serial number

[KMdad44]

well a new rolex purchased this year have the letter "V" in front of the serial number?

[esm]

Originally Posted by KMdad44

well a new rolex purchased this year have the letter "V" in front of the serial number?

yes, very likely..

as well as "M", "G" and/or "Random"

[dddrees]

Serial numbers is only an approximation of when the case was stamped and not when the complete watch was assembled. No telling what watches your nearest AD has in stock because some sell less quickly than others, however Rolex is currently producing serial numbers using a random number format. But if you buy a watch from your AD and unless you buy one from their estate collection it will be a new watch regardless of the serial number it is using.

The way to tell would be:

A non-random V serial number would be V123456 .

A new random serial number would be 123V4567.

[smallcandle]

Maybe. Maybe not.

[Lion]

As stated, Rolex is using completely random numbers and letters for the serial number!!!

[Chris B]

A less popular model could even have an older prefix

[padi56]

Originally Posted by KMdad44

well a new rolex purchased this year have the letter "V" in front of the serial number?

If its a V serial and six digits it means the case was stamped sometime between August 2008 till around June 2010.Now this is not always when a completed watch was made and shipped for sale.If it starts with a V plus 7 other digits then the case was stamped anytime from the beginning of 2011 to present time nothing more.With any Internet code not one can give the exact month or exact year they are just a approximation when a case was stamped. And when bought new from a AD they all get the same two year warranty no matter what the case stamp is.

[FNFZ4]

pardon my ignorance but since Rolex started with the random serials how can you tell the age of those watch?

[Speed]

Originally Posted by FNFZ4

pardon my ignorance but since Rolex started with the random serials how can you tell the age of those watch?

You have a pretty good idea now since they just started. However, as the years go by, you won't.

That's the whole point.

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by FNFZ4

pardon my ignorance but since Rolex started with the random serials how can you tell the age of those watch?

You won`t know if it`s a new watch at your AD but if it`s preowned and the seller can provide a dated warranty card and the original sales receipt then at least you will know when it was sold which will give an approximate age.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by FNFZ4

pardon my ignorance but since Rolex started with the random serials how can you tell the age of those watch?

Is there a particular serial letter that will last longer than any other serial letter/number over the past 50 plus years.And all these case stamps could tell you was a approx date when the case was stamped.Who knows perhaps all the Internet codes are wrong. As Rolex as far as I can remember have not published any information on the serial stamping its all Internet based and just a approximation.

[FNFZ4]

i guess they want to level the playing field when it comes to resale value...

[padi56]

Originally Posted by FNFZ4

i guess they want to level the playing field when it comes to resale value...

Well speaking for myself I buy condition of watch not really interested in any case stamp unless it still has any warranty.And when buying used if no service history then it would be prudent to budget for a service.And all Rolex watches if maintained have a life expectancy of 30- 50 years. Thats why so many are around today and many 80 plus years old and still ticking strong.

[GradyPhilpott]

Now, the box and papers, or at least the papers, take on a truer meaning than in the past when such was considered little more than a novelty by some.

Of course, there's always that little bugbear called counterfeiting.