Okay, so, let’s talk about this Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 I messed around with. I’ve always been a fan of the older Rolex models, you know, the classics. They just have this vibe that the new stuff doesn’t quite capture.
So, I got my hands on a Sea-Dweller 16600, the older model, not the fancy new ones. This thing was made famous for that helium escape valve, you can’t miss it. I guess it was a big deal back in the day when Rolex came up with it in like, 1967. Apparently, it was the first watch to ever have one. Pretty cool, right?
My main goal here was to see if I could get it looking and feeling as close to the original as possible. I started by taking it apart. Carefully, of course. I didn’t want to break anything. You see those videos online where people just rip these things open? Not me. I took my time. I laid out all the parts real nice and studied them. I studied those videos of watchmakers and tried to do the same, ha!
I ordered some replacement parts online. Just some basic stuff, you know, like a new bezel insert, and some gaskets to make sure it’s still waterproof. These were pretty affordable, nothing too crazy. I just searched for “Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600” and there are tons of options available. They even have “Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 For Sale”, I used the price as a reference.
- First, I cleaned everything. Every single part. I used a soft brush and some cleaning solution. It’s amazing how much dirt can get trapped in there.
- Then, I carefully replaced the old parts with the new ones. The bezel insert was a bit tricky, but I managed.
- After that, I lubricated all the moving parts. This is important to make sure everything runs smoothly.
- Finally, I put it all back together. This was the most satisfying part. Seeing it come back to life was awesome.
I noticed this 16600 model was in production for like, 20 years! That’s a long time. I guess it’s a favorite for a reason.
The Result
Honestly, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It looks great, and it feels solid. It’s not perfect, of course, but it’s pretty darn close to the real deal. And it’s definitely got that classic Sea-Dweller vibe. Plus, I learned a ton about how these watches work. It’s way more complicated than you might think. You see, I’m a total watch noob, but after this, I feel like I could take on any watch project! Or maybe not, ha! But hey, at least I got this one looking pretty sharp.
If you’re thinking about trying something like this, I say go for it. Just be patient, take your time, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It’s all part of the learning process, you know? This is what I did, hope this helps!
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