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shoey977 · 26 February 2012, 07:44 AM

Hi there, can anyone tell me at what point the lettering on the back of the Sea Dweller became black or was it always?

Thanks to anyone that can shed some light on the topic.

eddie_b · 26 February 2012, 08:00 AM

Do you mean the engraving on the back? I just saw a 1665 last week and it was engraved but it's the color of the metal, of course.

shoey977 · 26 February 2012, 08:02 AM

Reason I'm asking is that i bought one that appears real ( a "u" series apparently) however every one that I see online has black lettering on the back while this one has no painted lettering.

shoey977 · 26 February 2012, 08:04 AM

It's a 16600.

shoey977 · 26 February 2012, 08:06 AM

Also, upon closer inspection, it doesn't glow at all anymore and has some degradation on some of the hour markers and hands. Is that normal for a watch of this age?

shoey977 · 26 February 2012, 08:09 AM

Yes, I guess I'm really talking about the engraving.

gwalker · 26 February 2012, 08:15 AM

I don't know if the casebacks are interchangeable from earlier models. U is around 1997 do I'm not sure what dials were used then. If its the older style dial you should have a little lume left. It's only 15 years old but in that time you will see changes on the dial.

shoey977 · 26 February 2012, 08:17 AM

Are you suggesting the case back may have come from an earlier model and the u series Dweller should have black engraving?

donq · 26 February 2012, 09:21 AM

I think on a lot of these the black paint simply wears off from use.

shoey977 · 28 February 2012, 05:59 AM

Here's a pic...

zeuloa · 28 February 2012, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donq

I think on a lot of these the black paint simply wears off from use.

From what I understand this is the case. There was an excellent post in the vintage section regarding an early 1665 NOS example that had been put in a safe after purchase, and it had the black lettering. I believe the experts have concluded that all come with black lettering from the factory.

bigwatchman · 28 February 2012, 07:34 AM

I'm getting a feeling on this....

expy2 · 28 February 2012, 07:41 AM

Don't look good...

Lagunatic · 28 February 2012, 07:45 AM

Heres my 1993 S series

bigwatchman · 28 February 2012, 07:55 AM

And that feeling is passing...

expy2 · 28 February 2012, 07:58 AM

...but suddenly it looks a whole lot better! Phew.

Lagunatic · 28 February 2012, 07:59 AM

black paint simply wears off

shoey977 · 28 February 2012, 09:01 AM

Thanks everyone for your help. This is my first Rolex and I purchased it on Ebay. Now the question is, why does the one in the ad have the black paint but the one delivered does not? Looking forward to sorting that out....

thanks again.

Lagunatic · 28 February 2012, 09:20 AM

black paint wears off on the older models before 1998, i think

subtona · 28 February 2012, 09:30 AM

possible that the watch was polished with poor skill and damaged the black fill in the lettering... the seller then decided to just clean the rest out?

GEO_79 · 28 February 2012, 09:46 AM

yeah;black paint wears off on the vintage models

pokpok · 28 February 2012, 11:35 AM

I have a Z-serial SD black engraved case back and the paint is still perfect.

26 February 2012, 07:44 AM	#1
shoey977 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 13	Sea Dweller Hi there, can anyone tell me at what point the lettering on the back of the Sea Dweller became black or was it always? Thanks to anyone that can shed some light on the topic.

28 February 2012, 09:30 AM	#20
subtona "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: gus Location: East Coast Watch: APK & sometimes Y Posts: 26,548	possible that the watch was polished with poor skill and damaged the black fill in the lettering... the seller then decided to just clean the rest out? __________________

28 February 2012, 11:35 AM	#22
pokpok "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SC Watch: 16600 Posts: 198	I have a Z-serial SD black engraved case back and the paint is still perfect. __________________

26 February 2012, 08:00 AM	#2
eddie_b 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Real Name: Eddie Location: NE FL Watch: 126610LV Posts: 2,031	Do you mean the engraving on the back? I just saw a 1665 last week and it was engraved but it's the color of the metal, of course.

26 February 2012, 08:02 AM	#3
shoey977 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 13	Reason I'm asking is that i bought one that appears real ( a "u" series apparently) however every one that I see online has black lettering on the back while this one has no painted lettering.

26 February 2012, 08:04 AM	#4
shoey977 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 13	It's a 16600.

26 February 2012, 08:06 AM	#5
shoey977 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 13	Also, upon closer inspection, it doesn't glow at all anymore and has some degradation on some of the hour markers and hands. Is that normal for a watch of this age?

26 February 2012, 08:09 AM	#6
shoey977 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 13	Yes, I guess I'm really talking about the engraving.

26 February 2012, 08:15 AM	#7
gwalker "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Gunter Location: AL/NJ Watch: DSSD; 116610LN Posts: 5,509	I don't know if the casebacks are interchangeable from earlier models. U is around 1997 do I'm not sure what dials were used then. If its the older style dial you should have a little lume left. It's only 15 years old but in that time you will see changes on the dial.

26 February 2012, 08:17 AM	#8
shoey977 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 13	Are you suggesting the case back may have come from an earlier model and the u series Dweller should have black engraving?

26 February 2012, 09:21 AM	#9
donq "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dallas tx Watch: 16610,1675,16030 Posts: 1,136	I think on a lot of these the black paint simply wears off from use.

28 February 2012, 07:34 AM	#12
bigwatchman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Real Name: Scott Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,307	I'm getting a feeling on this....

28 February 2012, 07:41 AM	#13
expy2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: England Posts: 204	Don't look good...

28 February 2012, 07:45 AM	#14
Lagunatic Banned Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Ron Location: Laguna Niguel, Ca Watch: Rolex 116613LN Posts: 1,724	Heres my 1993 S series

28 February 2012, 07:55 AM	#15
bigwatchman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Real Name: Scott Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,307	And that feeling is passing...

28 February 2012, 07:58 AM	#16
expy2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: England Posts: 204	...but suddenly it looks a whole lot better! Phew.

28 February 2012, 07:59 AM	#17
Lagunatic Banned Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Ron Location: Laguna Niguel, Ca Watch: Rolex 116613LN Posts: 1,724	black paint simply wears off

28 February 2012, 09:01 AM	#18
shoey977 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 13	Thanks everyone for your help. This is my first Rolex and I purchased it on Ebay. Now the question is, why does the one in the ad have the black paint but the one delivered does not? Looking forward to sorting that out.... thanks again.

28 February 2012, 09:20 AM	#19
Lagunatic Banned Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Ron Location: Laguna Niguel, Ca Watch: Rolex 116613LN Posts: 1,724	black paint wears off on the older models before 1998, i think

28 February 2012, 09:46 AM	#21
GEO_79 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Real Name: Georgian Location: Constanta_Romania Watch: 216570 Polar Posts: 904	yeah;black paint wears off on the vintage models

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