Daytona 16520 A vs U serial

[Dan S]

Sorry to resurrect this discussion, but I was thinking back on it today when looking at a 214270 Explorer Mk1. Remember when the new 39mm version was released with the short hands and missing lume on the applied numerals? And everyone hated it.

Yes, that variant only lasted a year or two, so it falls into the same category as the "rare" variations being discussed in the thread. Somehow I doubt it will ever bring a premium.

[fizz]

Raising this thread instead of creating a new to ask - is it acceptable for A serial 16520 to also come with T Swiss Made T aka Tritium dials?

I've found a few of examples on the Tropicalwatch site, but about 95% of A serials seems Luminova so just want to make sure nothing is "off" if you see one with TSMT dials and Tritium.

Here are the 3 in question:

https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/xfcj
https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/phq6
https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/m7bm

[PVR]

There is no A serial Zenith 16520 that should have a T Swiss T dial. You can post 20 links to A serials with Tritium dials and all 20 would be incorrect. "A" serial Zeniths are ALL Luminova. Jacek is a lovely guy but the dials in every one of those watches has been replaced.

[springer]

Originally Posted by MrGoat

I was under the impression A serials were Swiss only dials. The only year it was luminova instead of “super luminova”.


Sent from my Apple privacy invasion product

I have seen the A serial numbers on various models marked both SWISS or SWISS MADE and have owned several A serial models with either designation.

[fizz]

Originally Posted by PVR

There is no A serial Zenith 16520 that should have a T Swiss T dial. You can post 20 links to A serials with Tritium dials and all 20 would be incorrect. "A" serial Zeniths are ALL Luminova. Jacek is a lovely guy but the dials in every one of those watches has been replaced.

Interesting to know, because I have come across a first owner 16520 with A serial marked T Swiss Made T. It has only been serviced by Rolex without the dial being changed.

Even if, for whatever reason, the dial was changed, wouldn't a service dial be a later dial (aka Lumninova) rather than TSMT? I don't understand why someone would swap it out and not put a correct dial, instead of an incorrect one.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by fizz

I don't understand why someone would swap it out and not put a correct dial, instead of an incorrect one.

Umm, because that was the dial they wanted to install?

I read this kind of speculation all the time, but authentication really needs to be based on facts and observations, not the hypothetical motivations of people who made changes.

[Deppe]

Originally Posted by fizz

Interesting to know, because I have come across a first owner 16520 with A serial marked T Swiss Made T. It has only been serviced by Rolex without the dial being changed.

Even if, for whatever reason, the dial was changed, wouldn't a service dial be a later dial (aka Lumninova) rather than TSMT? I don't understand why someone would swap it out and not put a correct dial, instead of an incorrect one.

I also think that you have to take into account that the 90’s was a different time. In this day and age, we discuss whether the white hangtag is or isn’t important, while in the 90’s, you did not have Internet forums and stuff like that to inform/poison (depending on perspective) people’s minds, and at the same time the policies of what was allowed by Rolex was much more relaxed. I have a W-serial 16520 with a Mk1 bezel (so the 200 uph bezel). I imagine that the watch have been serviced at some point, and that the watchmaker carrying out the service (it is also my impression that a lot more non-Rolex watchmakers had a parts-account) just used a bezel that was in stock. It may be the same with the dials.