G Serial or Random Serial...?

[natelaw]

Hi Guys. This is my first ever post on the forum!

After several years of controlling my urges, I've finally decided to jump back into the market and buy a new one.

I'm leaning towards the Green Ceramic Sub, and wanted to get a general consensus, which do you guys think is better G Serial or Random Serial...?

The G serial pros and cons are the same, namely that it's the last of the identifiable serial numbers and allow people to track the date of production/sale.

Random serial pros and cons...?

Thank in advance for your input!

[Reu]

I'm not sure that there is really any benefit from buying a random over a prefix serial. My personal preference however was a random serial when buying my watch.

Random serial only indicates that your watch was produced beyond 2010 and nothing more really, although I wanted a watch with the latest style serial, that's it.

[Rashid.bk]

G or Random serial are running concurrently for the time being. So it's the same thing. Get either, it'll cost you the same bnib.
The case number(serial number) doesn't guarantee the latest anything as Rolex stamps the cases and assembles as needed.

[Keith1]

I always hold out for a random serial number also. No particular reason other than it was a newer watch made over the G which was last stamped in 2010. Basically what Reu stated already.

Welcome to the forum!!

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Keith1

I always hold out for a random serial number also. No particular reason other than it was a newer watch made over the G.

No way of knowing that 100%. But it can be speculated.
Maybe with a Deepsea as randoms just showed up...but still, Gs are still shipping hot off the press to ADs still.

[balboa73]

Originally Posted by natelaw

Hi Guys. This is my first ever post on the forum!

After several years of controlling my urges, I've finally decided to jump back into the market and buy a new one.

I'm leaning towards the Green Ceramic Sub, and wanted to get a general consensus, which do you guys think is better G Serial or Random Serial...?

The G serial pros and cons are the same, namely that it's the last of the identifiable serial numbers and allow people to track the date of production/sale.

Random serial pros and cons...?

Thank in advance for your input!

there is no pros cons. its irrelevant..

[balboa73]

Originally Posted by Keith1

I always hold out for a random serial number also. No particular reason other than it was a newer watch made over the G which was last stamped in 2010. Basically what Reu stated already.

Welcome to the forum!!

2010?

in jan 2012 my AD gave me a choice of 2 brand new Deepseas that just came in and were in the safe at the back. I had a choice of the G or random which arrived at the same time. I took the G

[Keith1]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

No way of knowing that 100%. But it can be speculated.
Maybe with a Deepsea as randoms just showed up...but still, Gs are still shipping hot off the press to ADs still.

Yes, with my DeepSea, I did have to do a lot of searching to get a random serial number.

[balboa73]

Originally Posted by Keith1

Yes, with my DeepSea, I did have to do a lot of searching to get a random serial number.

to each their own but a random has no more value than a G

Im going to probably order a new daytona soon and i could care less if its a G or random. the random hype is an internet myth. think about serial #'s on your porsche or BMW....does it really matter??....really?

[Keith1]

Originally Posted by balboa73

2010?

in jan 2012 my AD gave me a choice of 2 brand new Deepseas that just came in and were in the safe at the back. I had a choice of the G or random which arrived at the same time. I took the G

Thought I have read that the last cases stamped "G" was in 2010? It's not when the movement was made, or watches were assembled, just cases stamped.

[superdog]

I can't wait till padi answers this one.

But mostly it's irrelevant. Same watch. No benefits either way.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by balboa73

to each their own but a random has no more value than a G

Im going to probably order a new daytona soon and i could care less if its a G or random. the random hype is an internet myth. think about serial #'s on your porsche or BMW....does it really matter??....really?

You are 1000% correct, yes a thousand percent, for now though.....but in a 5-10 years when letter serials run out and Rolex's strategy kicks in and if they stay with the randoms then it will matter to an extent.
Dated warranty cards and receipts will become very important in dating your watch in the future.
For now, G or random...same crapola.

[Reu]

Originally Posted by balboa73

2010?

in jan 2012 my AD gave me a choice of 2 brand new Deepseas that just came in and were in the safe at the back. I had a choice of the G or random which arrived at the same time. I took the G

There is no superiority of one over the other.

Given the choice of two like you, I would have chosen the random - purely because it's the latest style of serial numbers, and that's all.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by superdog

I can't wait till padi answers this one.

But mostly it's irrelevant. Same watch. No benefits either way.

[Keith1]

Originally Posted by balboa73

to each their own but a random has no more value than a G

Im going to probably order a new daytona soon and i could care less if its a G or random. the random hype is an internet myth. think about serial #'s on your porsche or BMW....does it really matter??....really?

The serial numbers on cars do tell the year. It is the 10th digit on the VIN.

[Roller07]

No difference whatsoever between a G or random serial# 116610 LVc.

[HL65]

Makes no difference whatsoever.

[natelaw]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

You are 1000% correct, yes a thousand percent, for now though.....but in a 5-10 years when letter serials run out and Rolex's strategy kicks in and if they stay with the randoms then it will matter to an extent.
Dated warranty cards and receipts will become very important in dating your watch in the future.
For now, G or random...same crapola.

First off, Thanks guys for all you input and replies.

