Year of manufacture?

[jgalvin]

Hi

I've just bought my first Rolex after waiting half a lifetime.
It's a Daytona in yellow gold, which I bought in Switzerland last month.
I've just checked the serial number, which begins with Y. I understand
that this represents a 2002 manufacture date.
My watch appears to have narrow hands, doesn't have the serial
number on the dial and appears not to have the Rolex crown etched
at the six o'clock mark.
The dealer told me the watch was not old stock.
Was my watch manufactured in 2002 and is it an old model?
Should I be worried?

TIA

[Solo118]

Did you purchase this watch in an AD? Then you have no worries.
I also believe Y stands for 2003 I could be wrong... But if the watch has narrow hands that means its pre inhouse movement (It should then have the Zenith movement)

[jgalvin]

I didn't purchase from an ad. I emailed a dealer and we had some correspondence before I walked in and purchased.
He told me it was new stock. I would be seriously ticked off if I thought my watch had the Zenith movement.
How do I know for sure and what comeback do I have?
They are an official Rolex dealer.

[mike]

Post a pic if you can, but sounds fine.

Daytonas of that era had thin hands (Rolex will replace at service).
Serial number on the chapter ring is relatively new and, I believe the etching started around the Y series.

As for the Zenith movement-some would gladly take it.

Congrats!

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by jgalvin

I didn't purchase from an ad. I emailed a dealer and we had some correspondence before I walked in and purchased.
He told me it was new stock. I would be seriously ticked off if I thought my watch had the Zenith movement.
How do I know for sure and what comeback do I have?
They are an official Rolex dealer.

The first pic is with the Zenith movement. The seconds subdial is at 9:00 and both upper registers are centred on the 3-9 equator. The second pic is with the newer in-house movement. The seconds subdial is at 6:00 and both upper registers are above the 3-9 equator.

[jgalvin]

Thanks for the replies, so far, and excuse my ignorance - I didn't realise AD stands for authorised dealer.
I did purchase from and AD, who made a point of saying that my watch wasn't old stock.
From the pics above, I know that I have the Rolex movement, not the Zenith.


>Daytonas of that era had thin hands (Rolex will replace at service).
>Serial number on the chapter ring is relatively new and, I believe the >etching started around the Y series.

Ok, Daytonas of that era had thin hands. This seems to confirm that my watch is circa 2002. I didn't set out to buy a five year old watch. Is this common practice? Surely I have a case against the dealer?

I'll post a pic later today.

John Galvin

[padi56]

Originally Posted by jgalvin

Thanks for the replies, so far, and excuse my ignorance - I didn't realise AD stands for authorised dealer.
I did purchase from and AD, who made a point of saying that my watch wasn't old stock.
From the pics above, I know that I have the Rolex movement, not the Zenith.


>Daytonas of that era had thin hands (Rolex will replace at service).
>Serial number on the chapter ring is relatively new and, I believe the >etching started around the Y series.

Ok, Daytonas of that era had thin hands. This seems to confirm that my watch is circa 2002. I didn't set out to buy a five year old watch. Is this common practice? Surely I have a case against the dealer?

I'll post a pic later today.

John Galvin

Well first welcome to TRF John Y date letter is from Sept 2002 to August 2003.Now all solid gold watches are not good sellers even the Daytona,but the movement is exactly the same as one cased say today.There has been a few very very minor cosmetic changes but nothing outstanding.Now your watch is still new. and your warranty goes from the date it was purchased.Now say the watch you bought was sent back to Rolex and the movement put into a current date letter case.All you would have then is watch with the current date case letter but movement would be the same but a case just stamped later.And agree with Mike quite a lot would chose the Zenith El Primo movement, simply because in future years it should be much more collectable.And in chronograph movements terms well proved and well respected its been around now for almost 40 years with very little change.Whilst the Rolex movement in real terms has only been around just a few years.Now the Rolex in-house movement is the first chronograph movement that Rolex have ever made.And is in every way a fine movement all other chronographs were fitted prior to the Zenith El-Primo, with the ETA Valjoux movements.Now when Daytona fever took off in the later 90s.Zenith could not, or would not, supply the El-Primo base ebauche movement to Rolex, so Rolex then had to make there own in the cal 4130 in the year 2000.

[ohlins]

your watch is not a recent production, no doubt....newer all gold daytona watches come with fat hands

if u like the thinner hands.....fine

if u like the fat hands......you have to seek a replacement watch from your dealer....

rsc would not replace thin hands with fat hands......

[mike]

Originally Posted by ohlins

your watch is not a recent production, no doubt....newer all gold daytona watches come with fat hands

if u like the thinner hands.....fine

if u like the fat hands......you have to seek a replacement watch from your dealer....

rsc would not replace thin hands with fat hands......

Ah! Correct..forgot it's a zenith.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by mike

Ah! Correct..forgot it's a zenith.

Would seriously doubt to be a Zenith,Y serial would be the Rolex in-house Mike.

[mike]

Originally Posted by padi56

Would seriously doubt to be a Zenith,Y serial would be the Rolex in-house Mike.

LOL! You're right. I'm going back and forth between boards and getting posts screwed up. I think I'll take a nap.

[jgalvin]

Here's the pic of my Daytona. Sweet isn't it?

From what I gather from the various replies, I shouldn't worry too much about
the watch not being new stock. Correct?

John Galvin

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by jgalvin

Here's the pic of my Daytona. Sweet isn't it?

From what I gather from the various replies, I shouldn't worry too much about
the watch not being new stock. Correct?

John Galvin

It's gorgeous! Relax and enjoy it.

[mike]

Originally Posted by jgalvin

Here's the pic of my Daytona. Sweet isn't it?

From what I gather from the various replies, I shouldn't worry too much about
the watch not being new stock. Correct?

John Galvin

Beautifull watch!! I wouldn't worry at all. Purchased from an AD you have the two year warranty. Well done!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by jgalvin

Here's the pic of my Daytona. Sweet isn't it?

From what I gather from the various replies, I shouldn't worry too much about
the watch not being new stock. Correct?

John Galvin

Just wear and enjoy your watch,its only a case stamp, nothing more nothing less,and am sure the extra 1mm in the hands will not be missed.

[ohlins]

yeah nothing to worry about especially if u like the thin hands.....