Alright, let’s talk about this Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 I messed with. I got this watch, an older model, not in the best shape. I was thinking to get it fixed up at one of those official Rolex places, but then I thought, “Why not try to do some stuff myself first?” This thing is supposed to be waterproof to like, over 4000 feet. Sounds tough, right? It’s built like a tank, kinda like the Submariner, from what I hear. They made these perfect back in the 1960s, or so they say.
So, this watch, it’s a Sea-Dweller 4000, reference number 16600. I looked it up and there is some dealer code, 39152, whatever that means. It’s automatic, which is cool. The case is made of some kind of strong metal.
Here’s What I Did:
- Took a Good Look: First, I just stared at the watch for a while. I wanted to see what I was dealing with. The crystal was scratched, the bezel was all messed up, and the bracelet was loose.
- Opened It Up: I got some tools and carefully opened the back. I was pretty nervous, but I managed. Inside, it was like a tiny city, all these little gears and springs.
- Cleaned the Movement: I used some special solution to clean the movement. There was a lot of gunk in there. I took my time and made sure I didn’t mess anything up.
- Fixed the Crystal: I tried to polish the crystal to get rid of the scratches. It helped a little, but it wasn’t perfect.
- Tightened the Bracelet: The bracelet was a pain. I had to adjust the screws and make sure it was secure. It took a while, but I finally got it right.
- Put It Back Together: This was the hardest part. I had to put all those tiny parts back in the right place. I used a magnifying glass and a lot of patience.
- Tested It Out: After I put it all back together, I wound it up and checked if it was working. It was! I even tested the waterproof part. I dunked it in a bowl of water, and it was fine.
It was a long process, but I did it. The watch is not perfect, but it’s way better than before. I learned a lot about how these things work. It’s pretty amazing how they’re put together. I’m not a watchmaker or anything, but I managed to do some basic stuff. It was a fun project, and I’m happy with how it turned out. I might still take it to a professional someday, but for now, I’m just gonna enjoy wearing it.
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