16613, another info thread

[QueTip]

First off-

The 16613 / Bluesey was first introduced in '88/'89 after it's predecessor the 16803 which came with a cal 3035.
The 16613 came with the new cal 3135 off factory!
It's a very special piece of the SUBMARINER line.

To build a good Bluesey you're -

1. looking at quite a high investment
2. into a piece with a lot of history and many things that can go VERY south
3. having to be real lucky to find the exact parts you want / need

Basically the only good OTB 16613 is the WM9 version. Forget about all the others.. They ALL suck.
Even the WM9 needs some more modding to be completely correct and bang on.
It would need the following: 

- gen insert
- gen crown
- gen crystal
- shave down the CG's a bit as they're a tad bit on the fat side
- some day the bracelet will need to be upgraded same as the bezel as the gold is just plated and it WILL tarnish and chip off

 

Either way if you are not looking into a WM9 but building a Bluesey for yourself from scratch , there are several things you need to know..

- there's very big variations of the specs basics (varies from serials)
- $$$$

Best parts to use:

Case: TC, WM9, ST (old 3135 case, hard to find, (lug holes build only)) 
Bezel: Gen, ST, WSO (all solid 18k)
Insert: Gen
Crystal: Gen (295-2)
Crown: Gen or WM9 (703 / 704)
Dial: Gen or WM9
Movement: cal 3135, y3135, ETA
Hands: Gen, TC
Bracelet: Gen (93153 (TP), 93253 (SEL)), ST, WSO, WM9
*EndLinks*: Gen (401b), ST, WSO
Clasp: Gen (different clasp codes for dating), WM9

Serial specials:

Early 16613: 

Basically the only thing REAL early 16613's can have in comparison to other, newer ones is that the dial CAN ONLY be blurple in EARLY R/L series ('88, '89). Only a FEW of the blurple dials have made it into 16613's so that's a real rare bird.

Other than that the Bluesey hasn't changed much until A series ('98, '99), from then on the Luminova dials have launched. Meaning that the lume on the dial was no longer applied with Tritium but Luminova. 
In A series you can have both Tritium and Swiss Made dials.

Then in P series (2000) some more has changed! The SEL's (SolidEndLinks) have been introduced, taking away the two piece bracelets and an apparently better sit and feel of the bracelet and the gold through clasp was added to the new bracelets. 

In 2003 - Y series (sep '02 - jan '04) started having LEC's (LaserEngravedCrown) in the crystal at 6 and no lug holes cases. So Y series can also have both new and old style.

F/D series (~2004) the Rehaut was engraved with the 'famous' ROLEXROLEXROLEX.

 

I hope this was helpful to you as it's taken me quite a while writing and formatting all of this.

If I did miss anything, please let me know and I'll update it but I think I got all of the info covered.

[sacsah1]

A very useful thread.

I highly recommend making it a sticky.



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