Comments:
Joining the Evil Club...
though I'm not a declared fan of SD preferring the Sub, I couldn't resist catching this old warrior which looks like it had spent an interesting hard life with its original owner.
This 1980 Mk 1 dial ref 16660 represents the best of two worlds: vintage looks and modern virtues and the Vladesque mistery of the "triple six" model.
I had to leave the original Oyster bracelet of this old workhorse at the watchmaker to fix its clasp.
In the meantime I'm trying several Nato and leather straps at hand. I guess it looks so cool in this J Bond pattern straps! Don't you think so?.
Many little scars and bumps do not detract the looks of this oldie and add character as well as reminds me about the ruggedness of the Sea Dweller thick case that in this watch has never been polished.
Hope you will like it!!
All the best! Abel.
Looks like the previous owner used it as intended.
Bravo on this great new catch.
Best
Bill
Thank you so much Bill! Your triple six is a killer! And the photograph in its most natural environment shows it in all its splendor...
... and we can enjoy its great condition as we view it.
You say right, mine looks like its original owner really used it as a tool watch!
I like to think he was a pro diver, but I must confess couldn´t find any info about him. Most important is that in spite its scars, movement is pristine and working like we can expect from a Rolex, and also that case has never been polished and lugs display those desirable bevels I love so much. May be a new crystal will better its image, but I am enjoying it as is for the moment.
Thank you again for your always kind comments Bill! Cordial regards, Abel.
You say right, mine looks like its original owner really used it as a tool watch!
I like to think he was a pro diver, but I must confess couldn´t find any info about him. Most important is that in spite its scars, movement is pristine and working like we can expect from a Rolex, and also that case has never been polished and lugs display those desirable bevels I love so much. May be a new crystal will better its image, but I am enjoying it as is for the moment.
Thank you again for your always kind comments Bill! Cordial regards, Abel.
Always great to hear the back story.
What i am always searching is a what that has been kept out of the sun in a safe place vs a what that has been in the sun while it have a lighter or darker tritium.
It seems some times the safe queen has darker yellow tritium but it is never consistant without history.
The question still remains in my mind does the sun lighten or darlen the lume. But maybe the formula changes if you live in humid vs dry heat.
Mystery of Rolex.
Best
Bill
Thank you so much for the feedback Bill. That point about how sunlight affects darker and lighter patina is a very ...
... interesting and intriguing issue. I´m inclined to think without being an expert that exposition to light and sun tends to a light patina.
May be I´m biased by my experience with my own 1680 which is acompanying me as an almost only watch from 1977 till around 2008 in which I begun collecting watches and switching watches in almost daily basis. I still wear it from time to time of course.
This faithful 1680 was used in sport scuba diving, beach, pool, daily work at office, worn day and night while sleeping and taking a shower. It became vintage together with me and patina is now a pale cream. The bezel turned nicely faded too. Please see photos below.
By the other way, I have seen Submariners with a very heavy patina but having the case interior and movement pristine I would discard the influence of humidity in the formula of a heavy patina.
An example is my Tudor Ci, which I am sure had a very hard use during its military career (which most probably included good exposure to sun light too!), and has a much darker patina. Again, interior of case and movement do not show any trave of corrosion by humidity.
So, firm conclusions are really hard to reach.
Thank you again Bill!
It adds character if your age/personality somewhat matches the watch....
....if you are cool like Bill Murray/Lebowski/rtd army etc etc then the character absorbed by the watch like that may radiate with you. I personally cannot sport the beaten-up look.
Redcorals: You make an interesting point. Age definitively I surpass that of this particular watch, and sometimes I feel that...
... my vintage watches age with much more dignity than me! Lol!
Ok, I have to asume that I´m a rather old man who doesn´t have the cool look of the people you name, but I really enjoy wearing my vintage watches, and a few of them show the signs of having been heavily used by the original owner in the intended use they were made for.
And while wearing them I like to daydream about the possible adventurous life these watches and their owners had in the past. May be I´m too imaginative... or romantic, but this adds to the enjoyment of owning and wearing them.
Thank you for your kind comment! Cheers, Abel.
Ok, I have to asume that I´m a rather old man who doesn´t have the cool look of the people you name, but I really enjoy wearing my vintage watches, and a few of them show the signs of having been heavily used by the original owner in the intended use they were made for.
And while wearing them I like to daydream about the possible adventurous life these watches and their owners had in the past. May be I´m too imaginative... or romantic, but this adds to the enjoyment of owning and wearing them.
Thank you for your kind comment! Cheers, Abel.
Abel, huge congrats! Great to have one which had this life!