Second, I think Rashid got where I was going with this. Namely, will it make a difference 10-15 years from now. Although I love all my watches and hope to never have to sell any, but in case I ever do, will one be worth more than the other...?

Another problem is that the G serial is is stock now, whereas I'd have to wait for the random serial to come... And as we all know even the shortest wait time for a new watch feels like decades.

[xjeeunitx]

It does not matter...

[Tools]

I don't see why some think that G's were all "stamped in 2010"

G's were not seen in the marketplace until late 2010, after the Randoms were already released..

It is inconceivable that Rolex went in and "stamped" a million cases with G serials and tossed them all in the warehouse waiting to be put together.

It is more likely that Rolex "allocates" serial numbers and uses that "allocation" over the next several years until that allocation (in this case G serials) is depleted.

So, they are likely "stamping" serials, either G or Random, randomly resulting in exactly what we see, G serials arriving in the midst of Random serials across the line and especially in slow movers which would take longer to use their "allocation" than fast movers.

But to answer the OP's question, it is personal preference but the watches are going to be identical and indistinguishable.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by natelaw

First off, Thanks guys for all you input and replies.

Second, I think Rashid got where I was going with this. Namely, will it make a difference 10-15 years from now. Although I love all my watches and hope to never have to sell any, but in case I ever do, will one be worth more than the other...?

Another problem is that the G serial is is stock now, whereas I'd have to wait for the random serial to come... And as we all know even the shortest wait time for a new watch feels like decades.

No, randoms will almost for sure not automatically be worth more than a G serial. What Rashid is saying is that letter prefix serial numbers can be dated within a few years because we know when they were first seen and we can figure pretty closely when they stopped showing up. So with some old serials, take "D" for instance, we know approximately how old the watch is within say 2-3 years.

But when Rolex goes strictly to the random serials that ability to date a watch that has a random serial number by the number will be impossible. So the only thing that will prove how old the watch is will be the warranty card or the original bill of sale.

Ten years from now if I'm considering one of two watches where age is the only factor and one's a G and one random, I'm not paying anymore for the random unless I have documentation how old it is, and it's newer than the G. The random could be from 2010 and the G could be 4 years newer.

The only thing you can be confident about is that a random is newer than any other serial besides the G. But you can say the same thing for the G serial - it too is newer than any other.

Now, with the "G" 116610LV you're looking at, you can be pretty confident it's not from 2010 since they don't sit around unsold for long. Even if it did happen to be that old it won't make any difference to you now or down the road. It is BNIB as far as Rolex and it's warranty are concerned. And in any case, 10 years from now people will know that G's were produced from 2010 to 201x so the only thing that will really tell anyone how old the watch is will be the bill of sale or the warranty card and that will say 2014.

[nauticajoe]

I wouldn't say that one is 'better' than the other. At the end of the day, they are both new pieces, right.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by natelaw

Hi Guys. This is my first ever post on the forum!

After several years of controlling my urges, I've finally decided to jump back into the market and buy a new one.

I'm leaning towards the Green Ceramic Sub, and wanted to get a general consensus, which do you guys think is better G Serial or Random Serial...?

The G serial pros and cons are the same, namely that it's the last of the identifiable serial numbers and allow people to track the date of production/sale.

Random serial pros and cons...?

Thank in advance for your input!

When will this serial stuff ever end, first it was the holograms now its serial fixation.The new 114060M and Skydweller both released Basel 2013 were reported on forum were single letter G serials.And some on forum stated they must be old stock as random was the new serials had to smile at that one.There is one thing for sure very shortly there will be far more random serials around than any single letter serial since the letters started way back in 1987.

[Andad]

The date is on the card and you have the receipt?
Why not just file that away if you want the provenance.

My new 114060 is a 60ZZ**** Padi/Kenneth.

Wow!! a double Z.

Is this a collectors item?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by directioneng

The date is on the card and you have the receipt?
Why not just file that away if you want the provenance.

My new 114060 is a 60ZZ**** Padi/Kenneth.

Wow!! a double Z.

Is this a collectors item?

Yes any random serial that's starts with a 6 as long as its a open 6 is now worth telephone number money.And you are one over the limit in posting pictures in your post forum rules are max 20 and that includes smilies.

[Andad]

Sorry Peter.

[kimnkk]

If you look at the engraving at 6 o'clock on the rehaut - the random serials do not line up with the minute markings.

G and previous serials have 1 more digit so they all align to the minute markers like the 'R O L E X' that goes all the way around the rehaut.

Just for those people with OCD out there.

[Singslinger]

Makes not the slightest difference.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by kimnkk

If you look at the engraving at 6 o'clock on the rehaut - the random serials do not line up with the minute markings.

G and previous serials have 1 more digit so they all align to the minute markers like the 'R O L E X' that goes all the way around the rehaut.

Just for those people with OCD out there.

Have Rolex now stopped making one of the finest mechanical watches on this planet today.Or do they now make alignment point watches,now that's if any number or letter is supposed to align with anything.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by padi56

Have Rolex now stopped making one of the finest mechanical watches on this planet today.Or do they now make alignment point watches,now that's if any number or letter is supposed to align with anything.