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Old 13 February 2019, 07:07 AM   #1
Alleybuzz
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GMT Master from 1984?

Hello everyone


I'm a watch enthusiast from Switzerland, 34 years old and hope to get some help here.

I'm about to finally complete my collection with my personal holy grail, a Rolex GMT Master from my birthyear - 1984. Finally i got the opportunity to buy one in my area for a reasonable price but after the seller told me the serial (823XXXX), im kinda confused since im getting contadictory results regarding its production year. Most charts say it's from 1983 and that the production of the 1984 models started with serial 8338000. However, other charts state that the production of the 1984 models started somewhere around serial 8100000.

I would really appreciate any help/further information.


Thank you in advance and greetings from snowy Switzerland!
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Old 13 February 2019, 08:58 AM   #2
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Welcome.

There is no chart that can tell you what serial number started any year, that information has never been released, if it is known at all, they are all approximations.

Charts were usually made from a known purchase of the earliest observed number during a year amongst enthusiasts, and then filling in the blanks. If you see a chart with a specific stated number, think of it as a mid-point estimate, not a start-of-year absolute.

Our chart would show that your serial would likely be early 1984, or late 1983; barring any actual paperwork showing otherwise, pick one.
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Old 13 February 2019, 11:13 AM   #3
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Congrats. My 16750 is my birth watch and personal grail too.

Mine is 823xxxx




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Old 13 February 2019, 12:55 PM   #4
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look at the clasp code, should be an I with a number for the month... If its a 1983 the clasp code will be an H... That will narrow down the year of your watch but also possible the date code doesn't match the year of the serial if it was replaced...
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Old 13 February 2019, 01:44 PM   #5
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lets be clear first.

1675 or 16750?
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Old 13 February 2019, 04:44 PM   #6
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lets be clear first.

1675 or 16750?
16750. 1675s were out of production before the OP was born.
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Old 13 February 2019, 10:04 PM   #7
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Many thanks for the feedbacks, much appreciated, and i will definitely let the seller check the clasp.

Tekno: so yours is from 1984 as well and if so, how do you know?
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Old 15 February 2019, 01:12 AM   #8
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Unfortunately the clasp/bracelet is not the original one so this is no definitive indicator...the seller asked a retailer to check but they said even them or Rolex could tell the exact year. Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance!
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Old 15 February 2019, 01:17 AM   #9
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Mine is 1983, and I am pretty sure from the research I have done. My clasp code is H which is 1983

Look at your clasp code.


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Old 15 February 2019, 02:13 AM   #10
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1984 was a pretty short serial number range. I think if you find an 8.4-8.5 million serial range then you will be safe for 1984. But as said above, nothing is in stone and all is only an educated guess.
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Old 15 February 2019, 02:15 AM   #11
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Mine is 1983, and I am pretty sure from the research I have done. My clasp code is H which is 1983

Look at your clasp code.
That's a beautiful example, the bezel colors are awesome!
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Old 15 February 2019, 02:57 AM   #12
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Very beautiful pieke you got there tekno, even with matte dial in great condition - wow!

Well if you're that sure and even though it hurts a lot i might have to pass on that great opportunity because the one im opting for is from the 8.2mil series as well... :(

I even called Rolex in Geneva and the lady from the costumer service told me that "Rolex decided not to give out such information (production year) based on serial number"

...on goes the hunt then...

Thanks again to all of you
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Old 15 February 2019, 04:08 AM   #13
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Just found this online...the confusion is growing even more but of course the buying date doesn't say much....right?
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Old 15 February 2019, 04:37 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by Alleybuzz View Post
Just found this online...the confusion is growing even more but of course the buying date doesn't say much....right?
All of the Internet Charts are based on buying date, that is the only time that enthusiasts, who made the charts, have ever seen a serial number.

Late 50's until early 70's the caseback had a stamp for build date, but this was gone by the 80's.
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Old 15 February 2019, 07:50 AM   #15
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How comes f.e. Bob Watches states everything from 807XXXX and up is 1984 and other charts say 834XXXX and up? That's quite a difference....
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Old 15 February 2019, 08:29 AM   #16
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1984 was a pretty short serial number range. I think if you find an 8.4-8.5 million serial range then you will be safe for 1984. But as said above, nothing is in stone and all is only an educated guess.
Mine is a 8.3k serial and I clasp code=1984...
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Old 15 February 2019, 10:21 AM   #17
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All of the Internet Charts are based on buying date, that is the only time that enthusiasts, who made the charts, have ever seen a serial number.

