16610N 1992 or new SS SubC?

[rolexperfect]

Hi guys!

I have reservated a 16610N 1992 (w/no papers). This watch is priced at € 3,700 (that's around US$ 4,777). I tried this watch on my wrist and it felt great. The guy that's selling it went with me to an AD to open it and check everything out. He was friends with one person at the AD (which might be good and bad ). It's difficult to get them lower than that here.

I've started to think that a new SS SubC might be better, since I can get it here for € 5,900 at some small ADs. It's a € 2,200 (US$ 2,830) difference but well... it's new... with guarantee from Rolex, papers and box which might give it a better resale value if I ever want to go for something different and sell it.

I don't know... I only have until tomorrow to decide about the 16610N. I'm afraid that if I get it and then I want to sell it I might actually be losing money because maybe its resell value will not be as good as in the SubC. I might be better off getting a new SubC in this case. But on the other hand I really liked how the 16610N looked on my wrist. But well... it's difficult for me to decide now...

Any thoughts?? I'd really appreciate it...

Thanks a lot guys!!



ps. here's pictures of the actual 16610N:

[travisb]

New SubC!
I do like the 16610 but for me, the new case, clasp, bezel etc just work so well. If you have a chance, try one on to help with the decision.
I also like having box/ papers and goodies to go along with it.

[Andad]

I would also go for the Sub C if choosing between those two.

[mhaedo]

I strongly suggest you get the 116610. I've had two 16610s and a 16613 and flipped all of them within a week of purchasing them. I was just never happy with the build quality compared to other watches I've owned, and really disliked the Subs with lug holes. I love the classic look of the old Sub-date, but the bracelet and bezel gave them a cheap feel compared to other high end watches.

However, the 116610 is in an entirely different league as far as both build quality and wrist presence. It is by far my favorite out of all of the watches I've owned.

Here's a photo I just took for my avatar to help with your decision :)

edit: Also, I just noticed that in your photos, the patina of the lume on the hour markers doesn't match the lume on the hands. That would drive me absolutely crazy. Don't make an impulse buy here, wait for the one that you really want...

[TimeToGo]

Do you know the service history on the 1992? If not recently serviced, you will have to consider this on the cost of the watch. Watch looks great with the dial having excellent patina but the hands are a later replacement. The contrast in color would bother some people quite a bit and will also affect the resale.

[Psmith]

Get the new one, with all of the latest updates. When you've tried the current clasp and bracelet, you won't want to go back to the old type

Also, the old one has a Tritium dial which has probably ceased to glow. Add ~$700+ to service a watch with an unknown history

[rolexperfect]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

Do you know the service history on the 1992? If not recently serviced, you will have to consider this on the cost of the watch. Watch looks great with the dial having excellent patina but the hands are a later replacement. The contrast in color would bother some people quite a bit and will also affect the resale.

I don't know it. The seller said that the watch was serviced "like one or two years ago", which left me doubting of it.

The contrast in color with the markers you mean? If so, the seller said "collectors love when the tritium markers turn yellow"...

Thanks!

[speedo]

116610, especially with this price. 5900eur from an ad is a very good price.

[mhaedo]

Originally Posted by rolexperfect

I don't know it. The seller said that the watch was serviced "like one or two years ago", which left me doubting of it.

The contrast in color with the markers you mean? If so, the seller said "collectors love when the tritium markers turn yellow"...

Thanks!

The patina on the markers is very nice, but the hands were replaced with service hands so they do not have the same patina as the markers. The difference in color alone would prevent many people from buying this watch. Get the Sub-C...here's another shot of mine that I took about ten minutes ago :)

[Psmith]

Originally Posted by rolexperfect

I don't know it. The seller said that the watch was serviced "like one or two years ago", which left me doubting of it.

The contrast in color with the markers you mean? If so, the seller said "collectors love when the tritium markers turn yellow"...

Thanks!

Unless the seller can provide documentary evidence of a service, I would assume that it has not had one. The lume colour of the hands is different (lighter) than that of the hour markers, which indicates that the hands are likely a later replacement set. Worse case scenario: aftermarket hands

It's true that some vintage collectors enjoy the various colours that Tritium can turn as it ages (or rather deteriorates). However you may place more importance on lume that actually glows in the dark

Buyer older watches with unknown histories from sellers you don't know well can be a risky enterprise. There are a lot of used Subs out there, so no need to get stuck on one particular example. Frankly, I would just pass altogether and get a brand new 116610 from an AD

[jmp909]

Originally Posted by rolexperfect

Hi guys!

I have reservated a 16610N 1992 (w/no papers). This watch is priced at € 3,700 (that's around US$ 4,777). I tried this watch on my wrist and it felt great. The guy that's selling it went with me to an AD to open it and check everything out. He was friends with one person at the AD (which might be good and bad ). It's difficult to get them lower than that here.

