Struggling to find birth year 1976 pieces, anyone know why?

[eye4detail]

Hi there,

It'd be nice to get a Rolex made in my birth year of 1976, but why is it that there seems to be a very low number made in that year?

I've hardly seen any examples during my research, and searching on Chrono24.com today for 'Rolex' and year '1976' brings up only a very small amount, by far the lowest amount between the years 1964 to date.

e.g.:

1974: 63 Rolex watches for sale on Chrono24 today
1975: 49 - " -
1976: 23 - " -
1977: 89 - " -
1978: 106- " -


I also found this comment in another thread from 6 months ago, but without an answer:

Snap, been looking for a while (for a 1976 Rolex) with no luck and I read somewhere there was a lull in production in 76 due to economy but maybe someone more knowledgable can confirm or deny.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=61943

So it'd be great if someone could chime in and give us the low down on what happened regarding Rolex in 1976.


Thanks

[padi56]

First no Internet code can give a exact date when any Rolex watch was made.All they can tell you is a approx date when the case was stamped. So a serial from 415586 to around 4538000 could be a good choice.

[ncstate1201]

is it because things from 1976 tended to fall apart? Kidding of course, I am from 79, so couldn't resist. Good luck in the search.

[cruvon]

I have heard the same about 76 a few times too, can't recall if the explanation given was because of a economic slowdown that year, remember because is my brothers birth year!

[RC2]

I looked for 1975 and had no luck.

[harry in montreal]

Obviously it was the OPEC oil crisis and the introduction of HP robbing cat converters and federally mandated integrated plastic bumpers.

[Mark020]

Originally Posted by harry in montreal

Obviously it was the OPEC oil crisis and the introduction of HP robbing cat converters and federally mandated integrated plastic bumpers.

+1. I wouldn't be surprised if Rolex sold very few watches that year.

[Runnin' Rebel]

I'm on the hunt for a 1959 GMT

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by harry in montreal

Obviously it was the OPEC oil crisis and the introduction of HP robbing cat converters and federally mandated integrated plastic bumpers.

Makes interesting reading, our vinatge Rolexes of those years might have seen some pretty stressed out owners!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC_oil_crisis

[caryyee]

Even if there was a slow down in production, Rolex would of still sold several hundred thousand watches that year, bound to be plenty about I'm sure?

[Chad M]

I emailed one of the most known vintage Rolex dealers (Interview of him on Hoodink@@)with a request to find me a 1976 5513. Here is his reply.

"4,4XX,XXX serial are all replacement cases and I can't recall every finding a 5513 off the top of my head from that SN range. That being said, watches are made in batches by Rolex, so quite possibly none fall in that range."

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Chad M

I emailed one of the most known vintage Rolex dealers (Interview of him on Hoodink@@)with a request to find me a 1976 5513. Here is his reply.

"4,4XX,XXX serial are all replacement cases and I can't recall every finding a 5513 off the top of my head from that SN range. That being said, watches are made in batches by Rolex, so quite possibly none fall in that range."

This is the correct answer.. Just like during 2009 recently there were no new serial prefixes released.

Internet charts used to find a "1976" will give you false information. Charts are interpolations of a few numbers reported throughout the years, then they are simply filled in by guessing.. It is likewise guessing to state that "Rolex must have sold only a few that year".

Rolex stamps cases or allocates numbers to cases, then they are tossed into a warehouse until needed. There is no real way to "know" when a watch was actually manufactured as Rolex has never released that information..

Regarding the 4.4xxxxx numbers and 4.7xxxxx numbers, since those were allocated as replacement case numbers, Rolex would have skipped over that entire range during a production run, so for your target year you will need to look earlier or later (do some math, discounting the notoriously innacurate charts) and then feel comfortable that you did your best research and found your "tgarget" watch..

[harry in montreal]

If hyou like the look, search for a Tudor Submariner 9411 or 9410. I believe i have seen
plenty of this model from 75-77.

[Highland Ranger]

Bad years, rivaled only by the period we are experiencing now in recent history.

[RC2]

Larry. Great above advice. An educated guesstimate is correct. Rich

[John in MA]

When I bought my 1680 I was told it was a 76-77. Serial is 5067xxx. What makes me wonder if it could be a 76 is that it came with the original C&I rivet which is stamped 76. Every other Rolex or Tudor ihave owned the clasp date lined up with the case serial date.

[usngoat]

Since joining this forum I also have found the interest in a birth year rolex. What is the best way to conduct the search? Looking for a '74 DJ in all stainless

[munshpe]

I wish I was born in 1976--trying to find a Rolex Sub or GMT from my birth year (1966), in decent condition, is nearly impossible!!! But looking in the mirror, I didn't hold up very well either!