G and Random?

[Kanger]

I am sure other brighter minds have given this more thought than I have, but it seems to me that the G series is a legitimate lettered series just like V or M. Yet here we also have the random series, a mixture of numbers and letters that seem to have no pattern. Having said that, I personally believe Rolex production is EXCEEDING 1 million and the G serial, where each watch is assigned a number from 000001 to 999999, simply cannot match production, therefore we have a random serial to accompany the G. What are your thoughts on this topic? Thanks.

[Speed]

Umm...I really haven't thought about it to tell the truth. Does not stop me from enjoying the watches I have.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by kanger

I am sure other brighter minds have given this more thought than I have, but it seems to me that the G series is a legitimate lettered series just like V or M. Yet here we also have the random series, a mixture of numbers and letters that seem to have no pattern. Having said that, I personally believe Rolex production is EXCEEDING 1 million and the G serial, where each watch is assigned a number from 000001 to 999999, simply cannot match production, therefore we have a random serial to accompany the G. What are your thoughts on this topic? Thanks.

Have no thoughts whatsoever about any case stamps IMHO the watch is the most important.And in general just with normal routine service all Rolex oyster watches are good for 50 plus years, irrespective of what ever case stamp it has.

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by padi56

Have no thoughts whatsoever about any case stamps IMHO the watch is the most important.And in general just with normal routine service all Rolex oyster watches are good for 50 plus years, irrespective of what ever case stamp it has.

I have to agree with Peter..
Irrespective of serial (and soon to be undateable), the watch and it's condition of service are parramount. Everthing else is just secondary!

[train-time]

When the G serials first began to appear the numbers were (numerically) low, as if to be the start of a series, like G001234 and now they are progressing normally through the number range.

Serials starting with "G" are followed by 6 numbers totalling 7 digits, just like V, M, etc.

Randoms have been made up with one or two letters scattered throughout the "serial" and have a total of 8 digits (one more that prior serials).

They both are being shipped concurrently. A local AD just sold a random 116710 and the next one that came in from RUSA was a G serial.

IMO, G serials follow V and are not what is being called "random" however are being shipped concurrently.

[chicfarmer1]

Originally Posted by kanger

I personally believe Rolex production is EXCEEDING 1 million and the G serial, where each watch is assigned a number from 000001 to 999999, simply cannot match production, therefore we have a random serial to accompany the G. What are your thoughts on this topic?

My thought is that it sounds like speculation entirely, with no facts at hand to substantiate it.

But: what does it matter how many are produced, so long as the QC is intact?

[bkandj2000]

"G" serial numbers can also have a letter mixed in, i.e.: "GXXXUXXX", so there appears to be another formula for the most current case-stamped watches being shipped from Rolex... Unless all "G" serial numbers are like this?

[Tools]

Rolex has ALWAYS had more than one seriel prefix in production at a time...

They ALL overlap...

There is no conclusion you can draw from the G release except to say that it is being made side-by-side with randoms and the last of the V and M serials..

When the V was released in late 2008, alongside the M for that same year, there were No Other prefix releases in 2009 or 2010, or until the Randoms and G's began appearing in 2011...

That would tell me just the opposite.. that production is DECREASING because they went more than 2 years without a new prefix release....

[Al1988]

I bought a brand new 16610 Sub last year from my AD which came with an L serial. I then bought a 116710 a few weeks later again from the AD with a V serial. I consequently bought a 116520 from my AD this January and it came with a G serial.

Now one thing is for certain, it doesn't make sense to me nor does that really bother me

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Al1988

I
Now one thing is for certain, it doesn't make sense to me nor does that really bother me

Precisely a new Rolex is a new Rolex irrespective of whatever case stamp it has, and gets the same two year warranty.Plus in my experience of Rolex watches over the passed 30 odd years.Most of them with just a bit of routine service will still be ticking in 50 plus years. Case stamps HUMBUG and pure Internet hype, all this stuff started around 12 + years ago when the Internet was available world wide.Before that you just went to a AD to buy a watch and a discount Price was the biggest factor on your mind. Nothing was mentioned about case stamps,checking dials with loups, sticky back plastic, bezel protectors etc like today, all you was interested in was the actual watch and the perhaps the warranty.

[robrobin]

On my last trip to the continent I was told that "G" and "Random" showed up simultaneously in 2010. Randoms were predominately cased/delivered to the AD's depending on the model. G's and Random's are still concurrent in 2011. I guess we have to remember it's only a stamping on a case when the production line is running.......not really related to a specific time of assembly.......maybe more appropriate to relate it to a certain generation......like I was born in the 50's so my case letter is BB, baby boomer!

[Johny]

i'm wondering if there will be another serial letter after g has run out? time will tell.