What does the term "scrambled" mean?

[GT2344]

Hi TRF, hope you will forgive my noobness, but what does this term "scrambled" and/or "scrambled serial" mean?

I understand it has to do with the serial number but am I to understand that someone would deliberately obliterate a serial number or is this similar to a "random serial number"?

Is this something one should be cautious about or avoid altogether?

Cheers,

George

[Laszlo]

I think it's random but pretty much means the same thing. Just randomized numbering for serial number.

[dysondiver]

new to me ,,, random , is the general term used i think.

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

new to me ,,, random , is the general term used i think.

Same here.

This is the first time I've read anyone using the term "scrambled" in relation to the new serial number format.

Kinda makes me peckish.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Same here.

This is the first time I've read anyone using the term "scrambled" in relation to the new serial number format.

Kinda makes me peckish.

Had that today with some Normandy butter

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Same here.

This is the first time I've read anyone using the term "scrambled" in relation to the new serial number format.

Kinda makes me peckish.

Originally Posted by AK797

Had that today with some Normandy butter

Same here but with hot sauce

[ajg1960]

It means that Rolex has changed the pattern of the serial numbers they assign to their watches --its now a random pattern (or a "scrambled" number). Its nothing that needs to be avoided; all newer Rolex watches have this random serial number pattern. Prior to that, you could "date" a watch to within a few years of manufacture by knowing the serial number. Now, you cannot.

[GT2344]

Thanks guys...I guess these phrases are synonymous or interchangeable.
I was a little confused, so thanks for clarification.

[ajg1960]

Many older serials began with a letter followed by a series of numbers. The random serials may have letters and numbers "scrambled" together. Does that help? I just checked on the forum by using the search function for the word "scrambled" there are some listing by sellers here who refer to the newer Rolex serial as scrambled.

[watchwatcher]

I have heard some sellers use the term as a synonym for random.

[Dr DRW]

Scrambled =Random = Rolex doesn't want you to know when they made your watch.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Dr DRW

Scrambled =Random = Rolex doesn't want you to know when they made your watch.

You could never tell when any Rolex watch was made only a approx date between X&Y years when the case or clasp was stamped even this dont always mean when it was made. And the main and only reason Rolex to change from the single letter six number serials, was simply this. The single letter 6 number serials started in 1987 and over the years till 2010, Rolex made such countless millions of watches they just ran out of single letter 6 number combinations, thus the change to the random 8 digit serials.

[keshaandrea]

I bought red sea dweller 2017 Model : 126600, everything check is perfect, but the serial number is CZxxxxxx, is it possible the random number start with 2 letters ??

[jets]

A serial ‘number’ that is not sequential. Two watches made back to back may begin with different letters, numbers etc. Therefore impossible to date.


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[Andad]

Originally Posted by jets

A serial ‘number’ that is not sequential. Two watches made back to back may begin with different letters, numbers etc. Therefore impossible to date.


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This is an old thread but I’m not sure about your description.

Isn’t a serial number unique and assigned incrementally or sequentially to an item?

A random identifier can usually only be understood by the one who applied it?

Is there such a thing as a random serial number?

Should we also rename the LEC as it is not an etching?

I had my eggs sunny side up this morning..

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Andad

This is an old thread but I’m not sure about your description.

Isn’t a serial number unique and assigned incrementally or sequentially to an item?

A random identifier can usually only be understood by the one who applied it?

Is there such a thing as a random serial number?

Should we also rename the LEC as it is not an etching?

I had my eggs sunny side up this morning..

Yes, a true serial number is exactly that, numbers sequentially assigned and unique to one another.

Rolex hasn't really produced them serially in decades so they are technically unique identification numbers. But we can't get folks to understand Grey Dealers vs. Secondary, or what COSC tested means, so this one is likely a lost cause too.

I prefer over easy myself

[jets]

Fun fact: I bought myself a DJ Jan 2009 serial M8XXXXX and following Jan 2010 I bought another DJ for my dad with M7XXXXX and this was before scrambled era. More than 100,000 difference the wrong way


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[SS Oyster]

Scrambled often refers to eggs that have been whisked in a bowl and then cooked in a pan while stirring, resulting in curds of egg … delicious! I highly recommend them.

Oh, you were referring to watch serial numbers? Why didn’t you say so? For answers on that, read above and soon below.


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[Tools]

Originally Posted by GT2344

Hi TRF, hope you will forgive my noobness, but what does this term "scrambled" and/or "scrambled serial" mean?

. . .

In the early days Rolex serials were either sunny-side up, or over-easy.

This was too difficult to maintain, so now everything is scrambled. Hope that clears it up.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Tools

In the early days Rolex serials were either sunny-side up, or over-easy.

This was too difficult to maintain, so now everything is scrambled. Hope that clears it up.

You left out the rare poached serials Larry. Worth $millions especially if solid yolk. Much better at avoiding stretch.

Scrambled is better though -


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[doboy007]

Your brain after having too much to drink :)

[omx5o]

I try to avoid poached watches.

[rambo99]

it means the random number is generated under the control of rolex, may be several smaller random numbers generated and concatenated into the final serial number.

[Andad]

Concantenated is a cool word.