Any reason not to seek out a 1984 Submariner?

[some.idiot]

Since I‘ve been here you all have made me fall in love with a nice black Submariner

My 40th birthday is next year, and it’s got me thinking of seeking out a birth year model.

Is there anything about this year or this timeframe that should make me avoid them?

[rootbeer7]

Cost!!
You’ll find a lovely 16800 from that year, matte dial more expensive or if you prefer no date then a 5513.
Make sure you post potential purchases here for an expert eye! Good Luck.

[some.idiot]

Originally Posted by rootbeer7

Cost!!
You’ll find a lovely 16800 from that year, matte dial more expensive or if you prefer no date then a 5513.
Make sure you post potential purchases here for an expert eye! Good Luck.

More expensive than newer or older models? Or just cost in general?

Another option would be to buy one from my son’s birth year (2016) but I really appreciate some aging patina

[Swearengen]

Mattte dials at a premium to glossy dials for 16800, not sure when they switched over.

Originally Posted by some.idiot

More expensive than newer or older models? Or just cost in general?

Another option would be to buy one from my son’s birth year (2016) but I really appreciate some aging patina

[TuRo]

8,500,000 is roughly your serial number number cut off on both 16800 or 5513 - before that it's Matte Dial versions and about 25% more expensive and after that they are gloss dial white gold surround to hour markers and about 25% cheaper - both are great and a mid 80s sub is sub-lime !

2016 super cased Chubb-mariners are imho awful, as they look like unfinished cases/crown guards from the the foundry (an insider at Rolex HQ said they left cases that way to maximise girth on the 40mm in the big watch craze - even when they wilted to fashion in new emerging markets - albeit too late as 'old world' mkts size trends were already moving downwards - with the 41mm has better proportion he admitted)... and as watch sizes are coming back to smaller dimensions.... I suspect they might be unloved/out on a limb in a decade !

[Weetos]

My 83’ 16800. I believe they ran the matte dials into 84’

[one80]

I certainly prefer the earlier models, to the current (2016+), and suspect you'll get similar responses from most of the crowd on this sub-forum.

While I appreciate getting a year model that has some meaning to you, perhaps don't use that as your only criteria - buy the best watch that fits your budget.

[some.idiot]

Originally Posted by one80

I certainly prefer the earlier models, to the current (2016+), and suspect you'll get similar responses from most of the crowd on this sub-forum.

While I appreciate getting a year model that has some meaning to you, perhaps don't use that as your only criteria - buy the best watch that fits your budget.

I’m with you, I think I’ll just see what I can find. It’s going to depend what I find within my budget and if it happens to be an 84 then great. I’m not going to try too hard to make sure it’s an 84. I mainly just wanted to make sure they weren’t known for being garbage.

[Dan S]

1984 is a perfectly good year for a Sub. You need to decide whether to buy a beautiful no-date 5513 or a Sub with a hideous date-window and magnifier. I'm totally agnostic, of course.

[harry in montreal]

Haha. Don’t listen to Dan

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by harry in montreal

haha. Don’t listen to dan

x2

[indianmachine]

Great year for the transitional 16660 Sea Dweller if that's of interest

[some.idiot]

Originally Posted by Dan S

1984 is a perfectly good year for a Sub. You need to decide whether to buy a beautiful no-date 5513 or a Sub with a hideous date-window and magnifier. I'm totally agnostic, of course.

5513 is my preference.

[Lesnerelli23]

I’ve been looking at the 16800 as well lately. I’ve been considering downsizing the collection and having just a couple really cool pieces.

For me, matte v glossy isn’t a huge deal but I DO need those maxi markers on the matte version. I don’t really care for the smaller ones with the gold surrounds… that’s just my eye though :) it’s also the reason I went for a 6 digit over a 5 digit for my first Sub.


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[Filipão]

O. P.

[swish77]

Go for it, matte or gloss. I'd probably give a slight nod to the matte dials, like most of us, but there's something special about heavy patina on a gloss dial. The contrast really pops!

One thing to be careful about is the condition of the early gloss dials. They often aged badly, with cracking, spotting, or odd blotchy areas.

Gotta love mid-'80s Subs.

[jedione65]

Originally Posted by TuRo

8,500,000 is roughly your serial number number cut off on both 16800 or 5513 - before that it's Matte Dial versions and about 25% more expensive and after that they are gloss dial white gold surround to hour markers and about 25% cheaper - both are great and a mid 80s sub is sub-lime !

2016 super cased Chubb-mariners are imho awful, as they look like unfinished cases/crown guards from the the foundry (an insider at Rolex HQ said they left cases that way to maximise girth on the 40mm in the big watch craze - even when they wilted to fashion in new emerging markets - albeit too late as 'old world' mkts size trends were already moving downwards - with the 41mm has better proportion he admitted)... and as watch sizes are coming back to smaller dimensions.... I suspect they might be unloved/out on a limb in a decade !

Yea those subs with the fat cases were the worst, but doesn't the current GMT mast which is very popular use a similar unfinished looking case?

To answer the OP's question, the matte dial 16800 are the perfect transitional pieces with the quickset date. I've also considered these before, but the only drawback is the price these days.

[East of Eden]

Originally Posted by Dan S

1984 is a perfectly good year for a Sub. You need to decide whether to buy a beautiful no-date 5513 or a Sub with a hideous date-window and magnifier. I'm totally agnostic, of course.

You’ll appreciate the cyclops when you’re 60, lol

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by East of Eden

You’ll appreciate the cyclops when you’re 60, lol

Coming up very soon!

[Jawnz]

My 1984 16800. Would love to trade it for a 1982 (my birth year) version but the opportunity has never presented itself.

[Ascari_2]

Love my '84 which is my daily watch. Put it on a modern oyster bracelet and the combo is better than any new sub out there. And unlike some people in this thread, I can not only tell time, but I also know what date it is!



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[Tom in Athens]

Would you mind telling us which modern oyster bracelet you're using and whether or not it fit without modification?
Thanks - Tom

[bullies]

I was just checking out inventory and saw this one:
https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/61ep

[swish77]

Originally Posted by bullies

I was just checking out inventory and saw this one:
https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/61ep

Hmmmm .... Spider dials are not for everyone. Not my cup of tea, but apparently they appeal to some watch lovers.

[springer]

Originally Posted by swish77

Hmmmm .... Spider dials are not for everyone. Not my cup of tea, but apparently they appeal to some watch lovers.

I would agree. Damaged dials with "sweet" names are not necessarily sweetheart deals. But, as we all know, there are buyers for any and everything, no matter the condition.

[some.idiot]

Originally Posted by Ascari_2

Love my '84 which is my daily watch. Put it on a modern oyster bracelet and the combo is better than any new sub out there. And unlike some people in this thread, I can not only tell time, but I also know what date it is!



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Wanna sell it to me next year?

Which bracelet did you buy?

[Filipão]

Sel 93250

[Tridor]

nt

[Mathematoxic]

Originally Posted by some.idiot

Since I‘ve been here you all have made me fall in love with a nice black Submariner

My 40th birthday is next year, and it’s got me thinking of seeking out a birth year model.

Is there anything about this year or this timeframe that should make me avoid them?

Didn’t realise I’m 39 this year until I saw this post!

Hope you get the watch you love soon!

[Ascari_2]

Originally Posted by Tom in Athens

Would you mind telling us which modern oyster bracelet you're using and whether or not it fit without modification?

Thanks - Tom

Sure, is off of a 36mm OP. Fits perfectly with absolutely no modifications. I only wish you could feel the watch in your hands because it's hard to explain how much more solid it feels compared to the hollow link bracelet.

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