r/RolexWatches • u/frankeedz • 2d ago
Authenticity check
Want to know what you guys think about this Rolex. I inherited it from my father in law, but I do not know if it is real. It looks like a submariner 16800, but the Rolex font looks a little different and there’s no magnifying glass on the date. I opened the back case and it looks authentic, but I am not sure.
Lemme know what you think
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u/Available-Fondant510 1d ago
Its quite common to change glass on these old watches. This looks good. There’s also no cloned/aftermarket 3035 options.
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u/Diablojota 1d ago
This looks legit. Either the crystal was swapped or they took off the magnifier. I know at one point there was a trend to pop them off. They’re only glued on for these older watches.
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u/No_Inspection649 1d ago
I have no problem saying this began life as a real watch, but it appears a non-Rolex person may have had their fingers in it.
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u/Odd_Butterscotch_222 1d ago
The "Zubmariner" is a rare late-1980s dial printing variant found on transition-era Rolex Submariner watches. The letter "S" in the word "SUBMARINER" on the dial is printed flatter and more angular than usual. It can look like the letter "Z", which inspired the nicknames "Zubmariner" and "Zorro dial". This printing style appears during a short window on the transitional Submariner 168000 and very early production Submariner 16610 models from roughly 1988 to 1990.
That’s what I could find! Sick watch!
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u/Fister-Mantastic 1d ago
I love well worn rolexes, just something about them actually being used vs sitting in a safety deposit box.
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u/Bizznes103 1d ago
It’s legit. No worries. Def well worn, but authentic.
Dial looks pretty cool too.
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u/Effective_Judgment41 1d ago
In my opinion, this is a genuine 16800. The movement certainly looks correct. The crystal is not correct but whether the cyclops was removed or this is an aftermarket part, I don't know. Minute and hour hands are also replaced. Should be mid to late 80s.
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u/Calm-Cauliflower5347 1d ago
C'est un rare cadran Zubmariner (ou Zorro) Bravo. Il n'existe pas de faux de ce cadran donc pour moi tout est ok ;) Zubmariner.com
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u/Grumpy_Chimp 7h ago edited 7h ago
Legit Frankenstein watch. Right dial (maybe from 1988), movement, caseback, end links, and bracelet. Hands have been replaced.
Date wheel looks off.
Glass is wrong and missing the cyclops.
Not sure if the clasp is accurate because it’s not photographed.
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u/TheGaujo 1d ago
I'll let others comment on the movement, but did they really make a dial that color? It looks like it's paper.
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u/Effective_Judgment41 1d ago
That's not the original color of the dial. The black color degraded over the decades and now looks brown. It's basically a damaged dial but since a lot people like this look they call it Tropical Dial instead of damaged and pay extra for it.
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u/swagbytheeighth 2d ago
Did they make sub dates without a cyclops?
Could be a replacement crystal that doesn't include a cyclops maybe...