Purchased as new, but old production serial number

[Beta Frat Boy]

I just purchased a new 116000 from AH Riise in St Thomas.
Great service
Reliable AD
Authenticity is guaranteed

However, now that I am home, I have learned that the serial number starts with a "V", indicating that the production year was from 2008.

1) Should I be concerned?
2) Why would a 2008 36mm OP be sitting around in such a popular store for 9 years?
3) are there any differences between a 2008 model and a 2017 model?

Your input is would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[Beta Frat Boy]

Bump please.....

[sco]

How many digits / letters is the serial number? If it has 8, then I'm guessing that it is a random serial and not a "V"

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by sco

How many digits / letters is the serial number? If it has 8, then I'm guessing that it is a random serial and not a "V"

Probably is.

[Blue_Lume]

A simple phone call to Rolex HQ in NYC.

[brandxbrand]

Random serial by the sounds of it. Bought a 116000 (new 2014 release model) last week from Dennis @ AH Riise and tried on almost every single watch in the store. All had latest serial hang tags which is something rolex only changed in the past few years.

Their rotation of stock is extremely fast. Nothing sits for more than a few months. They said they sell on average about 5 watches a day. You've got nothing to worry about, plus, purchase is obviously backed with 5 year factory warranty too.

[Beta Frat Boy]

Thanks for the replies.
There are a total of seven characters in the serial number.
starting with the letter "V' and 6 additional numeric characters.
Does this seem odd ??
Thanks

[vladamir15]

They wouldn't let a watch sit that long

[mui.richard]

Originally Posted by Beta Frat Boy

Thanks for the replies.
There are a total of seven characters in the serial number.
starting with the letter "V' and 6 additional numeric characters.
Does this seem odd ??
Thanks

If it's V with 6 numbers then it is indeed a 2008/9 V-serial. Random serials have 8 characters total.

Sent from my F8132 using Tapatalk

[HogwldFLTR]

The five year warranty applies so, no, if it's from an AD as new I'd have no concern.

[Hodog16]

Sometimes cases are made and sit around before being produced. I have a V serial Submariner bought new from a trusted seller a few months ago that has a green tag and updated warranty card with a purchase date of 2016.

Watch is otherwise identical, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Beta Frat Boy]

Are the green hang tags newer?
The 116000 did come with a green tag while my 2007 GMTII came with the brown/burgundy tag

[peterskinner]

As has been said, the number is the case number, and is not proof of when the watch was actually assembled.
However, I would ring the AD out of curiosity. It does seem unusual, under the circumstances.

[R G]

The serial only relates to when the parts are manufactured. Whilst it's an older serial number indicating that yes the parts were actually made some time ago, the watch could have been assembled much later and then shipped to an AD.

Somehow I don't think that watch has sat at an AD for the best part of ten years - just isn't happening.

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

The five year warranty applies so, no, if it's from an AD as new I'd have no concern.

X2

It came with a five year warranty, right?

[crazycarlitos]

My only concern would be if I am re-selling it down the road... might get lower $$ due to the 2008 year associated with the production...even tho warranty would show 2017 purchase date.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Beta Frat Boy

Are the green hang tags newer?

The 116000 did come with a green tag while my 2007 GMTII came with the brown/burgundy tag

Yes the green ones are newer. All ADs were instructed to put them on all unsold new pieces when the 5yr. Warranty began. For Rolex watches purchased after July 1, 2015, the warranty period increased from 2 years to 5 years. So despite a V s/n being built in 2008, it gets the full warranty as if it were made in 2017.

[ivanos]

Originally Posted by crazycarlitos

My only concern would be if I am re-selling it down the road... might get lower $$ due to the 2008 year associated with the production...even tho warranty would show 2017 purchase date.

As mentioned by some above, this shall not be the case for some rational buyer as the numbers do not necessarily indicate the year of the watch assembled. Not to mention the Rolex quality with updated 5-year guarantee.

[crazycarlitos]

Originally Posted by ivanos

As mentioned by some above, this shall not be the case for some rational buyer as the numbers do not necessarily indicate the year of the watch assembled.

lol I understand that but good luck later trying to convince the used-watch buyer that ur v-serial was actually manufactured in 2017 (or whatever year besides 2008).

And yeah, I think this is new but old stock. Should have gotten deep discount imo

[GFONG]

When in doubt, get a replacement.

[LuminousMaximus]

post a pic of that beauty, so I can grasp the subject matter...

[ivanos]

Originally Posted by crazycarlitos

lol I understand that but good luck later trying to convince the used-watch buyer that ur v-serial was actually manufactured in 2017 (or whatever year besides 2008).

And yeah, I think this is new but old stock. Should have gotten deep discount imo

No concern for me if my good is really worth it. I don't have to convince those I don't want to sell my good to.