'REGISTERED DESIGN' vs 'ORIG ROLEX DESIGN'

[ref1655]

have you ever noticed (after removing the bracelet) that some Rolexes are engraved with 'REGISTERED DESIGN', others say 'ORIG ROLEX DESIGN' while a number of Rolexes have neither wording engraved on the watchcase between the lugs?

just learned this the other day...sometime around 1980, the patent expired on the original Oyster case design. as a result, Rolex had to change the wording. watches manufactured prior to 1980 will have the 'registered design' notation while those produced after 1982 will have the 'original design' designation. during the period between 1980 & 1982, there was no designation one way or the other.

this probably explains why legitimate watch manufacturers have been able to emulate the classic oyster design from one extent or another. while the notation change is a trivial detail, it provides yet another viable reference point for approximating the age of a Rolex & verifying its authenticity to a certain extent.

[Yousefsl]

Nice post good information thanks, I need to get my hands on a real vintage now.

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[16610v]

Nice! My 5513 is the last patch (and very few) of mattie dial while with the new Orig Rolex Design before it changed to the gloss one :)

[Murguia]

Answered both of my questions! Thank you!