What does random serial # mean ?

[ROLEXster]

Hi, I am new to this forum. I bought a sub date five years back because I aways wanted one and the sub date just screamed at me. At the time in the Caribbeans, the ADs were selling the SS Daytonas for $7800, but nobody had stock. I was in Orlando last month and the ADs wanted $13500+.

I browsed on the for sale forum and random serial # was mentioned a few times.
What does it mean ?

[RX0-Unicorn]

random serial number means that it can have any number and letter combination. Last year, my aunt picked up a 31mm datejust and it has a G-serial number. It has a G and follow by 6 number. I just got a daytona last night and it has a E than follow by 3 numbers, a letter d, and 2 more number.

[T-Rip]

Rolex did this so people wouldn't get so caught up in when it was made. Thinking that if it was random crazy watch people like us couldn't figure out exactly when it was made. Also I think it's random now so AD's stock wont be labeled with a vintage. That's just MHO...

[ROLEXster]

So, I search for production dates:

D = 2005
Z = 2006
M = 2007
V = 2008

How do you tell production dates now with random serial # ?

[Speed]

You don't.

However those figures you posted are guesstimates at best.

[dcash0615]

As Speed mentioned you can not tell the approximate year the case was stamped with the serial number if iit follows the new random serial sequence which is a total of eight numbers and or leters jumbled together. As the price point of the watch goes up (gold models) the serial number chart we have been using for G serial # Rolex watches and back becomes even more skewed. Reason for that is due to the models being slower moving models. Rolex could very well stamp the case as a M or V and not assemble the watch until a few years later. The serial # is actually not when the watch was produced/assembled. It is just when the case was stamped.

I consider the production date the date the watch assembly is completed. No one knows that date, but the Rolex elf's in the factory.

Originally Posted by ROLEXster

So, I search for production dates:

D = 2005
Z = 2006
M = 2007
V = 2008

How do you tell production dates now with random serial # ?

[nowzen]

Random Serial is a contradiction in terms.

It is a registration number that is not serial so customers will be unable to determine when the watch is produced and dated product will be able to be sold over a period of years as 'new'.

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by nowzen

Random Serial is a contradiction in terms.

It is a registration number that is not serial so customers will be unable to determine when the watch is produced and dated product will be able to be sold over a period of years as 'new'.

The new alpha numeric identification regime is not sequential it`s true,however for all practical purposes it functions the same as and is equal to a serial number and as such is interchangeable with the term S/N for the sake of end user convenience,in other words, a generally accepted practice,despite the fact that it is a misnomer.

Maybe we should institute a new convention and start calling it a WIN,short for Watch Identification Number.We could hold a referendum to decide the matter,where every Rolex owner would get votes equal to the number of watches currently owned by that individual.

Who wants to be administrator?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by ROLEXster

Hi, I am new to this forum. I bought a sub date five years back because I aways wanted one and the sub date just screamed at me. At the time in the Caribbeans, the ADs were selling the SS Daytonas for $7800, but nobody had stock. I was in Orlando last month and the ADs wanted $13500+.

I browsed on the for sale forum and random serial # was mentioned a few times.
What does it mean ?

The only difference between the random and any other Rolex serial case stamp over the last 20 plus years is now its made up of 8 digits,a mixture of numbers and letters.Before they used a single letter plus 6 numbers the Prue random system the first letter could give a rough indication by some Internet code when a case was stamped.
R 1987
L 1988
E 1990
X 1991
N 1991 (Nov)
C 1992
S 1993
W 1994
T 1996
U 1997 (Aug)
A 1998 (Nov)
P 2000 (Jan)
K 2001 (Sep)
Y 2002 (Sep)
F 2003 (Sep)
D 2005 (Apr)
Z 2006 (May)
M 2007 (Aug)
V 2008 (Aug)
G 2010 (July)
G 2011 On
Plus Randoms

[Andad]

I agree with everything you said.

Except:
It's not a 'serial' number.
It can't be called a 'serial' number.
Is not equal to a serial number.
Is not interchangeable with a serial number.
It does not give the end user any convenience.
It is not a generally accepted practice (for a serial number substitution).

But I do agree with you.

Rolex has the list.

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by directioneng

I agree with everything you said.

Except:
It's not a 'serial' number.
It can't be called a 'serial' number.
Is not equal to a serial number.
Is not interchangeable with a serial number.
It does not give the end user any convenience.
It is not a generally accepted practice (for a serial number substitution).

But I do agree with you.

Rolex has the list.

I recommend you increase the amount of fibre in your diet,it will help to clear up your confused thinking.

[Lion]

Once again as usual Rolex is a mystery wrapped up in an enigma!!!

[77T]

One advantage of a Random alphanumeric code is that more units can be assigned a unique code within the same number of positions (like 7 positions currently used).

Using free substitution of an alpha character gives you 26 units per position vs. 10 units if you only used numbers. This saves Rolex from the trouble of retooling case ID's from 7 positions to 8, 9 or 10 positions as sales continue to rise.

