Alright, so, I got this Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600, the older model. I’ve had it for a while now, and to be honest, it’s seen better days. It’s not in the best shape, you know? But it’s a Rolex, and I’ve always wanted to give it a proper makeover.
I started digging around online, just to see what I was dealing with. I knew it was a pretty decent watch, but I didn’t realize how much these things go for now! I mean, I remember seeing them around $5k back in 2013. Now, they’re going for over $11k! Crazy, right?
I decided to do some research. I read that this specific model, the 16600, is actually the last production run by Rolex Z series. You can find them on some watch trading places, and there are quite a few out there, but the prices are all over the place. I even saw one listed for $8, which seems too good to be true.
Anyway, I figured the first step was to take it to an authorized Rolex service center. I mean, it’s a high-quality watch, and it deserves to be treated right. But before I did that, I wanted to see if I could do anything myself. I’m not a watch expert or anything, but I’m pretty handy. I watched a bunch of videos online and read some forums where people were talking about restoring old watches. It seemed like something I could at least try.
- First thing: I got myself some basic tools. Nothing fancy, just some screwdrivers, tweezers, and a soft cloth.
- Next: I very carefully took the watch apart. I’m not gonna lie, I was a little nervous. But I just took it slow and made sure to keep track of all the tiny screws and parts.
- Then: I cleaned each part individually. There was a lot of gunk built up, especially around the bracelet. I used a mild soap and warm water, and it actually made a big difference.
- After that: I put the whole thing back together. It was a bit tricky, but I managed to do it.
In the End
And you know what? It actually looked a lot better! It wasn’t perfect, but it was definitely an improvement. I’m still planning on taking it to a professional to get it properly serviced and maybe even polished. But for now, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It was a fun little project, and I learned a lot about watches in the process. Plus, I saved myself some money by doing the initial cleaning myself. Now I just need to save up for that professional service. It will be great!
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