Production date of F serial no. 16570T and 14060M

[Gimoozaabi]

Hi all,


I've got an Explorer II, no holes case (T) and a Sub 14060M both are with F serial numbers. As the time frame for the F series production is rather large 2003-2005:

2003 / 2004 F (from Sept.)
2004 / 2005 F
2005 / 2006 F (until Apr.)

Source is:
https://www.oysterinfo.de/seriennummern-serial-numbers/

Is it possible to estimate when the watches are produced based on the first digits following the series letter?

For example the serial number of the Exp II starts with

F74[...]

I cannot check the number of the Submariner as the documents are at a different location and I will have to remove the bracelet. But in case this could be determined to some certainty I will provide the first digits of the Sub.

Thanks!

[Gimoozaabi]

The thread is empty without pics.



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[Nikrnic]

I believe the higher the serial NUMBERS are the later the production plus there are date codes on the clasp which was the last piece to be installed so that should get you as close as possible I believe. I do stand to be corrected. I had a 14060m K ser.no. 2001/2 high no. but my clasp was stamped DT which was feb.02 very end for the K .

[mtgjr]

That's a great combo. I wouldn't worry about pinpointing the production dates.

[Gimoozaabi]

Thanks!

Both clasps are stamped 'CL'.
The Sub clasp is 'CL04' and the EXP is 'CL10'. April and October?

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[Tools]

Originally Posted by Gimoozaabi

Hi all, . . .


Is it possible to estimate when the watches are produced based on the first digits following the series letter?

. . .Thanks!

No, it is not. Even the dates you cite are nothing but guesses and not fact.

Rolex likely stamps serials in batches, then those cases are warehoused and produced as-needed. They are not produced sequentially (Dowling-Hess; 2002).

Chart "dates" are based on enthusiasts knowledge of when a model is first seen in the marketplace, same with clasp codes. They are not based on any knowledge or data from Rolex who does not provide production data.

[Gimoozaabi]

Originally Posted by Tools

No, it is not. Even the dates you cite are nothing but guesses and not fact.

Rolex likely stamps serials in batches, then those cases are warehoused and produced as-needed. They are not produced sequentially (Dowling-Hess; 2002).

Chart "dates" are based on enthusiasts knowledge of when a model is first seen in the marketplace, same with clasp codes. They are not based on any knowledge or data from Rolex who does not provide production data.

Thanks for the heads up! Good info. I knew that I wouldn't be able to pinpoint the month of the production but I wasn't aware that we cannot be too certain about the year as well.

Best is to correlate both case and clasp serial numbers.


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[Gimoozaabi]

I recently realised that my F serial Submariner is with the Fat (aka Flat) Four bezel. I would appreciate if someone share some info about these bezels. I know that the LV Sub ('Kermit') was equipped with this bezel to commemorate the 50 years of the Submariner production. How rare the Fat Four bezel?

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[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by Gimoozaabi

I recently realised that my F serial Submariner is with the Fat (aka Flat) Four bezel. I would appreciate if someone share some info about these bezels. I know that the LV Sub ('Kermit') was equipped with this bezel to commemorate the 50 years of the Submariner production. How rare the Fat Four bezel?

Really? I've never read that. Seems unlikely. I thought that was just the bezel font that Rolex employed during that period, which happened to coincide with the release of the 50th anniversary Sub (LV). I think you may be ascribing more significance to the "flat 4" insert than is there.

[Gimoozaabi]

Originally Posted by Gimoozaabi

Hi all,


I've got an Explorer II, no holes case (T) and a Sub 14060M both are with F serial numbers. As the time frame for the F series production is rather large 2003-2005:

2003 / 2004F (from Sept.)
2004 / 2005F
2005 / 2006 F (until Apr.)

Source is:
https://www.oysterinfo.de/seriennummern-serial-numbers/

Is it possible to estimate when the watches are produced based on the first digits following the series letter?

For example the serial number of the Exp II starts with

F74[...]

I cannot check the number of the Submariner as the documents are at a different location and I will have to remove the bracelet. But in case this could be determined to some certainty I will provide the first digits of the Sub.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by mtgjr

Really? I've never read that. Seems unlikely.

I am referring to the shape of the number 4 on the bezel not the colour of course :)

Here is my 14060M compared to LV Fat Four and the 'regular 4'.


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[tomchicago]

These are among the last of the 5 digit references. They're keepers.