is different 3035 versus 1675. Would it make more sense just to sell your watch and get one with the attributes you are looking for? Still a beautiful watch but it might save you a lot of time and effort just to sell at a small loss or perhaps break even or even get a better deal. Options.

[Modiferous]

I have lots of watches so it is easy for me to put a project like this on the back burner, but as well I haven't been able to find an excellent condition blue Nipple 16808 dial let alone now looks like I'll need a dial and bezel both.

As I mentioned, mine is a 16808 70XXXXX series serial number, a watch from 1981-2, that SHOULD have the Nipple dial and corresponding bezel, but when I bought it around the year 2000, the seller had put the newer style dial and bezel on it to make it look like the 16818, which was the current model at that time. In fact, at the time when I showed it to a Rolex wholesaler I used to buy watches from, he commented on how "You got the new dial" as a plus, that added value to the watch (which was the situation then - people weren't paying more for the older nipple dial equipped Submariners, they were paying less).

Early models of the gold Submariner ref. 16808 came with nipple dials while later ones featured the flatter lume-filled indexes. The hands appear to be the same on both versions. The 16808 dials all are marked 1000 ft / 300m versus the 1680 dials are marked 660 ft / 200m.

I suppose, yes, I could just sell mine and then buy a 16808 already fitted with the nipple dial and corresponding bezel, but at the moment the price difference between the nipple and non nipple equipped 16808s seems to be more than several thousand dollars - more like five or even ten thousand in difference.

And putting the nipple dial into my watch would simply be bringing it back to the way it was at factory, it would not be an "abomination" of trying to make it appear as something it is not.

[TimeLord2]

I do understand. I think the transition to the newer dial was around 1984. Dials for your model do seem to fetch a premium compared to earlier 1680s. From limited research, and the crap examples I have found, with dial, matching hands, and an attractive bezel insert it might be ±6-7K to complete. Not counting a service.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/276665752618
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225934899282
You might try The Ridley's (Phillip or Bob) or Ric Dietal to see if they could help you in your search. They may have access to more people hoarding parts. Might be a little more but given the time you have already spent might be worth it. Good luck!