Modern Patina Found: Milgauss Black dial faded to grey/blue

[traf]

While on a business trip in Portland, OR I was casually exploring when I happened upon a place called "Watchworks". Intrigued, I walked in and I'm instantly greeted by gentleman named Sam.

Upon examining their expansive used watch collection, which included a fine selection of Patek, omega and Rolex, a pristine 1680 caught my eye. After explaining my long search for this particular sub reference, Sam brought out 3 other, much nicer patina'd models from the back including a red sub.

At this point we got to talking some more and the shops owner, alex, poked his head up from behind the watchmakers glass corner. He then proceeded to bring out some of the most beautiful vintage rolexes I've seen in my years of pseudo collecting... Gilt dials, underlines, PCGs, radium... The real deal.

After some serious show and tell, he pulls off his personal watch from his wrist:



A real life, faded dial, current model black milgauss.

My jaw dropped in disbelief. How could this be?? Upon examining closely, it appears to be the real deal.

Thoughts?? Is this the first account of a modern (2007-?) Rolex with a faded dial? Is there hope for modern Rolex patina after all?

For reference, this is what the above watch started its life as:




Sent from my  iPhone 6 using Tapatalk