The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Rolex General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 24 January 2020, 11:21 AM   #1
gen_tso
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 33
YG DD President has Roman numeral IV and not IIII, fake?

I was looking at my dial today and I just noticed that my recently purchased YG DD president 18238 has a "IV" and not the normal "IIII" at the 4 position. Is this dial a fake, I have never seen a Rolex Dial with roman numerals to have "IV"?
It is a "L" dated around 1989-1990, what do you guess think. I pretty sure I will never buy vintage again too many uncertainties.
Attached Images
 
gen_tso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 January 2020, 12:05 PM   #2
1FINE99
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Cailf
Posts: 21
I just googled IIII OR IV on a Rolex and a post showed up from the vintage section here on that very subject. From that old tread ,around 2011, it looks like back then they were saying it would be fake .
1FINE99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 January 2020, 12:13 PM   #3
miamiclay
2024 Pledge Member
 
miamiclay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: 33139/95460
Posts: 1,413
I looked at this a bit, a search in VRF or TRF/Vintage for IIII finds a few mentions. (Humorously, both the IIII and the IV have been explained on the basis of “balance” or “symmetry.”)

I don’t know any certain answer, but certainly >95% of the 5-digit DD dials I’ve seen have IIII. If you don’t get a reliable answer here, it might be worth asking in Vintage forum.
miamiclay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 January 2020, 12:33 PM   #4
Rollied
2024 Pledge Member
 
Rollied's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 833
Holy crap I didn’t know there was a “IIII” in the Roman numerals lol!
Rollied is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 January 2020, 12:43 PM   #5
ronricks
2024 Pledge Member
 
ronricks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: ATL
Watch: 126610LV
Posts: 2,753
I don’t think it is fake. If you go over to HQ Milton’s website several of their 18238’s they sold have the same markings as your dial.
ronricks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 January 2020, 12:52 PM   #6
gen_tso
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronricks View Post
I don’t think it is fake. If you go over to HQ Milton’s website several of their 18238’s they sold have the same markings as your dial.
Funny that you mentioned this because I was checking HQ right after posting this. Makes me feel better but damn I spend a lot of money on this piece for it to have a sketchy dial.
gen_tso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 January 2020, 01:40 PM   #7
Nikrnic
"TRF" Member
 
Nikrnic's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Real Name: Louis Nick Ric
Location: Michigan, USA
Watch: Blnr, Expll, Subs,
Posts: 10,172
I believe its correct to have the IV on the outer marker of yours, of course not on the main dial face.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
Nikrnic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 January 2020, 09:50 PM   #8
HogwldFLTR
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
 
HogwldFLTR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Real Name: Lee
Location: 42.48.45N70.48.48
Watch: Too many to list!
Posts: 33,697
My 16013 had 4Is. I'm not certain that means much given as little consistency as Rolex has had in the past. The dial shown appears to have droplet lumes of tritium; seems like a pretty good copy for an older fake.

__________________
Troglodyte in residence!

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=808599
HogwldFLTR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 January 2020, 11:03 PM   #9
1William
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Watch: Rolex/Others
Posts: 47,801
Such is the vintage market. If you want to know for sure then send it to Rolex but be ready for a possible fake dial and maybe other issues with the movement, case or bracelet. It could also be good and that would give you some piece of mind as well as service papers should you try to sell the watch. Good luck and let us know how it plays out.
1William is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 January 2020, 11:10 PM   #10
JSolution
"TRF" Member
 
JSolution's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Real Name: Jay
Location: England
Watch: SkyD
Posts: 6,398
Bit offbeat but that has always annoyed me about the Rolex dials. It actually should be IV not IIII but never seen one with IV
JSolution is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 January 2020, 11:10 PM   #11
garyk
2024 Pledge Member
 
garyk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Real Name: Gary
Location: USA
Watch: Daytona
Posts: 11,760
There are a Rolex experts around who can help you get some peace of mind. Charlie or Michael Cleves at Cleves and Lonnemann Jewelers in Bellview Kentucky should be able to help. Charlie Cleves has written books on the subject etc. Good luck.

http://www.clevesandlonnemann.com/
__________________
garyk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 January 2020, 02:12 AM   #12
Likestheshiny
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: _
Posts: 1,877
Quote:
Bit offbeat but that has always annoyed me about the Rolex dials. It actually should be IV not IIII but never seen one with IV
There are examples of IIII all over the place in historical architecture and documents. Even putting aside the "watchmaker's IIII," it's well-attested. It was a minority but perfectly acceptable usage.
Likestheshiny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 January 2020, 05:53 AM   #13
SN13
"TRF" Member
 
SN13's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,124
My 180238 has IIII

__________________
IG@Construction_Time

--- 1986 DD 18038 --- 1992 YM 16628 --- 2015 116600 SD4K --- SBDX001 MM300 --- 2009 Omega Ploprof White --- 2010 Omega LE LMPO
SN13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 January 2020, 05:57 AM   #14
Onikage
"TRF" Member
 
Onikage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: England
Watch: 16710, 16628
Posts: 7,757
To go to such lengths and then get that wrong is unlikely. To me. Don't quote me on that though.
__________________
GMT II 16710 TRADITIONAL
( D- Serial #)
ROLEXFANBOY P-Club Member #4
Onikage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 January 2020, 01:47 PM   #15
gen_tso
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 33
You guys are starting to get me paranoid, I will contact the seller first and see what he says.
gen_tso is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 January 2020, 01:52 PM   #16
ltmgeller
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
ltmgeller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Real Name: Mike
Location: New York
Watch: Rolex
Posts: 22,591
Take it to an AD that sells pre-owned watches. Ask them what they'd give you for it. If it's real you get an offer. If it's fake you'll have your answer. It could be real with an aftermarket dial too.
__________________
Oh, look at the time...
Official Member: 'WIS-CON' Las Vegas International GTG 2019
ltmgeller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 January 2020, 01:55 PM   #17
HogwldFLTR
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
 
HogwldFLTR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Real Name: Lee
Location: 42.48.45N70.48.48
Watch: Too many to list!
Posts: 33,697
Interesting...

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/...n-numeral-iiii
__________________
Troglodyte in residence!

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=808599
HogwldFLTR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 January 2020, 01:54 PM   #18
gen_tso
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR View Post
Interesting read
gen_tso is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Takuya Watches

OCWatches

Wrist Aficionado

My Watch LLC

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.