Err...between the Case Lugs at 12 o'clock...
prior to the period when Rolex Patent n Design...
of the "OYSTER" watch cases expired...
Around early in 6.2 mil case series to the Later Half of 6 mil case series...
Certain numbers of Original Rolex cases...
were even NOT engraved with "REGISTERED DESIGN"...
hence the engraving of "REGISTERED DESIGN" were missing...
between the lugs at 12 o'clock...
EXAMPLES of Original Rolex cases without the engraving of...
"REGISTERED DESIGN"...
6.7 mil case...Pic courtesy of Buddy Jatucka...Roberto.
6.7 mil case...Pics courtesy of Buddy Tomvox1...
6.2 mil case...
6.65 mil case...
THEREAFTER...
from 7.0 mil case series...onwards...
ALL Original Rolex watch cases has "ORIG ROLEX DESIGN" engraving...
between the case lugs at 12 o'clock...
EXAMPLES...(Original Rolex watches are SAFE Always...
when it has the SHORT Middle Stroke of "E" font engraving...)
This pic courtesy of NBTimes...
HOWEVER...
it is a widely known n accepted that...
AFTER around the same time...from 1980 or so...
Rolex issued roughly from 4.3xx,xxx or 4.4xx,xxx mil case series...
until 4,7xx,xxx mil...or perhaps beyond that to 4.9xx,xxx case series...
for RSC Service Replacement cases...
Those RSC Service Replacement cases...
were mostly engraved with the "ORIG ROLEX DESIGN" engraving...
n the corresponding Model Ref# n its case series...
which are easier to spot by Novices n Newbies...
Nevertheless...
the topic has been regularly discussed...
that it is also possible that...
WHEN Rolex ran out of the particular RSC Service Replacement cases...
or under odd circumstances...some time in the early or MID 1990s...
certain Rolex Service Centers elsewhere...
would opt to re-stamp...or re-engrave...
from Blanks...or unmarked WITHOUT watch case series...
Those other ones with the POSSIBLE re-stamped or re-engraved...
Service Replacement cases...
would have to be detected by close visual comparisons...
of the certain differences in engraving fonts...or markings.
Likely examples of re-engraved fonts...
Pointy Sharp TOP "A"...in "STAINLESS STEEL"...
n or...having the appearance of "ORIG ROLEX DESIGN"...
with PRIOR S/Nos. to 7 mil case series...
n Cases that are looking FRESH out of the oven...
or NOS...or LNOS...so to speak...
Humbly yours n,
Best regards
Orchi.
P/S: Orchi hopes this could be made a Sticky in the appropriate forum...
The relevant thread has been posted in VRF also...
http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...6quot%3B%2B%2B