Sub C: Serial ?

[dmitrii_]

So my 2012 Sub C serial begins with a 4QG.

Is this normal, salesperson told me it was a scrambled serial.

Can someone elaborate please?

[dmitrii_]

anyone...?

[T-Rip]

Rolex started to put "random" serial numbers in 2010-2011 I believe so Rolex freaks like us cant 100% determine what year it was made. In the past a "V, G" serial or whatever serial would in effect time stamp it..Nothing more.. Enjoy your SubC...

[mjclark32]

Congrats on the sub, enjoy it

[dmitrii_]

got it, thanks :)

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by haydendillon

Rolex started to put "random" serial numbers in 2010-2011 I believe so Rolex freaks like us cant 100% determine what year it was made. In the past a "V, G" serial or whatever serial would in effect time stamp it..Nothing more.. Enjoy your SubC...

Rolex has never stated officially any reason for the change to the random serialization regime regardless of what anyone believes,let`s not start making up reasons,let`s just stick to the facts.

[azguy]

I guess 10-20 years down the road papers will be very important...it's going to be the only way to tell when the watch was purchased

[Speed]

Originally Posted by MoBe

Rolex has never stated officially any reason for the change to the random serialization regime regardless of what anyone believes,let`s not start making up reasons,let`s just stick to the facts.

So what are the facts???

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by Speed

So what are the facts???

The fact is that the only thing we can know is that random serial watches began selling at dealers in the year 2010.

[esm]

So the OPs SubC could also be made in late 2010...... But sold in 2012...?!?

[T-Rip]

Originally Posted by MoBe

Rolex has never stated officially any reason for the change to the random serialization regime regardless of what anyone believes,let`s not start making up reasons,let`s just stick to the facts.

I didn't state it as a fact that's why I wrote "I believe" as in I personally believe that..... jeez tough room

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by haydendillon

I didn't state it as a fact that's why I wrote "I believe" as in I personally believe that..... jeez tough room

`nothing personal Tom but despite the fact that most people on this forum will have understood what you meant to say casual browsers of this site will often read things without any understanding and assume what is said to be factual without any attempt at verification.The words "I believe" in your statement will in all likelyhood be overlooked by these individuals and soon your belief will be touted as fact elsewhere on the internet because "someone on TRF said so".

[Speed]

True...Now all hell is sure to break loose.

;-)

[FNFZ4]

Might be a fake dude. You can mail it to me for inspection lol joke...

Its all good. Rolex started the Random serial series in 2011

[ng3l1]

My one also the same Random Serial

[padi56]

Originally Posted by MoBe

Rolex has never stated officially any reason for the change to the random serialization regime regardless of what anyone believes,let`s not start making up reasons,let`s just stick to the facts.

Rolex has never stated anything official about there serial codes,all these Internet codes are not official from Rolex.

[77T]

In any numbering scheme you can come up to theoretical limits that demand change. My on why...it gives Rolex more flexible numbering.

For example, as Rolex got to a point with numerical only S/N's they added a digit, then another, then an alpha character. Using an alpha was no mystery - that added many more combinations than just another base 10 digit. If they stayed with x1234567 they could eventually need another digit - eventually real estate between the lugs becomes an issue so they go to the rehaut.

Now with purely random numbers they go from 26*(8^10th) to 9^26th a vast increase in numbering flexibility.

So flexibility is my opinion. No need to speculate beyond the fact that it's just random now.

[Raulex]

Originally Posted by 77T

Now with purely random numbers they go from 26*(8^10th) to 9^26th a vast increase in numbering flexibility.

With the old style s/n, and if it was 26*(8^10th) like you say, it would allow for nearly 28 billions possibilities. At around 700 or 800 k watches per year, it would be enough for 37200 years.

In fact it was 26*(10^6), or 26 millions possibilities. Around 35 years.

Now with random s/n it allows for 36^8, or 2821 billions possibilities, or nearly 4 millions years.

Flexibility is OK ...

[Porsche]

Looks like everyone is aiming for "accuracy" to the point of being pedantic, so technically it may NOT a "serial" number. Serial suggests some kind of sequence. Then again, maybe it's not so "random" either.... there could be a "formula", we just haven't cracked the code

Why don't we call it a "Nominal Number" as described according to Wiki...

[Andad]

Now THAT is torturing numbers.

[padi56]

Just cannot for the life of me see why all the fuss over a case stamp.Will one case stamp last longer than any other case stamp.Wonder if Patek Philippe,AP,Breguet,Blancpain,Girard-Perregaux,Piaget,Zenith,Roger Dubuis ,plus the many others have the serial case number Rolex fixation.Or do those buyers just go and buy the watch they want and don't give a hoot what the case stamp is.

[Raulex]

Originally Posted by padi56

Just cannot for the life of me see why all the fuss over a case stamp.Will one case stamp last longer than any other case stamp.Wonder if Patek Philippe,AP,Breguet,Blancpain,Girard-Perregaux,Piaget,Zenith,Roger Dubuis ,plus the many others have the serial case number Rolex fixation.Or do those buyers just go and buy the watch they want and don't give a hoot what the case stamp is.

If you don't appreciate those discussions related to "case stamp" , why do you systematically participate and finally always say the same thing "I don't agree to this internet hype" ?

Not everybody have the same opinion on that subject, as on every subject ...

[77T]

Originally Posted by padi56

Just cannot for the life of me see why all the fuss over a case stamp.Will one case stamp last longer than any other case stamp.Wonder if Patek Philippe,AP,Breguet,Blancpain,Girard-Perregaux,Piaget,Zenith,Roger Dubuis ,plus the many others have the serial case number Rolex fixation.Or do those buyers just go and buy the watch they want and don't give a hoot what the case stamp is.

Noting the hour of my post - because I had nothing better to do

Pedantics unite! I smell a new TRF club forming.

I shall call it "The Not So Random Rolex Numbers Conspiracy Club"

[77T]

Originally Posted by Raulex

With the old style s/n, and if it was 26*(8^10th) like you say, it would allow for nearly 28 billions possibilities. At around 700 or 800 k watches per year, it would be enough for 37200 years.

In fact it was 26*(10^6), or 26 millions possibilities. Around 35 years.

Now with random s/n it allows for 36^8, or 2821 billions possibilities, or nearly 4 millions years.

Flexibility is OK ...

Yes, you are right to correct my faulty math - it was late here and too many numbers...

But two things to refine. I make it 34^8 since Rolex has never used the alpha "O" to avoid confusion with the number 0; nor have they used a zero in the leading position of the number.

I hope this tortuous interpretation leaves us wanting more!

BTW, anyone want to hazard a guess on how long it will take for Rolex to imbed a passive RFID in each movement and one in each case? And use IPv6 as a numbering system...then each watch could have a unique website where Rolex tracked service history, ownership transfers, market valuation...

...oh, wait that would mean...

we would need another system to torture!

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by padi56

Just cannot for the life of me see why all the fuss over a case stamp.Will one case stamp last longer than any other case stamp.Wonder if Patek Philippe,AP,Breguet,Blancpain,Girard-Perregaux,Piaget,Zenith,Roger Dubuis ,plus the many others have the serial case number Rolex fixation.Or do those buyers just go and buy the watch they want and don't give a hoot what the case stamp is.

Bingo!!!!! Nothing like the "I have a x serial sub C. I think it is fake or from the 90's" thread. Rolex owners make way to big of deals out of nothing.