Late 50's until early 70's the caseback had a stamp for build date, but this was gone by the 80's.
One can always ask HQ!
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Old 15 February 2019, 10:27 AM   #18
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Originally Posted by Alleybuzz View Post
How comes f.e. Bob Watches states everything from 807XXXX and up is 1984 and other charts say 834XXXX and up? That's quite a difference....
Bob's chart is Bob's chart. You can agree with his production dates or agree with other production charts. Personally, I do not use his production dates as a point of reference.
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Old 15 February 2019, 10:40 AM   #19
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How comes f.e. Bob Watches states everything from 807XXXX and up is 1984 and other charts say 834XXXX and up? That's quite a difference....
See Springers post above.
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Old 15 February 2019, 11:25 PM   #20
Alleybuzz
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One can always ask HQ!
As i wrote in my previous post, Rolex does no longer give information out regarding the production year based on serial numbers.

It seems i really need to pass on that opportunity with a heavy heart to go with the 823XXXX GMT Master since there are more indicators it is from 1983 rather than 1984 and similar to what offrdmania wrote, i found out that you're pretty safe by going with something between 8.38-8.61.
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Old 17 February 2019, 05:29 PM   #21
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If the watch sings to you, what does it matter that it could be made 1/2 a year earlier.


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Old 17 February 2019, 06:12 PM   #22
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I‘ve purchased my first Rolex in 1984 and remember exactly how the market was because I was drooling over them for months.

You could get still the 16750 in shops new for a lower price or the brand new GMT II for around 25% more which is what most of the people did back then and so did I (16760).

The 16750 where sitting in the stores for quite some time, 1-3 years perhaps, they where selling slow.
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Old 17 February 2019, 06:28 PM   #23
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Originally Posted by Alleybuzz View Post
As i wrote in my previous post, Rolex does no longer give information out regarding the production year based on serial numbers.



It seems i really need to pass on that opportunity with a heavy heart to go with the 823XXXX GMT Master since there are more indicators it is from 1983 rather than 1984 and similar to what offrdmania wrote, i found out that you're pretty safe by going with something between 8.38-8.61.


I think if you find a nice example that is near your birth year, just go for it. As many have stated the production charts vary based on source.

I bought a matte dial 16750 when I turned 30.
8.2 mil serial and wore it in rotation. It didn’t need to be exactly from 1983 to get the feel I was after. Sadly after 5 years I fell out of love with it or maybe vintage watches and sold it recently. We had a good ride but it was time to move on to something else.

Good luck with your search.




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Old 17 February 2019, 07:37 PM   #24
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I might be to picky but it's just of the essence to me lnowing it's produced in 84...i had a chance to pick one up in top condition with papers/box and even the jubilee im opting for for around 8.5k but it was from 83 as well. It's crazy what prices some sellers are asking for today, even compared to 3-4 years ago and i hope i'll find mine some day for a reasonable price as well.
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Old 17 February 2019, 09:27 PM   #25
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I might be to picky but it's just of the essence to me lnowing it's produced in 84...i had a chance to pick one up in top condition with papers/box and even the jubilee im opting for for around 8.5k but it was from 83 as well. It's crazy what prices some sellers are asking for today, even compared to 3-4 years ago and i hope i'll find mine some day for a reasonable price as well.

Remember 1984 was a transition in production and had the gloss dial with the gold surrounds instead of the matte....
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Old 17 February 2019, 10:48 PM   #26
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If the watch sings to you, what does it matter that it could be made 1/2 a year earlier.


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Exactly
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Old 17 February 2019, 11:40 PM   #27
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Exactly
This may be your opinion but i personally dont see the point in buying a birth year watch which was produced the year before or the year after one was born. Therefore it doesn't sing to me or just sounds like a cover band. ;)
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Old 18 February 2019, 12:55 AM   #28
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This may be your opinion but i personally dont see the point in buying a birth year watch which was produced the year before or the year after one was born. Therefore it doesn't sing to me or just sounds like a cover band. ;)


But then again, I don’t see the point in birth year watches. I understand you have this goal but no one can guarantee this for you, as others have stated. It’s more important to have a nice watch from as close as possible ( which you seem to have found). Or , I guess, you can keep trying to fool yourself.


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Old 18 February 2019, 01:12 AM   #29
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Remember 1984 was a transition in production and had the gloss dial with the gold surrounds instead of the matte....


That's the point, would this matter to OP since gloss dial with surrounds look doesnt belongs to vintage at all.
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Old 18 February 2019, 01:25 AM   #30
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That's the point, would this matter to OP since gloss dial with surrounds look doesnt belongs to vintage at all.
Its from 1984 and thats 35 years so its definitely vintage already even with gloss dial and sapphire crystal... People need to start realizing that matte is not the only thing vintage anymore especially when the gloss is tritium and they usually come with silver flat 4 datewheels which are considered vintage and Open 6 and 9's...
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