Is this Z end?

[Andad]

I have always been surprised at the number of genuine Rolex watches that are offered for sale without papers.

Now that I am learning more about Rolex I see that the number (or serial letter and number) on the watch dates the watch within a certain time span and that this can be quite a long time span.

I think we might now see Rolex simply mark the watch with a s/n but it will be the date of sale that dates the watch. This will mean that the plastic card (with purchaser, model number, s/n and date of sale) will now become very important and 'date' the watch exactly with the s/n on the card confirming the watch's ID. The card must now accompany the watch or Rolex would need to certify the authenticity via their records.

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by Tools

What letters have NOT been used as a Rolex serial prefix.??

B G H I J M O Q V.

I can see why O wasn't used, too easy to mix with 0, maybe the same for Q, and "I" could be mistaken for 1.

For all we know, Rolex could continue their alpha-numeric serials using double letters to prefix them. I know a couple of girls who'd fit perfectly wearing the DDxxx serial #.

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Now that I am learning more about Rolex I see that the number (or serial letter and number) on the watch dates the watch within a certain time span and that this can be quite a long time span.

Conversely, some serial #'s were used for a very short time span. E, X and N serial #'s could all be 1991. Makes me wonder why they did that.

[nko51]

Originally Posted by astcell

With all the different used Rolexes out there with all the different letters to show when they were made, is the Z going to be the best of the bunch, since it is the last of the old GMT design and represents the end of the old school Rolexes?

The Z appears to have the most defects per capita, it may becoming avoided like the plague instead!

[astcell]

Or having a Z series that works is even rarer!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by astcell

Or having a Z series that works is even rarer!

[Teofilo]

Originally Posted by astcell

Or having a Z series that works is even rarer!

Got two that work like a treat..........
Does anyone have any hard evidence to say if one year would be more or less reliable than any other ?
I think it unlikely that the Swiss would suddenly start turning out shoddy watches
But I am really new at this

[Tools]

Peter,
We're just bashing Z's because they are the latest, and currently the most sought after, serial run. D's were before them; but I hope in most cases it is harmless fun.

Just haveing watched the forums on Rolex the past few years, photography is getting more detailed, and the use a 10X loupe seems to be the latest investigation tool for the watch officianado. Internally they are largely unchanged and very robust.

A few years ago this nit-picking of every visible aspect of a watch was unheard of.

My guess is there is no data base (outside Rolex corporate) for which series may have more returns for defects than others.

Watchmakers have their own opinions of how the new ones compare with older models, but I would let them chime in rather than speculate.

[Teofilo]

Originally Posted by Tools

Peter,
We're just bashing Z's because they are the latest, and currently the most sought after, serial run. D's were before them; but I hope in most cases it is harmless fun.

Just haveing watched the forums on Rolex the past few years, photography is getting more detailed, and the use a 10X loupe seems to be the latest investigation tool for the watch officianado. Internally they are largely unchanged and very robust.

A few years ago this nit-picking of every visible aspect of a watch was unheard of.

My guess is there is no data base (outside Rolex corporate) for which series may have more returns for defects than others.

Watchmakers have their own opinions of how the new ones compare with older models, but I would let them chime in rather than speculate.

Larry, probably the internet and forums like this have got a lot to do with the quality that we now demand from everything.
It is amazing when you think of it that we can see pictures of watches from Singapore,Las Vegas and Australia within 30 minutes of the buyer walking out of the AD. Technology is going far faster than I can keep up with