What is "Random Serial Number"?

[HKtoter]

I see this more often now. Is Rolex doing away with the date code serial numbers?

[Speed]

Basically

[Andad]

Hi Steve,

Rolex were using serial numbers to identify their watches. Then they went to a serial number prefixed by a letter.

Now the are using random combinations of letters and numbers. Down the track this will make it difficult for owners/buyers to know when a Rolex was made/sold. Until we crack the code?

Some say that knowing when a Rolex was made is of no concern.
Some think it is important.

ps. 'Random serial number' is an oxymoron? If it is random it can't be in serial order.

[mcjp6]

Originally Posted by directioneng

ps. 'Random serial number' is an oxymoron? If it is random it can't be in serial order.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi Steve,

Rolex were using serial numbers to identify their watches. Then they went to a serial number prefixed by a letter.

Now the are using random combinations of letters and numbers. Down the track this will make it difficult for owners/buyers to know when a Rolex was made/sold. Until we crack the code?

Some say that knowing when a Rolex was made is of no concern.
Some think it is important.

ps. 'Random serial number' is an oxymoron? If it is random it can't be in serial order.

Even with the Internet code all you could ever tell was a case was stamped approximately between X&Y years same for the clasp codes.Now just because the latest case stamp is perceived newer this is not always the case,when a fully assembled watch is shipped to ADs world wide for retail sale.The movement the main bit could be older or newer made especially with the cal 3135.Now Rolex tests around 700000 movements at the Swiss COSC out of those say 500000 are 3135.Rolex must have a huge stock and god and Rolex only knows how long they have been sitting on shelves waiting to be cased.So what this boils down too you might have a perceived newer case and bracelet clasp.

[zak98]

will be interesting to see how the "resale" market addresses it.. right now it seems if you owned, for ex: 2 subs.. one was an F serial number, one was a V serial number. same condition, same accesories.. etc. the V serial would draw a higher asking price in the resale market.

[Tuffstang]

I have to ask. I bought a random# GMTII-C recently. The warranty card has the date of purchase 9/10. Wouldn't the card's date and the fact that random #'s are new show the approximate date of manufacturing?

So having the card will assist in resale on these random# models later. The older style serial# gave an approximate date, as will the new random# w/card.
Is this a correct way of looking at this?

[GradyPhilpott]

The watchmaker at my AD has a blog in which he discusses what he calls the new "Random Unique Identifiers."

He believes and it is a truth that these numbers are not truly random. Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorit...andom_sequence .

Whatever algorithm is being used by Rolex, it is likely with enough information, it can be cracked.

If you'd like to assist in that effort, you might like to read this page and participate by listing your "unique random identifier" and the year the watch was acquired.

It sounds like it's worth a shot.

http://watchmakingblog.com/rolex-serial-registry/

[Roxas]

Originally Posted by padi56

Even with the Internet code all you could ever tell was a case was stamped approximately between X&Y years same for the clasp codes.Now just because the latest case stamp is perceived newer this is not always the case,when a fully assembled watch is shipped to ADs world wide for retail sale.The movement the main bit could be older or newer made especially with the cal 3135.Now Rolex tests around 700000 movements at the Swiss COSC out of those say 500000 are 3135.Rolex must have a huge stock and god and Rolex only knows how long they have been sitting on shelves waiting to be cased.So what this boils down too you might have a perceived newer case and bracelet clasp.

Anyway, I think that can tell approximately. It would be strange if the cases made one year later shipped before the cases made one year earlier.

[Bedrock]

Have they started ramdom serial numbers on the DJ's yet?

[LWatson]

Originally Posted by zak98

will be interesting to see how the "resale" market addresses it.. right now it seems if you owned, for ex: 2 subs.. one was an F serial number, one was a V serial number. same condition, same accesories.. etc. the V serial would draw a higher asking price in the resale market.

maybe they are trying to level the market. just because they are produced later but with all the same parts why would one demand a higher price if the condition is the same? Time doesn't devalue art, condition does.

just saying