Mine welcome yours,
Un abrazo,
Un abrazo,
Nico
Hi my friend Nicolas! Thank you so much for your words! Your "triple 6" is truly gorgeous!...
... impecable condition! I´m truly happy to join this "Evilish Club" 
Un abrazo mi amigo! Abel.
Un abrazo mi amigo! Abel.
Ahh Nicolas! Full set! Double Pleasure!! Beautiful patina by the way! Un abrazo amigo mio! [nt]
No message body
Once you step into the world of the Sea-Dweller.....
.....it will inevitably lead to the "deep"
Brilliant catch.
Now enjoy this soldier of a watch.
Maybe it tempts you to try a 1665 on the wrist?????
Thank you so much Joe! Definitively yes. As a matter of fact this watch...
... appeared in my path during my search for a nice example of 1665 for my collection. Prices of a Double Red have escalated to levels which put them in a no no niche for me, but I hope a 1665 will come sooner or later.
I must tell you that SD are not strangers in my collection, as I already own a 16600 Z series which I bought completely brand new in 2009 in a local AD. That watch had the distinction of being the last example left in an offcial AD in my Country at that moment, as the SD had been discontinued by that time.
That watch has seen little wrist time, because I feel much more comfortable with a Submariner on my wrist, but anyway I recognize the historical and technical importance of this watch in the evolution of diving watches, and a "must have" in a comprensive Rolex colection.
Thank you so much again for your kind comments Joe! Best cordial regards, Abel. This message has been edited by Subexplorer on 2016-03-31 05:34:08
I must tell you that SD are not strangers in my collection, as I already own a 16600 Z series which I bought completely brand new in 2009 in a local AD. That watch had the distinction of being the last example left in an offcial AD in my Country at that moment, as the SD had been discontinued by that time.
That watch has seen little wrist time, because I feel much more comfortable with a Submariner on my wrist, but anyway I recognize the historical and technical importance of this watch in the evolution of diving watches, and a "must have" in a comprensive Rolex colection.
Thank you so much again for your kind comments Joe! Best cordial regards, Abel. This message has been edited by Subexplorer on 2016-03-31 05:34:08
Wow Abel...that's a great catch !
Mine says hello
It seems she had a much more quiet life than yours ( and has been polished in the past )
It seems she had a much more quiet life than yours ( and has been polished in the past )
Enjoy yours !
Best
Christian
Hello Christian! Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your pretty triple six...
... Yes it looks in much better condition than mine!
By coincidence, I am wearing mine today in a new set of vintage type leather straps very similar to yours! I´m just trying different options while I wait for my watchmaker to fix a rivet on the clasp of the original Oyster bracelet which came with my watch.
Thank you again, and my 666 says hello to yours sporting the new straps! Cheers! Abel,
This message has been edited by Subexplorer on 2016-03-31 05:40:49
By coincidence, I am wearing mine today in a new set of vintage type leather straps very similar to yours! I´m just trying different options while I wait for my watchmaker to fix a rivet on the clasp of the original Oyster bracelet which came with my watch.
Thank you again, and my 666 says hello to yours sporting the new straps! Cheers! Abel,
This message has been edited by Subexplorer on 2016-03-31 05:40:49
Thank you Mikey for your kind words! So glad you like as it is!! Cordial regards, Abel,. [nt]
No message body
wow.... my dear Abel.
Beautiful 666 with nice patina!!
I wait my opportunity to get one and form a "Three of a Kind".
For the moment I have only "one pair" a nice DSSD and one 16600 from '96 one of the last with tritium.
It's only a matter of time to catch one!
Un fuerte Abrazo.
Juan
Muchas gracias mi querido Juan!! Thank you so much for your kind words!...
... I have seen your beautiful Double Red, and left me sleepless! I must convince myself that that model is beyond my usual level of purchases, but this one came, and eventualy a 1665 will be added to my collection of Sea Dwellers to complete my own trio as I already own a 16600 which was the last of the lots imported by Rolex in our Country, still available in 2009 when I bought it brand new at a local AD.
I wish we will be able to arrange an encouner soon! All the best my dear friend!
Abrazos, Abel.
I wish we will be able to arrange an encouner soon! All the best my dear friend!
Abrazos, Abel.
Thank you my dear friend and always is a pleasure to read you!!
Yeah!! It's True, for our health we should arrange a meeting with the rest of the guys.
We keep in touch.
Rgds.
Juan
Very nice find with great photos-- enjoy in good health.
Btw, your SD has a very Kool look. This message has been edited by pastaboy1939 on 2016-04-01 06:03:46 This message has been edited by pastaboy1939 on 2016-04-01 06:05:41