Year of production, please

[oceandweller]

Kindly advise, the year of production for this ladies ROLEX LADY DATEJUST, model reference 6517 and serial number 188044.

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by oceandweller

Kindly advise, the year of production for this ladies ROLEX LADY DATEJUST, model reference 6517 and serial number 188044.

As described your serial number would be early 1940s.

On the assumption you've omitted a final digit then it's more like mid-late 1960s.

[padi56]

Well the 6517 started around 1955 so cannot be from the 1940s must be 1950s- 1960s.

[Rsvrider]

Two experts reporting above! Given Padi logic/knowledge you must be missing a digit. Here's part of a chart:
150000 .............................1942
230000 .............................1943
270000 .............................1944
302000 .............................1945
400000 .............................1946
529000 .............................1947
570000 .............................1948
600000 .............................1949
650000 .............................1950
700000 .............................1951
800000 .............................1952
900000 ...........................1953
10000 to 300000 .........1953 to 1957
(At this time Rolex started the numbering system back at 10000. This time period also saw the start of the "Roman Numeral" dating system explained above.)
350000 .............................1958
400000 ...........................1959
550000 .............................1960
700000 ...........................1961
800000 .............................1962
900000 ...........................1963
1000000 .............................1964
1200000 ...........................1965
1400000 .............................1966
1600000 ...........................1967
1850000 .............................1968
2300000 ...........................1969
2500000 .............................1970
Please remember; no one really knows exactly when the watch was assembled, or sold for that matter based on SN.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

As described your serial number would be early 1940s.

On the assumption you've omitted a final digit then it's more like mid-late 1960s.

I did not miss any digit.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by Rsvrider

Two experts reporting above! Given Padi logic/knowledge you must be missing a digit. Here's part of a chart:
150000 .............................1942
230000 .............................1943
270000 .............................1944
302000 .............................1945
400000 .............................1946
529000 .............................1947
570000 .............................1948
600000 .............................1949
650000 .............................1950
700000 .............................1951
800000 .............................1952
900000 ...........................1953
10000 to 300000 .........1953 to 1957
(At this time Rolex started the numbering system back at 10000. This time period also saw the start of the "Roman Numeral" dating system explained above.)
350000 .............................1958
400000 ...........................1959
550000 .............................1960
700000 ...........................1961
800000 .............................1962
900000 ...........................1963
1000000 .............................1964
1200000 ...........................1965
1400000 .............................1966
1600000 ...........................1967
1850000 .............................1968
2300000 ...........................1969
2500000 .............................1970
Please remember; no one really knows exactly when the watch was assembled, or sold for that matter based on SN.

Kindly let me know, where does s/n 188044 sit in the above table.

[Andad]

Umm...between 150000 and 230000 on that chart?

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by oceandweller

Kindly let me know, where does s/n 188044 sit in the above table.

If that is the case, s/n 188044 was produced between 1942 and 1943 but as we all know, the first Datejust watch from Rolex, first came out in 1945. Indeed, this is strange.

On the dial of this ladies watch it says: LADY DATEJUST followed by OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER and below 6 o'clock, SWISS

[Mark020]

1957

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by Mark020

1957

Mark020, it does not sound right, I am afraid.

On the dial it says, 'OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER' and not 'SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED'.

Generally, all Rolex watches, after 1956 or we can say, from 1957 onwards have the word 'SUPERLATIVE'.

The first Rolex Day-Date model reference 6511, introduced in 1956 has on its dial 'OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER', while the first Rolex to use the word 'SUPERLATIVE' is the Rolex Day-Date, model reference 6611, introduced in 1957, to replace the faulty 6511.

So I think padi56 is correct, when he said the 6517 started around 1955. Based on this, the Lady Datejust in question must have been produced between 1955 and 1956 but the serial number of 188044 (which is crisp and very clear) defies this logic reasoning. Surely, it can never be a service case from Rolex.

