Deepsea no serial number on watchcase

[Rolex116520]

Hi guys ,
i wonder why rolex has done away with putting serial numbers on the case ( between the lugs at 6 o'clock) of the sea dweller deepsea (because my v reg which i bought last week surely hasn't) . Does any earlier m reg have serials between the lugs ? They only only have it on the inside of the watch . My late z reg daytona 116520 had both inside and between the lugs the serial and so has my v reg 116520 with new bracelet (78590) given that the daytona has the inside serial far more visible then the deepsea , one can hardly read the number , especially with the thick reflecting glass , on the deepsea as it is much smaller writing . I is actually amazing how they managed to fit it on that lower inner ring . It is far less obtrusive then on other models .
But again why do away with the serial on the case ? Has it to do with corrosion risk ? I have an vintage 1601 and you cannot longer read the serial because it has been semi eaten away .

[Rolex116520]

Well , As soon I posted it I realised that it cannot be a corrosion issue as there is "stainless steel" engraved and the 12 O'clock side has model number etc..on it . So that is out of the window .

[seantk]

Interesting! I will try to get my bracelet off of my DSSD and take a look also.

Sean

[SDDS]

i remember when u take off the bracelet the number of the bracelet is written inside at the top of the sel bracelet.. there is 2 crowns engraved at each side and the 98210 number is engraved in the middle..

[SLS]

Originally Posted by SDDS

i remember when u take off the bracelet the number of the bracelet is written inside at the top of the sel bracelet.. there is 2 crowns engraved at each side and the 98210 number is engraved in the middle..

That is the bracelet reference number.
Scott

[SDDS]

yeah exactly

[SDDS]

this pic taken from our fellow member.. as u can see on the case is written stainless steel...because the serial number is already inside the ring

[Rolex116520]

Yes , I have seen that as I took my bracelet off . The serial is indeed on the inside but that is the case with nearly all recent rolex models , but they have the serial on the case too . As Rolex keeps innovating and probably has introduced the "rolex" all around the inside of the bezel with serial at 6 o'clock to fight counterfeit , why remove the serial on the case as an serial would reduce the chance that one watch case could interchange with the "inside" from another watch , no ?
Surely Rolex has its reasons to do this , but why ? Not that they will tell us as they are not known to be forthcoming with "security" info . I guess it would otherwise beat the object .

[flyback]

Originally Posted by Rolex116520

why remove the serial on the case as an serial would reduce the chance that one watch case could interchange with the "inside" from another watch , no ?
Surely Rolex has its reasons to do this , but why ? Not that they will tell us as they are not known to be forthcoming with "security" info . I guess it would otherwise beat the object .

I think you may have answered your own question. The rehaut on most Rolexes is I believe an integral part of the case. So the serial number visible through the crystal at 6:00 and the number under the end-link between the lugs are engraved on the same piece of metal.

On the DSSD, the rehaut serial number is engraved on the Ring-Lock ring, which is a separate piece from the case. If they printed it on both the ring and the case then the identity of your watch would depend on matching serial numbers of two pieces - and I guess Rolex doesn't want to do manufacturing or service that way.

[Rolex116520]

They , as you point out , may not want to service that way in case there is a problem with the ring lock itself . But what happens then ? They replace the ringlock with no serial number ? or just an "S" like on the replacement lenses ? meaning you have a watch with no serial number whatsoever ??? If any thing , they should do away with engraving all the other rolex models that have both case and rehaut serials as they are one and the same piece . doesn't make sense , does it ?

[Tools]

Replacement cases have Service serial numbers...such as 47xxxxx, I would imagine that a replacement DSSD ring-lock would have a new Service Serial number as well if it needed to be replaced.

[Rolex116520]

Originally Posted by Tools

Replacement cases have Service serial numbers...such as 47xxxxx, I would imagine that a replacement DSSD ring-lock would have a new Service Serial number as well if it needed to be replaced.

That makes sense .