Nasty in a good way, these early 16628s have so many little features that quickly turn me into a cheap fake Rolex Yacht-Master guy. This specific reference was introduced in 1992, ran for only a couple of years, and not all examples have tritium dials.
If you want to get super nerdy, some 16628 examples date to 1991, as perfect replica Rolex pre-produced the model a bit. I would have to find one with a tritium dial – the triangular plots applied directly on the dial are unique and quirky.
Similar to the Swiss movement copy Rolex Daytona and Explorer II white dials of the early 1990s, these 16628s have a “porcelain” effect due to a multi-layered lacquering process. The result is a crispy black font that hovers above the white surface upon close inspection, sitting between the layers of lacquer.
If I had to lounge on the back of a yacht this Labor Day, sipping rosé, I would do so á la Succession’s Cousin Greg: “It’s an AAA quality replica Rolex; it’s not my favorite. It’s fine. I’ll wear it. It’s just not my favorite.”