1988 Rolex Submariner

[gurkmeja]

Hi everyone,
first post here, excited to get some good info on the Submariner from 1988. I´m turning 25 soon and I thought a great idea for a gift that I can have and care for a long time would be a watch from the year I was born (1988).

This great Sub, from '88, has all the papers etc, and to a reasonable price. But before any decision is made I just wanted to ask some more knowledgeable people about a watch from this period in time. How does the '88 stack up against the modern ones? Is the movement known to be good, does it keep good time, is the clasp good even though it´s so old?

I´m actually not even sure if 1988 counts as vintage haha, but I thought this´d be the most appropriate place to ask.

Thank you, looking forward to some great info.

Cheers,
Max

[andromeda160]

im pretty sure that this is a 168000 it's a pretty desireable watch if it is as it was only made for 9 months. if not it's a 16610 which is a good watch and will last you a lifetime but is a little bit less desireable as it has a 3135 movement which i believe was the same as the datejust movement of the same period.

[mjclark32]

Welcome to TRF and good choice, experts will be along shortly

[gurkmeja]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

im pretty sure that this is a 168000 it's a pretty desireable watch if it is as it was only made for 9 months. if not it's a 16610 which is a good watch and will last you a lifetime but is a little bit less desireable as it has a 3135 movement which i believe was the same as the datejust movement of the same period.

Thanks for the quick reply.

It says "ROLEX SUBMARINER 16800 (YEAR 1988)" so I guess it´s the first one you mentioned but you added another zero?

If so and it is a bit more unique, well, that´s great!

4200 EUR is the price, in case you wanted to know. Slightly yellow faded on all lume dots, looks very nice.

Getting very interested in it!'

Thanks again all,
M

[Jakey]

Sounds like a lovely watch

Give me the telephone number of the seller and ill verify it for you

[TimeToGo]

Welcome to the Forum!

Is it the one listed by Lex?

As with every purchase, buy the seller. Ask if the watch was serviced, if not, I am not sure what the rate for a service in your country is but in the US can range $350-600+, depending on what is needed.

It sounds like a reasonable and competitive price, within the EU, for a full package Submariner.

[gurkmeja]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

Welcome to the Forum!

Is it the one listed by Lex?

As with every purchase, buy the seller. Ask if the watch was serviced, if not, I am not sure what the rate for a service in your country is but in the US can range $350-600+, depending on what is needed.

It sounds like a reasonable and competitive price, within the EU, for a full package Submariner.

Thanks!

Yes, that´s the one. I´ve been looking around for a watch that has everything I want, including date and sapphire crystal, and this one seems to hit the spot.

They wrote me in an email that the man they got it from (a watchmaker apparently) had it checked. But there are, unfortunately, no papers on a recent service.

[springer]

That would be a very late 16800. The Submariner 16610 was first released with the serial number prefix "R" then "L" around 1988. Previous to the 16610, the Submariner 168000 had a short run of about one year. It wouldn't surprise me at all to find all three Submariner versions at an authorized dealer back during late 1988.

[nick c]

Welcome

[TimeToGo]

Originally Posted by gurkmeja

Thanks!

Yes, that´s the one. I´ve been looking around for a watch that has everything I want, including date and sapphire crystal, and this one seems to hit the spot.

They wrote me in an email that the man they got it from (a watchmaker apparently) had it checked. But there are, unfortunately, no papers on a recent service.

I don't know about the dealer but in checking a few of his listings, he includes the same picture of a box and a certificate as if the listings include the original papers. But there is no mention of original papers included with the watch.

Do your homework!

The hands on that particular watch are "replacement/service" hands.

Good luck!