168000 Matte Sub For Real?

[mellomitch]

I have seen several past threads on other forums regarding transitional 168000 Subs with matte dials, with much debate. I picked one up from a trusted friend of mine at a good price, and I am curious if this has been settled or is still a battle being fought within the community? Any info is appreciated- My 168000 has a 938xxxx serial number. Thanks in advance!

PS- IMHO it is not to anyones advantage to add a expensive matte dial to a glossy model, as the price difference would not merit the swap....

[moviefreak]

I believe the main idea is that when the 168000 came out, Rolex had fully changed to glossy dials, so they all should have the glossy markers...
But you never know... it could have been that one was fitted a matte dial in those years by request of the buyer.... in the end, it is believed by many that they all came out with glossy dials out of the factory..

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by mellomitch

I have seen several past threads on other forums regarding transitional 168000 Subs with matte dials, with much debate. I picked one up from a trusted friend of mine at a good price, and I am curious if this has been settled or is still a battle being fought within the community? Any info is appreciated- My 168000 has a 938xxxx serial number. Thanks in advance!

PS- IMHO it is not to anyones advantage to add a expensive matte dial to a glossy model, as the price difference would not merit the swap....

No matte dial on a 168000 only on early 16800. The 168000 is the same watch as the first 16610. The difference between
a 16800 and a 168000 is the steel, the 16800 use 316L SS and the 168000 use 904L SS thats the reason for the extra zero.

[drockadam]

My dad had a 168000, I wish he would of kept it! Great looking watch!

[757doc001]

Originally Posted by Jocke

No matte dial on a 168000 only on early 16800. The 168000 is the same watch as the first 16610. The difference between
a 16800 and a 168000 is the steel, the 16800 use 316L SS and the 168000 use 904L SS thats the reason for the extra zero.

x2

I think someone added the matte dial, just for you. In any case, very nice watch!

[smallcandle]

Certainly wasn't 'born' that way...

[moviefreak]

Is your watch the one on ebay or are you planning to buy it??
ebay listing: Ebay Listing

I would look closely to the stamped numbers on the case.. I have heard of 16800s being stamped a zero at the end to make them look like a 168000.

Here is the one on ebay (first picture).. look at the last zero.. it is kind of skewed and shifted downwards than the other numbers..... it could be light.. now and on the second image look at this one where the last zero matches the I in Design spot on the center..and all the three zeros look the same...

Cheers,
Eduardo

[Mickey®]

Great now I got to bid on that one! LOL

[MoBe]

Actually it looks like the last two zero`s were added .

[moviefreak]

I am not saying in any way that the watch on the bay it is not real.. I am just pointing out that the last zero looks a little bit weird.. that is all..

[Oyster1982]

After googling Rolex Submariner 16800 I say plenty of them with the matte dials.
http://www.luxuryguru.com/R-16800B.jpg

[moviefreak]

Originally Posted by Oyster1982

After googling Rolex Submariner 16800 I say plenty of them with the matte dials.
http://www.luxuryguru.com/R-16800B.jpg

it is 168000 with 3 zeros...

[dysondiver]

i thought there was a 168000 with a matte dial ... sure ive read that somewhere recently.

[moviefreak]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

i thought there was a 168000 with a matte dial ... sure ive read that somewhere recently.

what I know is that supposedly when the 168000 was introduced, Rolex had already changed to Glossy Dials (markers with WG surrounds) on the 16800s models..(matte dials were not being put on the late 16800s..)
So a model that came after the last 16800s, would only come out of the factory with WG Surrounded Markers...
That is all I remember... but I can always be wrong...

I wonder how Rolex Service Center would know if it came with a Matte Dial or a Glossy dial....

[mellomitch]

It is my watch that I have listed on eBay, but I did not mention this in the post per forum rules- please excuse this mention moderators...

I picked it a while back and didn't think much of it because the price was good, thus I just want to represent it correctly, or hold on to it tightly if it is a rare bird. I suppose I could always put another dial in if this is not correct, but the seller and friend was adamant that it is true and original to the watch.

