1680 red sub mkiv serial numbers

[Ohdavey6286]

Good afternoon,
I was hoping someone could help with a question I have. I currently have a 1680 mkiv red submariner that has a serial number 3-3.5M and am in the process of selling it. A potential buyer is telling me that the serial number is wrong for the dial and that it should stop in the 2M range. Is this correct? Is there any information showing this?

[swaini3]

Here is a reference. Nothing is in stone for these serial numbers.
http://drsd.com/watch-info/red-sub/redsub.html

[btinl]

I have had four MkIV Red subs, and the serial numbers have all been in the 2.6-2.9M range.

[Ohdavey6286]

So there is no definitive answer to the serial numbers? I see on the site that mkiv and mkv seem to coincide in production numbers?

[swish77]

Originally Posted by Ohdavey6286

So there is no definitive answer to the serial numbers? I see on the site that mkiv and mkv seem to coincide in production numbers?

Nothing is "definitive." These are "best-guess" observations from knowledgable collectors, but there is nothing from Rolex that identifies certain dials with specific serial numbers.

In general, you'd want it to be within striking distance of an accepted serial number range for your dial. Even if it's not, it might still be original, but the problem is that there will always be doubt and questions, fair or unfair. That's just the way it is in the crazy collectors' world.

[Rumar89]

VRFM says to ~3mm or 1972. Does the inside of your case back have a date stamp?


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[Mendota]

This doesn't help the current situation, but you could always just keep it as an heirloom for your kids or grandkids and keep on enjoying it. They will never care one way or the other about that miniscule detail that a serious collector will hyper focus on in today's ridiculous market. They will just be excited to have something to remember you by.

That doesn't help with your current sale, of course. Eight years ago I was looking for a birth year 1972 red 1680 for my 40th birthday. I never bought one but my God, the prices back then were nothing like they are today. Makes me wish I would have bought it...

Good luck with the sale!

[Ohdavey6286]

Fair point. I do have another 1680 white sub I could sell and just keep the red sub.

[BaliBryan]

I have Mk 4 3,0xx,xxx from 1971 stamped on the case back.

[zapokee]

My Mk 4 is 3.3 mil with III. 71 inside the caseback.

Your buyer doesn't know what he's talking about. This is correct for a Mk 4.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Ohdavey6286

Good afternoon,
I was hoping someone could help with a question I have. I currently have a 1680 mkiv red submariner that has a serial number 3-3.5M and am in the process of selling it. A potential buyer is telling me that the serial number is wrong for the dial and that it should stop in the 2M range. Is this correct? Is there any information showing this?

Just keep this in mind. If this "potential buyer" was really 100% sure that your watch was wrong, then he wouldn't even have bothered to contact you. So either he is just a tire kicker who enjoys harassing you, or it's a deliberate ploy to get you to accept a lower offer. Just ignore the noise; the numbers you find on websites simply represent the most common ranges, there are always outliers. In the end, it's simply a matter of whether you can agree on a price.