[TTmax]

Originally Posted by nowzen

It is a registration number that is not serial

Originally Posted by padi56

... any other Rolex serial case stamp

Originally Posted by directioneng

I agree with everything you said.

Except:
It's not a 'serial' number.
It can't be called a 'serial' number.
Is not equal to a serial number.
Is not interchangeable with a serial number.
It does not give the end user any convenience.
It is not a generally accepted practice (for a serial number substitution).

What is your problem with serial number, each time somebody ask a question about it ?

Rolex itself call it a serial number , just see below how it's written directly on the warranty card (I can translate for you if French langage is an issue).

Do we have to trust you, or Rolex ?

[Fredrik]

My guess:

It is most likely your regular serial number, just hashed and maybe encrypted. It makes it a lot harder to forge a serial number and that is probably the only reason they did so. Potentially Rolex could "verify" a serial number also.

[angela]

Originally Posted by TTmax

What is your problem with serial number, each time somebody ask a question about it ?

Rolex itself call it a serial number , just see below how it's written directly on the warranty card (I can translate for you if French langage is an issue).

Do we have to trust you, or Rolex ?

Respected Sir, 

I bought this watch from an authorised dealer ‎and unfortunately I lost it in month of July 2014 and when I claiming my watch from insurance company they are saying that the serial number is too small. 
Please help me out as I have contacted Rolex in new york and no help given. I am a 70 years old lady and being hassled.

My rolex Rolex Watches - Datejust Lady - Steel 46 Diamond Bezel - Jublilee Bracelet
Style No:  179384 pgcdj



SERIAL NUMBER given to me on my rolex purchase is G46215


Please help me out.
 

[padi56]

Originally Posted by ROLEXster

So, I search for production dates:

D = 2005
Z = 2006
M = 2007
V = 2008

How do you tell production dates now with random serial # ?

No internet chart could give a 100% date when any Rolex was made only a appox date when the case/clasp was stamped between X&Y years,and many serials overlapped a year or so.Now Rolex first started the single letter followed by 6 numbers in 1987.But since then to around 2010 Rolex had made such a vast amount of watches millions upon millions they just ran out of single letter number combinations.So the latter part of 2010 the so called random serials started to appear at the ADs. Now these were a mixture of letters numbers but now a total of 8 digits instead of 7.Also at the end of 2010 we had the single letter G plus 6 numbers now both these serials random and single letter G are running in the same time frame from 2010 till present time.The fixation with some of these case serials stamps are quite laughable with some today.As all Rolex no matter there case serial stamp, just with a little care and routine service could last 30-100 years.And always buy condition of the watch and whether any service history and not a case stamp,and when bought new from a AD they all get the same 2 year warranty no matter the case serial.

[HogwldFLTR]

The serial letter and numbers prior to the random ones can be approximately tracked to the year of manufacture. The ones that are random have more that one letter and may start with a letter but that letter means nothing wrt year of manufacture.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by angela

Respected Sir, 

I bought this watch from an authorised dealer ‎and unfortunately I lost it in month of July 2014 and when I claiming my watch from insurance company they are saying that the serial number is too small. 
Please help me out as I have contacted Rolex in new york and no help given. I am a 70 years old lady and being hassled.

My rolex Rolex Watches - Datejust Lady - Steel 46 Diamond Bezel - Jublilee Bracelet
Style No:  179384 pgcdj



SERIAL NUMBER given to me on my rolex purchase is G46215


Please help me out.
 

Your serial should be G plus 6 numbers and serial should be on your warranty card.

[bp1000]

To my horror my brand new sunburst bluesy had a z serial etched into the rehaut and I thought the case was really old before I occurred to me that ceramic sub cases didn't start until 2010 (I believe) and I counted the rest of the numbers and there were 8 indicating a random serial.

It threw me for a split second and my hulk is 8 numbers/letters with G sandwiched somewhere in the middle

[brkanand]

My comment refers only to the price of SS Daytona. In October 2009, I paid US$9420/- to buy this new watch from the AD in St Johns, Antigua.

[joe100]

Why do new folks wanting information seem to dredge up old necro-threads?

[sportsmaven20]

Originally Posted by padi56

Your serial should be G plus 6 numbers and serial should be on your warranty card.

...and if by some chance you do not have the warranty card, then contacting the AD where the watch was purchased might help, if you are the original owner, as they sometimes keep record of serial numbers on sales receipts.

[Danex]

It would be great to have a sticky thread on case "serial" numbers. From reading this thread it might be difficult to get consensus - even agreeing on what to call them.

[locutus49]

Serial Number is used by manufacturers in a colloquial, common sense of the word, not the strict mathematical sense.

[miller1952]

"Serial Number" has a clear meaning, not just in mathematics, but in English. It means numbers that occur in sequence (numerically increasing values). Rolex should quit calling these ID numbers "serial numbers" if they are assigned randomly, or in any method other than a sequence. Random serial number is an oxymoron.

[Andad]

C'mon Miller, that makes too much sense for some on this thread.

:http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....84&postcount=1

And has been beaten to death for years.