Is Each Rolex Subtly Different?

[Onikage]

If someone swapped yours during the night could you tell? Without using 'personal scratch recognition'?

[Grumpy Badger]

I honestly don't know...

I think the wear and screeches are the only way I could tell, but I've never had a close enough experience of another 14060m to say for sure.

[watchf]

I doubt I will be able to tell the difference if they replaced it with the same model but hopefully they swap it for one that is authetic and BNIB

BTW did you replace 'wife' with 'Rolex' at the last minute before hitting the post button

[Onikage]

If say I see another identical model I can tell it's not mine... Somehow, it's like a very very subtle difference in contours or dimensions or something...can't put my finger on it.

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by watchf

I doubt I will be able to tell the difference if they replaced it with the same model but hopefully they swap it for one that is authetic and BNIB

BTW did you replace 'wife' with 'Rolex' at the last minute before hitting the post button

[clarencek]

Originally Posted by Onikage

If someone swapped yours during the night could you tell? Without using 'personal scratch recognition'?

Oddly yes. I've owned multiples of the same model and each was unique. From the bracelet clasp feel to the winding crown each watch was different.
I think it's mostly due to the wear and tear differing by model. I've had 14060 where the crown was slightly gritty, my second 16610LV bracelet clasp was very tight, etc.

[applebook]

Since these watches are mostly machined, there should be barely 1% difference among them in proportions when they leave the factory. After that, anything goes because people use them differently and wear them all across the globe.

[rolexertion]

Let's put it this way: I sold a car in a major city. Five or more years later it showed up on the street near where I live. I knew it instantly. There was just something about it, call in an aura, that made me sure it was my old car. I talked to the owner and he confirmed it.

[Tools]

It might have been the pink seatcovers.........

[Route 66]

Unless the switched watch had a lot of scratches on it, I don't think I could tell the difference.

[Numismatist]

I would be really mad at whoever did it!

[mike]

I think if the seconds hand moved in one second jumps I'd have a good idea.

[GolfPunk]

Easy - I'd look at the serial number in the rehaut

[indeuce]

when i purchased my 14060m at my local ad, i had the opportunity to see two and pick the one i wanted. i noticed the little triangle just below the pearl was sized slightly different due to the placement of the pearl. that was about it.

[rickinAZ]

Originally Posted by applebook

Since these watches are mostly machined, there should be barely 1% difference among them in proportions when they leave the factory. After that, anything goes because people use them differently and wear them all across the globe.

1% difference would be HUGE. Try 1% of 1%. We are talking really tight manufacturing tolerances. And...no, no one on this group could ID their watch without scratch assistance.

[Onikage]

I can't believe I'm alone on this one. Just looking at the chamfering on mine I can tell that they are 'hand chased', so to speak. They aren't exactly 100% equal on all four sides. With all this modern CAD stuff now I'm sure they could make them all completely identical down to the amount of material removed when finishing.

[Onikage]

May I speculate that you don't look as closely and for as long as me? :p

[dsio]

Every 5512,5513,1680 and 1675 is different. No two have the same patina, bezel fade, dial, or tritium.

I could pick mine out of a pile at a distance.

[ArcticMoose]

Yep, the spec of dust on the dial and uneven lume is unique to each one. :-)

[Dweller of the Sea]

They all look the same.
I have even seen good fakes that look the same.
Would probably not be a very good production line, if the all looked different.

[Onikage]

I put it down to owning more than one, and not noticing anymore. :p

[Chipmunk]

Probably not.

[Boopie]

I have worn my YM for 10+ years, so it has its share of scratches, particularly on the PCL, so I would know.

If it were brand new, not so much. I don't think there is anything unique about the case, face, hands, or bezel that I can detect.

[applebook]

Originally Posted by ArcticMoose

Yep, the spec of dust on the dial and uneven lume is unique to each one. :-)

LOL.

Methinks some people here are being quite romantic about their watches. We should have a get-together and do a "blind" test to determine if one could indeed pick one out from the other.