Anyway to determine manufacture day of Random Serial Rolex?

[TurfyMurfy]

Is there any way possible to determine the manufacture date of Random Serial numbered Rolexes???

[Dr.Brian]

You need the original receipt. That's going to become the next thing people want with pre owned Rolex. I have mine.

[hsfrank]

Not that I know of. A while ago on another forum there was someone who asked readers to submit their serial numbers. He would submit them to some math wizards to see if they found any commonality. I have not heard anything since.

[landroverking]

Shortly no.

[Cru Jones]

receipt? warranty card? neither of which have any security markings....

[MonBK]

No, you couldn't even do that with the previous #'s.

[Furbo]

I don't think that there is a math formula behind random serials, with computers is easy enough to generate a random serial for every case and store that data.

[TurfyMurfy]

I should have maybe said approx date. Does Rolex not maintain this info??

[padi56]

Originally Posted by TurfyMurfy

Is there any way possible to determine the manufacture date of Random Serial numbered Rolexes???

All we know is that the so called random serials started to appear around the latter part of 2010 till present time with a few other single letter serials at the same time.Rolex has never given any information about any serials,all the Internet charts are all based on information passed around the various forum as serials got reported seen at the ADs, and many serials overlap a year or so. The case serial charts could give us a rough indication between X&Y years when the case/clasp was stamped nothing more and not the 100% exact date of manufacture.But no matter the serial when bought new they all get the same two year warranty.Plus no matter the serial Rolex oyster watches in many case outlast there owners as long as serviced correctly they will last 50 years plus.

[Lion]

May I inquire why you want to know???
The best answer available is the one Padi gave you.....

Take it easy.....Leo

[Tools]

Originally Posted by TurfyMurfy

Is there any way possible to determine the manufacture date of Random Serial numbered Rolexes???

Sure.. All randoms were made after late 2010....

That's as close a span as you will get with almost any other serial too.

[alanc]

I think this will eventually become a real issue for those of us who buy pre-owned.

Fast forward to 2020. Does that mint random Sub date from 2017 or 2010? Without papers, who knows? Is it due for a service? Again, without papers, who knows?

This is why I think original receipts and warranty cards will become more important as time goes by.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by alanc

I think this will eventually become a real issue for those of us who buy pre-owned.

Fast forward to 2020. Does that mint random Sub date from 2017 or 2010? Without papers, who knows? Is it due for a service? Again, without papers, who knows?

This is why I think original receipts and warranty cards will become more important as time goes by.

It would be exactly the same for any-other serial even if you had a rough idea when case was stamped, if bought used and no service history it would be wise to budget for a service then after two year warranty.

[Roley]

Started mid 2010 ..... Then with dated warranty card and receipt. Good enough.

This is Rolex way to sell old new stock.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by TurfyMurfy

Is there any way possible to determine the manufacture date of Random Serial numbered Rolexes???

There's no way to tell the manufacture date of any Rolex, only rough estimate based on when watches with a given serial number hit the market and when a later serial number was spotted.

With the "random" serial numbers, there's no way to even tell that and the longer they're used, the harder it will be to narrow down than it is now.

As others have noted, a receipt telling when it was sold is about as close as it will get, but eventually, new old stock will be more difficult to identify, relative to "serial" numbers.

[landroverking]

You do understand random means random.
Buying pre-owned without papers is not an issue for me.
I just build in service into the price. So far the three I bought without papers never needed service. This goes back to 1985. You pays your money and you take your chances.
So far I've been luckey.

[Jannal]

Ask Rolex.

[Mikel212]

That is why its called RANDOM. However, given enough time, maybe a pattern may arise. Ask again in 30 yrs.

But I do think that if you were to purchase a used Random without a receipt, and really need to date it, Rolex may reveal that the watch is X yrs old and needs a service if you were to bring it in for a free estimate.

[Tools]

this recent obsession with serials seems almost silly to some of us who have been "collecting" and wearing for many years...

It just means that those who spend all their time on the Internet and want instant charts, graphs, papers and "assurances" will need to actually learn about the models and their nuances as you do with any other make of watch..

Already enthusiasts have researched Mark I through whatever for their favorites and speculate that certain fonts or markings were early or late in the evolution... Collecting watches is just not rocket science..

Condition is still king.. nobody should buy a watch based on it's serial number unless that number represents a particular era with the features that are known... like oval O's on 2003/04 LV Subs..

Watches don't go bad like a loaf of bread because of it's serial number... All Random serial Subs are essentially identical, for example.

I suppose though, folks will complain about serials for a few more decades, just like some complain that their crown emblem isn't pointing where they want it to...

[landroverking]

Originally Posted by Tools

this recent obsession with serials seems almost silly to some of us who have been "collecting" and wearing for many years...

It just means that those who spend all their time on the Internet and want instant charts, graphs, papers and "assurances" will need to actually learn about the models and their nuances as you do with any other make of watch..

Already enthusiasts have researched Mark I through whatever for their favorites and speculate that certain fonts or markings were early or late in the evolution... Collecting watches is just not rocket science..

Condition is still king.. nobody should buy a watch based on it's serial number unless that number represents a particular era with the features that are known... like oval O's on 2003/04 LV Subs..

Watches don't go bad like a loaf of bread because of it's serial number... All Random serial Subs are essentially identical, for example.

I suppose though, folks will complain about serials for a few more decades, just like some complain that their crown emblem isn't pointing where they want it to...

X2 Here! Here!