If we're being honest with ourselves a 16600 is the real investment and if you have even more the 16660. That and the white dial Zenith Daytona are two of the best looking watches Rolex has ever made. Had an immaculate 16600 from this forum but it was too small for my wrists so I sold within the forum but still wish I either had the wrists for it or the spare change to keep it as a safe queen.
SD43 for me if you have big wrists.
What are the ref numbers you are talking about?
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References of different iterations of the Rolex Sea Dweller.
I'm still kicking myself - two months ago I flew through Amsterdam Schipol and they had an SD43 with red lettering for circa 8800 euros.
I went to grab a coffee and googled the list price, by the time I went back there was another guy handing over his credit card...
I prefer the SD43. Size, red lettering, cyclops doesnt offend me. But, its not a purist dweller so if you want pure "DNA" go for the 116600.
Personally, i find the 116600 visually very dull, i wouldnt choose it over any of the 5 digits or the 43mm.
Really like the SD43, but hanging out for one at an AD, might be a while
I’ve owned both and much preferred the SD43.
The SD43 for me but then I do have particularly large wrists
True, but you could hammer nails in with the deapsea. Like the new sd l just find it too big.
The charm of the 40mm seadweller, to me, has always been its relatively similar dimensions to the sub, but date with no cyclops.
I guess it just represents rolex's sweet spot to me.
The old SDc was quite similar to the new maxi case sub though. You essentially had 3 very similar watches - no date sub, date sub and SDc with date but no cyclops. The new one is just a bit more differentiated from the range (although I accept not quite as much heritage, which a lot of people are up in arms about as well)
That's what l liked so much about the SDc - very similar to the sub, but with no Cyclops - just as its non ceramic predecessors were similar to the sub of their day...but, again, no Cyclops.
The only thing l can fault the rolex submariner for is its cyclops. I'm in a minority l know - but far from alone.
Am I alone in finding that the cyclops makes out harder to read the date? It gets in the way, distorts the hands and the date...I do know that I find it easier to read the date on my SMP 2264 (no cyclops) than on my 16710 GMT II. I thought of changing the crystal for that from the 14060, in the days when you could still get parts, though the values now tend to demand originality. It does tend to draw me towards the idea of trading the 16710 for a SDC for a 16600, plus cash...
The best solution I've ever come across though was the early 80's Here Sports 2000 Chronograph, which had a magnifier built into the date window of the dial. Larger image; no bump; no getting in the way....
Sorry - double post removed
Think the SDc and 16710 would be a similar price if the 16710 is a full set
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I ended up selling my SDc (at the worst time of course, but you live and learn) because I found it just too tall for its size. I need to look out the SD43, which from the sounds of it fixes that problem - assuming I can pull it off on my manly 6.75" wrist.
Thanks guys. Umbongo, I have a Hulk and (as you say) I prefer the fit of that. Oranges, glad you're enjoying it - definitely need to try it when my AD gets one in.
Aye - and there's the rub! A 16600 seems to be about US$5k cheaper than a full set 16720, but the 116600 is about the same price. So, do I:
1. Stay with the 16710, and continue to live with the irritation of the cyclops, and the poor lume. This is unhelpful when you're travelling and you wake jet-lagged in the middle of the night and want to know the time - a real world problem for me for around 2-3 months a year.
2. Trade the 16710 for a SDc and lose the cyclops but with it, the versatility of the GMT II, in exchange for the better lumed dial and hands of the SD?
3. Trade the 16710 for a SD 16600, plus enough cash to get something else interesting, whilst accepting the loss of the GMT's versatility and relative rarity, whilst having the same lime problem as the 16710? The cash difference should be enough to fund an Omega SMP GMT or a Planet Ocean GMT. These are both much better lumed but offer the same functionality as the 16710, though without the same style or, I suspect, the same pleasure of ownership...
Last edited by HappyJack; 8th August 2019 at 01:01.
love my SD43 .. been my daily wear since I got it back in 2017 .. I had always lusted after a red sub or a drsd but wanted something that I could wear without worry . The SD43 for me is the perfect watch to get old with .
I'm lucky to also have a matte dial 16660 for my 'vintage' SD kicks , although obviously not in the same league as the plexi SD's