5513 What does the caseback tell me?

[jlovda]

For the first time since I purchased my 5513 in 1970 I got to see the inside of the case back. The outside of the back has my initials which were put there within a year after I got it so the case back was never changed without my knowledge. The SN is 204xxxx. It was serviced in 1972 RSC, NYC), 1980 (Sutters, Chgo) and 8/19 (Baschs, Clev). What does IV68 mean and who would have engraved 241 next to the 5513?

This watch seems to hold many mysteries since the SN indicates an mfg year much earlier than when I bought it.

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[1665fan]

Iv68 means the caseback was made in 1968 as far as I know

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Iv68 means the caseback was made in 1968 as far as I know

The fourth quarter of 1968 to be precise, perfectly consistent with the case serial number. The watch probably sat unsold for some time before you purchased it. Not uncommon at all.

In the old days, watchmakers often made little engravings inside the case-back with codes to indicate the work that was done. Nowadays they more often use Sharpie.

[MorningTundra]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Iv68 means the caseback was made in 1968 as far as I know

Quarter 4 of 1968


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[Tools]

The 241 is probably a job number for one of the services.

[phillip ridley]

Yes, it is very common for the watchmaker to inscribe or initial the inside of the caseback. It is done to make themselves or another watchmaker aware of its service history.

[77T]

My guess is Sutters’ watchmaker did it in 1980. Your 2019 service is noted in Sharpie and RSC would not likely do it.

But I’ve never seen such a deep mark. Most are scratched in and around the perimeter. The only other idea that pops into mind is the original AD marking it?


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[jlovda]

Originally Posted by 77T

My guess is Sutters’ watchmaker did it in 1980. Your 2019 service is noted in Sharpie and RSC would not likely do it.

But I’ve never seen such a deep mark. Most are scratched in and around the perimeter. The only other idea that pops into mind is the original AD marking it?


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The watch was purchased at Chronometrie Beyer on the Bahnhofstrasse in Zürich. They are still there, down the street from Bucherers.

[wappinghigh]

Sir thanks for posting this - as a vintage watch collector looking to add to my collection, it's great to have people like you posting information like this on watches that are one owner and havent' been bastardised. I'm finding sourcing true vintage Rolex a bit of a nightmare. So many crooks and misinformation out there. So many flippers just out to make a quick buck. I have just one rolex and am looking for another. If you ever wish to part with this iconic piece would you kindly PM me when you are putting it on the market. By the way as a matter of interest over in another thread we are having a bit of a discussion trying to determine what has happened to Rolex pricing and manufacturing costs over the decades. I am using a no date sub as the baseline... do you happen to remember what you paid for your watch in swiss francs? and what that was in USD at the time? It would be fantastic if you could contribute to that discussion.. what you recall about availability at the time, relative costs etc etc.. Cheers. W

[springer]

From my experience with many vintage watches, a IV 68 case back was probably sold new during 1970 to 1971. During the 1960s into the 1970s, at least within the USA, the dealer sales dates are normally two to three years after the case back stamping. This is quite common from my experience.