Need help from Daytona expert on Daytona purchase

[khmyjy]

I m looking to buy a V serial S/S Daytona. The bracelet clasp code is X4P.
I check out a few of the V serial, they have PJ2 or LT3 etc. How can I be sure if this bracelet code X4P matched the watch? I tried to verify on minus 4 plus 6 and oyster info website but I cannot find anything match.

[Tools]

PJ and LT are 2008 and 2009 bracelet codes..

In late 2010 Rolex went to Random numbers on both watches and bracelets (there were no new serial prefix releases in 2009), your bracelet code appears to be a random.

If you are looking for absolutes, Rolex just isn't made that way. It is very possible that a V serial case could have carry-over into the random bracelets. Check how many digits are on the V serial, if there are 8 it's a random too.

[khmyjy]

Originally Posted by Tools

PJ and LT are 2008 and 2009 bracelet codes..

In late 2010 Rolex went to Random numbers on both watches and bracelets (there were no new serial prefix releases in 2009), your bracelet code appears to be a random.

If you are looking for absolutes, Rolex just isn't made that way. It is very possible that a V serial case could have carry-over into the random bracelets. Check how many digits are on the V serial, if there are 8 it's a random too.

Thanks Larry, it is a 7 digits V serial. That's why I wonder how can it possibly came with a bracelet with random clasp code which means the watch case is about 2 years older than the bracelet ?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by khmyjy

Thanks Larry, it is a 7 digits V serial. That's why I wonder how can it possibly came with a bracelet with random clasp code which means the watch case is about 2 years older than the bracelet ?

Well, I think that you are looking at it wrong.. The case serial has little relationship to "age", although many attempt to make it so.

Serials are allotted to all the models from within the prefix, say V in this instance. But that doesn't mean that all those allotted serials are suddenly manufactured into real watches, that would be a physical impossibility. The watch gets "Made" when there is a need for it in inventory and that could be a few years from when the serial number was allotted.

When a batch is needed to fill inventory the next set of serials is called up and then the watches are made, they go down the assembly line and get mated at the end with whatever bracelet serials are being made at that time.. they don't get made side-by-side and so a year or two is considered a match.

It's also true with bracelet parts.. You are only looking at the clasp. There are also numbers on the endlinks that show when each bracelet half was made and those codes may differ from the clasp or even each other..

[Daytona4130]

I like to think I know a hell of a lot about Daytonas, and I have no idea lol.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Daytona4130

I like to think I know a hell of a lot about Daytonas, and I have no idea lol.

As Larry has said this applies to most Rolex models.

[Nycturbovr6]

Very informative!