Rolex Serial Question

[anton863]

I'm looking at a potential watch but it has a bit of a story regarding the serial number of it.

It was originally a K seriel and has the original cert etc with that on it.

The story goes it was damaged in an accident and went to rolex and got fitted with a new case, crystal, dial and hands etc.

The paperwork on this is a 4.7 serial, it has been back to rolex since for a service and has the 4.7 serial on the paperwork again.

Is this standard when a case gets changed or is their something fishy going on?

Any help much appreciated.

[Speed]

What part are you asking is standard? Re-cases do get a generic serial.

[anton863]

Just the fact that the serial would change on all paperwork etc after a case change.

[Speed]

I think that is kosher.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by anton863

Just the fact that the serial would change on all paperwork etc after a case change.

A recase will always get a new serial and the current series for recases is 47xxxxx as best we know.

If you have paperwork showing the recase, then you have a complete set..

If you have one set with K and another set with 4.7, if the K paperwork doesn't show a recase, then it's hard to make a case that they go together..

Collectors may shy away from recases, but it is sometimes neessary if the case is compromised. A functional watch is better than a bad case except for a valuable vintage piece where originality may trump function...