I've started to think that a new SS SubC might be better, since I can get it here for € 5,900 at some small ADs. It's a € 2,200 (US$ 2,830) difference but well... it's new... with guarantee from Rolex, papers and box which might give it a better resale value if I ever want to go for something different and sell it.

I don't know... I only have until tomorrow to decide about the 16610N. I'm afraid that if I get it and then I want to sell it I might actually be losing money because maybe its resell value will not be as good as in the SubC. I might be better off getting a new SubC in this case. But in the other hand, I really liked how the 16610N looked on my wrist. But well... it's difficult for me to decide now...

Any thoughts?? I'd really appreciate it...

Thanks a lot guys!!



ps. here's pictures of the actual 16610N:

I generally prefer watches with lug holes but the dial/hands mismatch is a killer for me.

[gmtm2]

no doubt: new sub c

[rolexperfect]

Originally Posted by mhaedo

I strongly suggest you get the 116610. I've had two 16610s and a 16613 and flipped all of them within a week of purchasing them. I was just never happy with the build quality compared to other watches I've owned, and really disliked the Subs with lug holes. I love the classic look of the old Sub-date, but the bracelet and bezel gave them a cheap feel compared to other high end watches.

However, the 116610 is in an entirely different league as far as both build quality and wrist presence. It is by far my favorite out of all of the watches I've owned.

Here's a photo I just took for my avatar to help with your decision :)

edit: Also, I just noticed that in your photos, the patina of the lume on the hour markers doesn't match the lume on the hands. That would drive me absolutely crazy. Don't make an impulse buy here, wait for the one that you really want...

Thanks Matt!! You won't believe me... but I was just about to pay for it yesterday. Thanks for pointing out the difference between the patina on the hands and on the markers....

[rolexperfect]

Originally Posted by mhaedo

The patina on the markers is very nice, but the hands were replaced with service hands so they do not have the same patina as the markers. The difference in color alone would prevent many people from buying this watch. Get the Sub-C...here's another shot of mine that I took about ten minutes ago :)

I will not get it then. I am very careful with all the stuff I get and I think that this really turned me off... Thanks again for pointing it out! I'll just send this person an SMS telling him I'm not getting it.

[rolexperfect]

Originally Posted by jmp909

I generally prefer watches with lug holes but the dial/hands mismatch is a killer for me.

Like what I told Matt... I really didn't see this difference... and thanks for pointing it out. This really turned me off

[Engi]

New SubC for me

Ciao

Engi

[Brushpup]

Good choice. Too much money for it, and for me there would be no happiness because the lume is gone. Get the new one and it will be yours. You'll love it.

[Polemic]

4.800 USD is so much for a 1992 Sub w/o box and papers, IMHO.

I'd go for SubC.

[nauticajoe]

SubC for me.

[mjclark32]

Between those two options I'd go subc.

[Trouble15]

Go for the the 116610LN, it's a beautiful piece.

[NYMike]

Originally Posted by jmp909

I generally prefer watches with lug holes but the dial/hands mismatch is a killer for me.

This is not an issue in the 16610. These are not collectors items and never will be. If you like it buy it. That said - i think for a watch of this age, the yellowing of the lume is too great.

[ommsen]

If these both watches are your only options I would definitely go with the Sub-C.

[The GMT Master]

I would personally pass on both - if you want an older Sub, get a 1680 or a 5513 for a true Submariner experience. If you want the best modern diver's watch the market has to offer, you have to look outside of the Rolex brand - the Tudor Pelagos, Omega Planet Ocean cal. 8500, Blancpain 50 Fathoms, IWC Aquatimer all do things that are either a) more interesting than the Sub b) come with more features than the Sub or c) feature greater watchmaking skill than the Sub. Keep an open mind

[Watch Professor]

You should try both on first.

I would buy the 16610, but not this one. It's not all original and it's way too expensive.

[TSW]

SubC for me.

[Sam Philip]

Sub C

[NYMike]

Originally Posted by Watch Professor

You should try both on first.

I would buy the 16610, but not this one. It's not all original and it's way too expensive.

4800 is too expensive? Seems that's about the right price.

[rolexperfect]

Originally Posted by NYMike

4800 is too expensive? Seems that's about the right price.

At least for Germany I think it was a good price... or at least acceptable

[rolexperfect]

Ok guys! I am about to get this SubC. It's from a private seller from Munich (I found him watchlounge.com. He said the watch comes from "Greece, LC 200, official Rolex Dealer", and that the AD is a very good friend of him. I have no idea what LC 200 stands for. But well, it's US$ 7,872 (€ 6,090). The € 5,900 one I was wanting to buy was from a scammy company from Berlin called Tom boom store http://www.tomboom-store.com/ There's so much people having problems and suing them. So I am glad that I found that out on Qype (a review site that's quite popular here in Germany).

Well I am about to make a wire transfer to this person.

Here's the watch. Seems to be new and legit. What you guys think? (maybe the stickers were pulled off before around the case? well... should it matter, or it's just me being OCD?)

Thanks a lot


ps. pics from the actual watch