[Mark020]

I base myself on the number database of a German website (r-l-x) which is imho the handiest (just 1 pic on my BB :-)). I'm inclined to say that it will no be much clearer until we see the inside of the case back. I follow you about the chrono text on the dial but we don't know whether the dial is original.

[Fredrik]

Originally Posted by oceandweller

Kindly let me know, where does s/n 188044 sit in the above table.

10000 to 300000 .........1953 to 1957

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by Mark020

I base myself on the number database of a German website (r-l-x) which is imho the handiest (just 1 pic on my BB :-)). I'm inclined to say that it will no be much clearer until we see the inside of the case back. I follow you about the chrono text on the dial but we don't know whether the dial is original.

Mark020, I agree with what you said and tomorrow or day after, I shall take the picture of the dial and post it here. As far as I can see it is original albeit aged. As for the inside of the back-cover, I will have to bring it to watchmaker to open it. I appreciate your help, meanwhile.

[springer]

Maybe the dial was changed at one time.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by oceandweller

If that is the case, s/n 188044 was produced between 1942 and 1943 but as we all know, the first Datejust watch from Rolex, first came out in 1945. Indeed, this is strange.

On the dial of this ladies watch it says: LADY DATEJUST followed by OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER and below 6 o'clock, SWISS

In 1953 Rolex began the number system over again starting with 1XXXXX; so 18xxxx falls around 1957..

There is probably a stamp inside the caseback with the date.. something like II57 for the second quarter in 1957..

Now, since it's a Ladies and gold, I might think that it would be dated a couple of years later.. Most people misuse the charts as absolutes, when they are actually wild guesses based on a handful of known Sub purchases..

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by Mark020

I base myself on the number database of a German website (r-l-x) which is imho the handiest (just 1 pic on my BB :-)). I'm inclined to say that it will no be much clearer until we see the inside of the case back. I follow you about the chrono text on the dial but we don't know whether the dial is original.

Mark020, the owner of the watch will in a few days' time bring the watch to her watchmaker, to open the back-cover. Once done, we can have the photograph of its inside.

Meanwhile, there is nothing to suggest its dial is not original to the watch. Please see picture.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by Tools

In 1953 Rolex began the number system over again starting with 1XXXXX; so 18xxxx falls around 1957..

There is probably a stamp inside the caseback with the date.. something like II57 for the second quarter in 1957..

Now, since it's a Ladies and gold, I might think that it would be dated a couple of years later.. Most people misuse the charts as absolutes, when they are actually wild guesses based on a handful of known Sub purchases..

Tools, chances are you are right and the dial must have been an old one, produced before 1957, since it does not have the word 'Superlative'.

I can seem to be able to upload the picture of the watch and this is very strange. I shall try again and see, whether it works or not. When we can get the picture of the inside of the back-cover, I shall post.

Meanwhile, I am unable to upload the picture of the dial of the watch. I shall try again and hopefully, it works.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by oceandweller

Tools, chances are you are right and the dial must have been an old one, produced before 1957, since it does not have the word 'Superlative'.

I can seem to be able to upload the picture of the watch and this is very strange. I shall try again and see, whether it works or not. When we can get the picture of the inside of the back-cover, I shall post.

Meanwhile, I am unable to upload the picture of the dial of the watch. I shall try again and hopefully, it works.

I think, now I have managed to upload the picture of the Rolex Lady-Datejust. Sorry, I am not computer-savvy.

[Rolexis]

Originally Posted by oceandweller

I think, now I have managed to upload the picture of the Rolex Lady-Datejust. Sorry, I am not computer-savvy.

It looks great

[Mark020]

Wow. Very nice. Has the date wheel red and black numbers?

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by Rolexis

It looks great

Rolexis, thanks and I think so, too. Surprisingly, this lady loves this watch, so much.

She said some of her friends asked her, as to why she bought such a watch with a 'damaged' dial. Her reply was simple, she could not afford another with a better dial. It stopped there.

[oceandweller]

Originally Posted by Mark020

Wow. Very nice. Has the date wheel red and black numbers?

Mark020, I think so too and thank-you. According to her, the date-wheel has only red numbers.