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Old 17 June 2009, 08:23 AM   #1
jlovda
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Do Rolex movements have serial numbers?

Do rolex movements have unique serial numbers stamped on a major frame piece? If collectors are worried about out of sequence parts such as a red Sub face being a service part, do they care if the entire movement has been swapped?
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Old 17 June 2009, 08:27 AM   #2
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Me too! I would like to know.
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Old 17 June 2009, 08:28 AM   #3
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I believe the answer is no, the serial number is on the case only.
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Old 17 June 2009, 03:28 PM   #4
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Yes, they do..... you can see one here at the bottom..

Because it is on the base plate, and that can be changed out, it is not used for identification.... However, you can be pretty sure that it is on the original build paper at the factory..

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Old 17 June 2009, 03:40 PM   #5
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I would like to think that if a watch is sent back to RSC which has a legit case but a stolen movement will be confiscated via this method as well.
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Old 17 June 2009, 04:17 PM   #6
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Looks like Tools answered it, yep they do.
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Old 17 June 2009, 05:04 PM   #7
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Yes, they do..... you can see one here at the bottom..

Because it is on the base plate, and that can be changed out, it is not used for identification.... However, you can be pretty sure that it is on the original build paper at the factory..

Good information and picture, Larry.....thanks as always!!
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Old 17 June 2009, 06:00 PM   #8
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Most Swiss movements made will have a movement identification number including Rolex.
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Old 17 June 2009, 06:09 PM   #9
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Is the number on the movement the same as the serial # on the case ?
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Old 17 June 2009, 06:29 PM   #10
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Quote:
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Is the number on the movement the same as the serial # on the case ?
No, however they are "joined" at the factory.
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Old 17 June 2009, 06:55 PM   #11
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Quote:
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Is the number on the movement the same as the serial # on the case ?
No as Mike said now when the bare uncased movements are tested at the Swiss COSC the unique movement number is Logged if passed by the COSC.Then when returned to Rolex said movement is put into Rolex data base then eventually cased in a random case with unique serial. Then both movement and case are recorded as one into Rolex data base.And think about it if movement did not have a identification number how would Rolex and the COSC know or anyone know its passed a COSC test.If they did not have a unique number wouldn't be much use of the COSC test unless the COSC stamped every pass one.And with the case of Rolex thats around 900000 a year.
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Old 17 June 2009, 07:05 PM   #12
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Quote:
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No, however they are "joined" at the factory.
Quote:
Originally Posted by padi56 View Post
No as Mike said now when the bare uncased movements are tested at the Swiss COSC the unique movement number is Logged if passed by the COSC.Then when returned to Rolex said movement is put into Rolex data base then eventually cased in a random case with unique serial. Then both movement and case are recorded as one into Rolex data base.And think about it if movement did not have a identification number how would Rolex and the COSC know or anyone know its passed a COSC test.If they did not have a unique number wouldn't be much use of the COSC test unless the COSC stamped every pass one.And with the case of Rolex thats around 900000 a year.
Thanks again for the great info. Sounds a bit like the data card of the cars that I work on .
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Old 17 June 2009, 07:23 PM   #13
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It's amazing what one can learn here on the forum. Thanks.
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Old 17 June 2009, 08:04 PM   #14
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Long Post...Rolex Marks Its Movements: Way Back Machine

Larry, once again you are right. I may have posted on this once before, but I found out the hard way. First, let me say, that my seller is an honest, retired professor of medicine, who has a stand up at Black Angus, Adamstown, Pa. I bought this watch from him at an NAWCC meet in York about one year ago this Spring. After I bought this watch(circa 1930's according to Rolex RSC, NY), I asked him about the lack of markings on the movement(triple signed: movement, case, dial). Cost was $1,000.00, and fair market value, retail, estimated at about $2,000-$2400. Rolex RSC, NY, advised me in person that Rolex marked its movements from the early days of the company. This they believe is a high-grade imitation, a beautiful one, but not Rolex. After this happened I talked to a friend who is Rolex trained and he advised that he thinks Rolex RSC, NY is full of baloney. He told me, 'no one can tell if it's real or not' and don't buy rolex pocket watches, because no one wants them.' Of course the seller immediately refunded me the money in full, and told me, 'but the guy who sold me this told me it was authentic'.
And so it goes......as our old friend, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. would say......
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Old 17 June 2009, 10:36 PM   #15
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great info!!!
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Old 17 June 2009, 10:43 PM   #16
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Mods, Thanx for the info as always. I love this Forum for the education I'm receiving!!!
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Old 18 June 2009, 02:37 AM   #17
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Wow this info is really great. Check out a story on my recent experience with Rolex RSC NY. Quite a trip! (http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=83933).
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Old 13 August 2010, 09:03 PM   #18
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Dear all, I'm raising this topic to ask if it would be possible to compile a chronological table of base plate numbers, to date movements.
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Old 17 March 2021, 07:06 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tools View Post
Yes, they do..... you can see one here at the bottom..

Because it is on the base plate, and that can be changed out, it is not used for identification.... However, you can be pretty sure that it is on the original build paper at the factory..

Very helpful.
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Old 17 March 2021, 07:19 AM   #20
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One of the most informative and interesting threads I've seen in this section in the past two years <typed before I date checked the OP>.

Those must have been the days!
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Old 17 March 2021, 08:02 AM   #21
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One of the most informative and interesting threads I've seen in this section in the past two years <typed before I date checked the OP>.

Those must have been the days!
A completely different era on the forums and sadly missed by many old schoolers
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Old 27 May 2023, 05:32 PM   #22
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Very helpful.
thank you.
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Old 27 May 2023, 09:11 PM   #23
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The case serial number and the movement serial number were both documented when I had 4 watches authenticated/appraised by my local Rolex AD a couple of years back.
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Old 27 May 2023, 09:14 PM   #24
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Great information as usual and relevant today as it was when it was posted.
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Old 27 May 2023, 09:27 PM   #25
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What about Rolex dials? do they have identification marks or serial numbers? Can a dial be checked to distinguish fake from real.
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Old 27 May 2023, 09:38 PM   #26
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What about Rolex dials? do they have identification marks or serial numbers? Can a dial be checked to distinguish fake from real.
I was told a little while ago that they how now started doing this, or wgere going to start doing it. To see if the dials had been swapped.
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Old 27 May 2023, 10:09 PM   #27
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I was told a little while ago that they how now started doing this, or wgere going to start doing it. To see if the dials had been swapped.
Not all dials, but definitely a lot now have their own unique serial, that is linked to case and movement serials.
Rolex uses a database and when an official dial change is done it needs to be updated in the database to keep track of configurations.
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Old 27 May 2023, 11:04 PM   #28
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Not all dials, but definitely a lot now have their own unique serial, that is linked to case and movement serials.
Rolex uses a database and when an official dial change is done it needs to be updated in the database to keep track of configurations.
Thankyou
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