THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 16600
YEAR: 1998
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

The Rolex Sea-Dweller, along with the Submariner is one of the most recognisable watches in the world. The Sea-Dweller began its life in 1967 with the "Double Red" 1665 - the world's first watch to feature a helium escape valve. The basic design of the Sea-Dweller is very similar to the Submariner but the most obvious differences are the lack of a date cyclops and a slightly thicker case.

The model we have here, the 16600, is the third iteration of the Sea-Dweller family. Originally released in 1988, it was in production for a whopping two decades, before being retired in 2008. The case design remained largely unchanged from the inception of 16660 (triple six), and for good reason - they wear so well on the wrist and very differently from the modern Sea-Dwellers. 

This example dates back to 1998 and boasts a "Swiss" only dial and holed case. Around 1998 Rolex finally made the switch to Luminova, a photo sensitive pigement that uses UV to produce a glow. Around 2000, however, an upgraded version was produced that enhanced the glow and lasted longer - the Super Luminova, denoted by "Swiss Made" on the dial. This makes the run of the Swiss only dials very short.

The case has been polished in the past but remains strong. The original (X) stamped (1999) 93160A bracelet shows no stretch. The Luminova markers and hands (as expected) still show its unique glow and are fully functional. The watch runs impeccably at 0 s/d, 305 amps, with a 0.1 ms beat error. Can't go wrong with a 16600.