Thanks guys

[dysondiver]

fully understand that ,,, but im not talking about wg surrounds and thedial matte ing down with age , im sure ive read somewhere that the 168000 had a matte dial , or maybe it was a service replacement dial that was fitted that wa matte , there again , i may be imagining it.
i did a lot of looking as i fancied a 168 000.

[mellomitch]

Also, from what I understand, the zero's were added at a later time, and may explain any slight difference in appearance.

[moviefreak]

Originally Posted by mellomitch

Also, from what I understand, the zero's were added at a later time, and may explain any slight difference in appearance.

My friend.. what do you mean by the zeros were added at a later time???
If you mean that a 16800 was added a zero at the end, then the steel in the case would be 316L and not 904L as it should be on a 168000...

[dysondiver]

the adding zeros sounds a bit dubious , as above , the steel would be wrong.

[Jives]

My 168000 has a glossy dial with W/gold surrounds to the hour markers and is a 957**** the stamping is not very straight but as I bought it new from the Goldsmiths in 1988 I'm not worried at all as its the real deal.

Greg

[moviefreak]

Originally Posted by Jives

My 168000 has a glossy dial with W/gold surrounds to the hour markers and is a 957**** the stamping is not very straight but as I bought it new from the Goldsmiths in 1988 I'm not worried at all as its the real deal.

Greg

that is a 1680 with 2 zeros added...
Good if you bought it new then nothing to be worried about...

[Jives]

Are you saying mine is a 1680/ Moviefreak ? or the orig posters watch?

Greg just spotted the joke symbols so I guess your pulling my leg then

[moviefreak]

Originally Posted by Jives

Are you saying mine is a 1680/ Moviefreak ? or the orig posters watch?

Greg just spotted the joke symbols so I guess your pulling my leg then

none..I was about yours being a 1680 with 2 extra zeros...
The OP I have no idea it could be a 168000 for all I know..
Yours it should be a 168000 if as you said you bough it new... there is probably a reason why sometimes the last zero is shifted from the serial number...(could it be that the equipment was setup to engrave 16800 only and the last zero had to be done separately...).. who knows...

[mellomitch]

I have read several posts and many say that rolex stamped or etched the extra zero at later time, thus explaining the difference.

I don't understand the logic in making a 168000 as it would not make a watch particularly more valuable.... Like I said, also, adding a pricey matte dial would make no sense either as the cost of the dial wouldn't even nominally be reflected on the watch as a whole.

I hope the watch to be all original and correct and I guess a little rare with the model and dial combo interesting... If not, it is just a clean sub.

[mellomitch]

Great pic! That makes me feel better, the last zero in mine is identical, a little skewed and although done in true Rolex etching- just a little different in texture.

[mellomitch]

Originally Posted by moviefreak

none..I was about yours being a 1680 with 2 extra zeros...
The OP I have no idea it could be a 168000 for all I know..
Yours it should be a 168000 if as you said you bough it new... there is probably a reason why sometimes the last zero is shifted from the serial number...(could it be that the equipment was setups to engrave 16800 only and the last zero had to be done separately...).. who knows...

Is there any way to tell which steel the sub is made from?

[moviefreak]

Originally Posted by mellomitch

Is there any way to tell which steel the sub is made from?

No idea.. I am sure one of the experts would know..
I know if we run the case through a Qemscan system it would give us the element contents on the steel.. (to check if it is 904L with nickel content), but it is kind of expensive...

[manofcow]

I bought a 168000 in 1985 from Watches of Switzerland in London (£1012 - remember it well as paid cash i had saved in an envelope! - 1st Rolex).. Sold it a few years ago (regret that now!).. The extra zero was quite clearly stamped AFTER the 16800 as it was not lined up well... So this feature of adding the extra zero is correct.

It had the white gold surrounds on the dial markers..

Cheers

Andy

[mellomitch]

So it seems the consensus on the American forum is no matte ever on the triple zero. On the European and specifically the German forums there is Rolex documentation of matte dials on the triple six with many owners claiming to to be sole owners since purchase at AD....

http://watchesandart.blogspot.com/20...atte-dial.html

Hmmm, any other people out there think it is legit???

[dysondiver]

seee ,,, i knew id read it somewhere ,,,,