Serial # and manufacture date

[nodatesub]

I just purchased a no date sub ref # 14060 caliber 3000 with a
serial # beginning in U. Does the "U" serial # correspond to a manufacture date?

[Eiso]

As far as i remember, it should ref to 1997.

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[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Eiso

As far as i remember, it should ref to 1997.

Sent from my VKY-L29 using Tapatalk

Or maybe even 1998.
certainly no earlier than 1997 though as they were probably more commonly "T" serial no.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by nodatesub

I just purchased a no date sub ref # 14060 caliber 3000 with a
serial # beginning in U. Does the "U" serial # correspond to a manufacture date?

See this thread:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=54362

It covers a range of years from approximately '96 to '99.

[ancientmariner]

Most likely probability for U serial 14060.........
Tritium dial 1997
Swiss only dial 1998

[fskywalker]

Picture?

[Gerry62]

[stevedssd]

Nice SWISS Luminova dial, as already said it could be anywhere from 96 to 99 but a late U7+++++ serial with a SWISS only would be at the later end of that range............I have a U78 GMTII sold in 99

[Gerry62]

Originally Posted by stevedssd

Nice SWISS Luminova dial, as already said it could be anywhere from 96 to 99 but a late U7+++++ serial with a SWISS only would be at the later end of that range............I have a U78 GMTII sold in 99

The dial only Swiss is interesting ....... thanx Steve

[nodatesub]

Originally Posted by stevedssd

Nice SWISS Luminova dial, as already said it could be anywhere from 96 to 99 but a late U7+++++ serial with a SWISS only would be at the later end of that range............I have a U78 GMTII sold in 99

Interesting. My no date sub is a U47++++. Not sure where that fits in the 96-99 range

[nodatesub]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Picture?

some pictures

[padi56]

Originally Posted by nodatesub

I just purchased a no date sub ref # 14060 caliber 3000 with a
serial # beginning in U. Does the "U" serial # correspond to a manufacture date?

First you could not date exactly when any Rolex watch was made only a approx date between X&Y when the case/clasp was stamped by any internet chart.Now U serials started from around August 1997 and ran into October 1998 or longer so no serial can give a 100% exact time when the watch was made.And the 14060 with the cal 3000 ran into early 2000, the movement was modified into the cal 3130 hence after 2000 called the 14060M M stands for modified movement.Swiss only dials from 1998 into 2000 the change from Tritium lume to Luminover made by Nemoto a Japanese luminous paint maker now they moved a part of its factory to Switzerland in 1998 in Joint-ventured with RC-Tritec AG.This was to establish Luminova AG Switzerland for supplying Luminova to all the Swiss watch industry including Rolex and most all of the major brands. .

[stevedssd]

Originally Posted by nodatesub

some pictures

Padi's post nicely sums up this transition period from Tritium to Luminova.........and I didn't know about "Nemoto a Japanese luminous paint maker now they moved a part of its factory to Switzerland in 1998 in Joint-ventured with RC-Tritec AG.This was to establish Luminova AG Switzerland for supplying Luminova to all the Swiss watch industry including Rolex and most all of the major brands." . its always great to learn

As for that dial with T-25 markings..........those are the markings for a Tritium dial................BUT in the transition from Tritium to Luminova there were some T-25 dials left over after Tritium was used, that had luminova applied...... so in principle a T 25 dial would be towards the first part of the transition period from 97 to 99 but as said above it is no exact science and it could be from a bit later especially if the dial has luminova.......

[ras47]

Bob’s Watches online has a serial#/date list. Not sure of it’s accuracy.

https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-serial-numbers

My GMT Master II BLRO (16710) is a P-serial number dating from 2000.

[nodatesub]

What does T-25 refer to? T for tritium? What about the 25?

Does tritium and luminova have the same or similar appearance? Or do they have a noticeably different look?

[nodatesub]

Thanks Padi56. I wondered what the M referred to at the end of reference 14060

[envuks]

https://www.minus4plus6.com/numbers.php

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by nodatesub

What does T-25 refer to? T for tritium? What about the 25?

Does tritium and luminova have the same or similar appearance? Or do they have a noticeably different look?

They do look different.
But it's only visible when looking at them under magnification. Even a jewellers loupe will reveal the difference to the experienced eye.

The 25 refers to the nominal amount of radiation given off by the compound.
If I recall correctly it measured in Millicuries.
So it gives off, or emits <25 Millicuries when new hence the T-<25 printed at the bottom of the dial, but it has a half life of 12.5 years.

For all intents and purposes they both appear whitish at first glance.
Generally speaking, Luminova stays white as it ages but Tritium lume tends to darken over time to the point where it turns a light Tan colour or even darker at the extreme end of the spectrum.
Hence the current trend with these new(re-issue) watches that are coming out these days which have fake patina with luminova lume that's tinted to replicate the aged look of Tritium.