Serial number and model number

[Ony]

Hi, I bought a 1972 (based on the serial no.) Rolex Oysterdate Precision. I brought it to the Rolex Service Center to have it serviced. After more than 2 weeks, they said according to the main office, the serial number of my watch DOES NOT MATCH the model number. That is why they cannot service it.

But they said that doesn't mean my watch is fake.

So I then bought my watch to a very experienced Rolex technician here and after examining my watch he said all parts seemed original.


Any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

[Tools]

It's unlikely that an "experienced Rolex Technician" could tell if a particular serial number went with a certain model..

[Ony]

Yup, he of course can't tell if the serial number and model number match, but what he discovered was that the parts, including the bracelet, were original. RSC told me that maybe someone had mangled/changed the SN before... They have opened the watch and they said they cannot start servicing it since they have problems with the SN... Well...

[crowncollection]

These are the things Only rolex can tell you. Maybe a case swap sometime in its life

[marcello pisani]

Originally Posted by Ony

Hi, I bought a 1972 (based on the serial no.) Rolex Oysterdate Precision. I brought it to the Rolex Service Center to have it serviced. After more than 2 weeks, they said according to the main office, the serial number of my watch DOES NOT MATCH the model number. That is why they cannot service it.

But they said that doesn't mean my watch is fake.

So I then bought my watch to a very experienced Rolex technician here and after examining my watch he said all parts seemed original.


Any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

the RSC has checked the case number in Geneva's database .. so if case number and model are not matching we have some options :
1) re-engraved case number in a genuine case ( maybe the watch was stolen )
2) fake case but either RSC and your watchmaker are not so skilled to see the difference.
it would be very interesting to see some detailed pictures of case and reference numbers between the lugs ...

[TimeToGo]

Welcome to the Forum!

Did you buy the watch from a reputable seller/dealer? Hopefully you can get a refund.

As mentioned, pictures would help.

[landroverking]

If I can be serviced outside of RSC, not sure I would be worried.

[joe100]

Depends. If its an old discontinued model with a random serial number, that'd be a problem. What I mean is the serial date range is wildly off from the discontinuation date of the reference. Or the other way 'round

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by joe100

Depends. If its an old discontinued model with a random serial number, that'd be a problem. What I mean is the serial date range is wildly off from the discontinuation date of the reference. Or the other way 'round

The only other case it could be in is a Rolex oyster precision. I'd get a refund though. The watch isn't very expensive as it is, and getting a correct case would be roughly 50% of what the watch would cost

[Vlad]

What is the model # and what is the serial? (X out the last three digits - for example: 2,454,xxx)

[watchchillin]

Got to second Vlad! A pic or two would help also. Generalizations just create soap opera discussion. Throw us a bone man!

[Ony]

Serial no. 3486xxx
Model no. 6694

Here's a photo.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/...b44e3cfc_c.jpg

If the above photo doesn't appear, here's a link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/965282...th/8852607286/

[Beaumont Miller II]

Ony as Marcello said it would be interesting to see detailed pics of the reference and serial number to see if it was done in the same style Rolex would have done in that era.
To those new to vintage, this problem would come up from time to time when an unscrupulous person would take a GMT case, change the reference number to an Exp II, and swap the dial. Then sell the watch as an original Exp II. The unsuspecting buyer would find out when the watch was taken in for service that his "new" watch started its life as a GMT.

[linesiders]

I would hate to make recommendations based on incomplete information (though i do a lot of things I hate )

Please provide high quality, large photos of the watch; top profile/dial, case back, remove the bracelet and take high quality, large photos of the serial number and reference number.

The better quality images you take usually returns better quality responses.

As for sending to RSC for repair, that may be costly compared to the value of the watch. A quality watchsmith could likely do the same for less - but they won't run it through the Rolex DB, which has its good & bad parts

[Ony]

Okay, here are photos of the serial and model numbers. I can't open the back cover since I have no tools here, but the inside was already examined by 2 reputable and experienced Rolex expert watchsmiths here and they both maintained everything was real.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/96528271@N04/