C Serial Number Rolex

[glocati]

I've been into Rolex for 20+ years.

Much like the rest of us on here, I follow this and other forums pretty closely.

I have owned and have bought and sold many over the years. Additionally, I am frequently looking at pieces for sale.

Seems to me I have rarely seen a C series Rolex for sale or posted in the various discussions on here.

Are C serials "rare" just due to what seems like a short production run?

Thoughts on why (what seems to me) the short production run of C serials?

Anyone have a C serial number watch? Post 'em if you do...

HAGWE. Greg

[superstarmar]

How many digits ?
7 or 8 ... ???

I’ve never seen a C serial unless it’s a random 8 digit
that begins with a C...

[Naples09]

https://www.qualitytyme.net/pages/numbers.html

Based on the link seems like they were from around 1992? Maybe a lot of DJ or DD's during that run.

Interesting question though.

[springer]

According to The Rolex Report, C serials are circa 1992 and come after the N serials and before the S serial numbers.

I've seen plenty of N and S serial numbers but I can't say that I ever recall seeing a C serial-numbered Rolex.

[glocati]

Originally Posted by springer

According to The Rolex Report, C serials are circa 1992 and come after the N serials and before the S serial numbers.

I've seen plenty of N and S serial numbers but I can't say that I ever recall seeing a C serial-numbered Rolex.

Right? John, I know you've seen a helluva lot of Rolex, so for you to say this confirms my thoughts. I have never seen a C serial number Rolex...I am sure they are out there somewhere...

Superstarmar, not talking random serials, but the circa 1992 that Springer John and Jim/Naples note.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by glocati

I've been into Rolex for 20+ years.

Much like the rest of us on here, I follow this and other forums pretty closely.

I have owned and have bought and sold many over the years. Additionally, I am frequently looking at pieces for sale.

Seems to me I have rarely seen a C series Rolex for sale or posted in the various discussions on here.

Are C serials "rare" just due to what seems like a short production run?

Thoughts on why (what seems to me) the short production run of C serials?

Anyone have a C serial number watch? Post 'em if you do...

HAGWE. Greg

Rarely or never? Pretty sure I have never seen one.

[glocati]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Rarely or never? Pretty sure I have never seen one.

Adam, vaguely remember seeing one for sale years ago...

[Elle84]

Yep C serial can be found mostly in Datejust in stainless steel & gold for a short time.

[Haywood_Milton]

I have maintained a log of every Rolex I have dealt with in the last 20+ years. It is now 284 MSWord pages long, comprising thousands of watches.

C-series case numbers do exist but are most unusual. I have seen only 19 so far.

Every one I have seen falls within the range C100xxx - C140xxx.

Every one I have seen is a 16233 or a 69173 (bicolour Datejust, 36mm / 26mm respectively).

A number had additional provenance: Rolex UK confirmed to me that one was supplied in 1992, while another had punched 100-code papers from Munich, dated July 1993.

Roger T, whom many of you might know (especially if on VRF), was trying to track down a professional series watch with a C-series case number. Not an easy task...

There is an official Rolex document about case numbers, copies of which a few of us have (the water-marked "confidenziale") and it is worth noting that the C-series is conspicuously absent therefrom.

RT suggested that the C-series may have been some sort of special supplies, but I am not convinced when they comprise the most common, mundane models.

With the seven digit, progressive alphanumeric case numbers from the R-series onwards it was quite common for there to be no numbers used out of the first 100,000 possible, so you will not find an R0xxxxx, E0xxxxx or X0xxxxx watch, for example. An early exception was the W-series. I have a number of W0xxxxx cases recorded, but they are conspicuously all "special" models such as Cellinis or those that went through the gem-setting department like 18388s, 69238s, 69318s etc. Such allocation of a complete batch of numbers to the gem-setting department was quite common. Consider the "Liberace zone" K550xxx - K600xxx number range, from which sparkly watches were drawn and supplied to main agents over several years, well beyond the circa-2001 date many attribute to the K-series.

After the W0xxxxx allocation to "specials," the pattern of omitting low numbers resumes and I cannot find any examples in the T0xxxxx, U0xxxxx, A0xxxxx, P0xxxxx, K0xxxxx or Y0xxxxx ranges, all of which appear to start at the 100,000 point. The duck is finally, permanently broken with the F-series, from which point we then see plenty of examples F0xxxxx, D0xxxxx, Z0xxxxx etc.

Conversely, most of these "classic number style" series did run right up to the million-mark; I can demonstrate specific examples of R999xxx, L999xxx, E999xxx etc.

There is a noticeable lack of N-case numbers in the higher range. Henry Hudson once told me that they were aware of a significant number of fakes in that range and I wonder if abandonment of a certain tranche of numbers was deliberate to address same.

Do any members own a Cxxxxxx series watch that is not a 16233 or 69173?

I believe there is great advantage to be had from the constant study of Rolex numbers in all their manifestations.

Haywood Milton, UK

[glocati]

Haywood- thank you for the great information. Very interesting ! I do believe the C serial I saw for sale years ago was a Datejust. Have a great rest of the weekend.

[paulfarr]

Hi Guys, I know this post is a bit old. but i just purchased a Sub 16613 two tone serti with a champagne face and it is a C. I get it on Tuseday and will share so we can all see a C Serial thats not a datejust.

[Johny]

Very interesting subject.

[Sublovin]

Would it matter? Is this just a question of curiosity or is there a theory as to why this might be the case? Pun intended !!

[lee2375]

Originally Posted by paulfarr

Hi Guys, I know this post is a bit old. but i just purchased a Sub 16613 two tone serti with a champagne face and it is a C. I get it on Tuseday and will share so we can all see a C Serial thats not a datejust.

Did you get it?

[bluebird244]

Waking up this thread to let you guys know that I in fact have just purchased a C Serial 16618 bluesy dial 18k gold Sub, of course oblivious to the notion of how rare they were. Makes me feel good about owning one now. Got it for an awesome deal off an auction on Moda too!

[Mark020]

Moda? Whats that?