Calendar cards

[hendax]

Hi. Was looking for a calendar card to go with my box and bits. I have an Air-King. It was sold in 1999 but the serial number suggests it was made in 1997. Would the calendar card then be a 1997-1998 or 1999-2000? Year of manufacture or year of sale? Ta 🇬🇧

[RayRay89]

I would guess the manufacture date since they came with the paperwork

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by RayRay89

I would guess the manufacture date since they came with the paperwork

The cards came separately, and would have been added to the set at time of sale, with the booklets, etc. So the card year should match the sale year. This is why you can see large batches of unused leftover calendar cards for sale on ebay and at vintage dealers.

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

The cards came separately, and would have been added to the set at time of sale, with the booklets, etc. So the card year should match the sale year. This is why you can see large batches of unused leftover calendar cards for sale on ebay and at vintage dealers.

Quite the collection.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Robf52

Quite the collection.

Not mine, just random internet pics

[hendax]

The paperwork I have is the warranty which is stamped with the serial/date of sale (1999).

[RayRay89]

I mean I believe the cards came with the watches o the dealer. So if it’s an s Serial it would be 93-94

[hendax]

Mine is a low U so believe that’s a 1997. If the card was sent with the watch to the retailer I guess, as you say, it would be a 1997-1998 card? I just didn’t know if the retailer had a stack and included it with the warranty they stamp at sale so would reflect when it was sold rather than made.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by hendax

Mine is a low U so believe that’s a 1997. If the card was sent with the watch to the retailer I guess, as you say, it would be a 1997-1998 card? I just didn’t know if the retailer had a stack and included it with the warranty they stamp at sale so would reflect when it was sold rather than made.

The Dealer would not give out calendar cards that were not the current (at the time) year.

U serials were first seen in late 1996, but were produced into 1999. If you have a Swiss dial, it was likely later, if you have a tritium dial, it was in the early part of production.

In any event, the Dealer would have given out a card that matched the year sold. You, of course, can choose any year that you want.

[hendax]

Thanks everyone.

[faimag]

As mentioned above, the calendar would be added by the AD at the time of sale. So they are "independent" of the serial number dating of the watch. They would in fact give you a calendar 1999-2000. (on occasion, if you purchased late in the year, e.g. December, they might even given you a 2000-2001).