Clasp Code Question...

[s1nn3d]

Hi all!

Just wondering how come some bracelet clasps have no year stamp? I have read that there was a period where Rolex stopped putting year stamps on their clasp (except Rolex USA C&I.)...1972-1975. Please correct me if I am wrong. Also, I have seen clasp blades with stamps of VA, VB, VC, VD. What's their difference to claps marked with A, B, C and D stamps? Are they of lower quality than those with single letter marking?

Any info regarding this inquiry would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[crowncollection]

No they are not lower quality the letters are a date code.




YearCode
1976. A*
1977. B
1978. C*
1979. D
1980. E
1981. F
1982. G
1983. H*
1984. I*
1985. J*
1986. K*
1987. L*
1988. M*
1989. N*
1990. O
1991. P
1992. Q*
1993. R
1994. S
1995. T or W
1996. V
1997. Z
1998. Z or W
1999. X
2000. AB
2001. DE
2002. DT
2003. AD
2004. CL
2005. MA
2006. OP
2007. EO

Letter S for a service clasp





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[MonBK]

Here's the rest of the list:


2008 - PJ
2009 - LT
2010 - RS
2011 - Random (3digit)

[s1nn3d]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

No they are not lower quality the letters are a date code.




YearCode
1976. A*
1977. B
1978. C*
1979. D
1980. E
1981. F
1982. G
1983. H*
1984. I*
1985. J*
1986. K*
1987. L*
1988. M*
1989. N*
1990. O
1991. P
1992. Q*
1993. R
1994. S
1995. T or W
1996. V
1997. Z
1998. Z or W
1999. X
2000. AB
2001. DE
2002. DT
2003. AD
2004. CL
2005. MA
2006. OP
2007. EO

Letter S for a service clasp





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Hi, crowncollection! Thanks for the enumeration of the clasp codes by year... something that I am familiar with already but thanks nonetheless. How about for the years 1972-1975, what number or letter shod be stamped on them? None?

Again, thanks for the list!

[Mark020]

None :-) 4-72 is 4th quarter. Later datecodes are with a monthcode.

[crowncollection]

Sorry I misunderstood the question I think the question has now been answered. However there are exceptions real oyster bands 93150's with no date codes , who knows why ?


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[springer]

Here are some more clasp codes.

VA 1976
VB 1977
VC 1978
VD 1979
VE 1980

The early 1970's clasps were coded with the year in numbers and not letters.

Also, it is not unusual to find a clasp that has no date-coded letter or number.

Also the Rolex Reference Library has a very informative thread by greekbum on Rolex bracelets and clasp codes. Here is the link:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=73646

The photo below is a date coded (3 71) 6251 clasp blade.

[JustinK]

I am curious to know why the late seventies early eighties claps have multiple codes for the same year. Does the V mean anything? Why two codes for the same year?

1976 A (VA) ?
1977 B (VB)
1978 C (VC)
1979 D (VD)
1980 E (VE)
1981 F (VF)

[springer]

Originally Posted by JustinK

I am curious to know why the late seventies early eighties claps have multiple codes for the same year. Does the V mean anything? Why two codes for the same year?

1976 A (VA) ?
1977 B (VB)
1978 C (VC)
1979 D (VD)
1980 E (VE)
1981 F (VF)

Rolex isn't talking or giving out any information on their serial numbers or other codes. The clasp code lists comes from a compilation of watches that someone put together - from original watches/bracelets. The clasp code charts that I have seen seem accurate based on my experience with watches wearing their original bracelets.

[s1nn3d]

Originally Posted by springer

Here are some more clasp codes.

VA 1976
VB 1977
VC 1978
VD 1979
VE 1980

The early 1970's clasps were coded with the year in numbers and not letters.

Also, it is not unusual to find a clasp that has no date-coded letter or number.

Also the Rolex Reference Library has a very informative thread by greekbum on Rolex bracelets and clasp codes. Here is the link:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=73646

The photo below is a date coded (3 71) 6251 clasp blade.

Are undated clasps/bracelets service replacements? Or like I mentioned earlier, they are from the period when Rolex clasps had no year stamps... 1972/3-1975?

[crowncollection]

QUOTE=s1nn3d;4245776]Are undated clasps/bracelets service replacements? Or like I mentioned earlier, they are from the period when Rolex clasps had no year stamps... 1972/3-1975?[/QUOTE]

i dont think they are service clasps they are usually marked with the letter S, there are anomalies as stated which do not make sense, some older president bracelets have a date code, some do not on the back of the clasp on the opposite side to the rest of the scrolling etc., only rolex knows why i think. heres a borrowed pic of a service clasp

[s1nn3d]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

QUOTE=s1nn3d;4245776]Are undated clasps/bracelets service replacements? Or like I mentioned earlier, they are from the period when Rolex clasps had no year stamps... 1972/3-1975?

i dont think they are service clasps they are usually marked with the letter S, there are anomalies as stated which do not make sense, some older president bracelets have a date code, some do not on the back of the clasp on the opposite side to the rest of the scrolling etc., only rolex knows why i think. heres a borrowed pic of a service clasp [/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info! :)

[IronNick420]

some peoples want to know how old the clasp is , isn't the clasp made the same year of the rolex watch or its different?

[crowncollection]

Originally Posted by IronNick420

some peoples want to know how old the clasp is , isn't the clasp made the same year of the rolex watch or its different?

Pretty old thread to revive, no dates are not the same as the watch always and bands can be changed.


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[Old Expat Beast]

Bands (clasps) can be a year or two older than the watch head. They are not made together at the same time.

[Juggernaut]

Ok, so I just received a used Oyster 78360 bracelet and it does not have a clasp code. Should the authenticity be questioned?
Photos

[Old Expat Beast]

Looks like it has a date stamp on the right, but impossible to say anything more from that photo.

[Juggernaut]

Thanks for jumping in so quickly, Adam...here's a better one, this time by me, not from the listing...
It's: 1
76
The details of the logo and scrollwork on the folding clasp isn't as sharp as usual, but I suppose it could have been polished....?

[Old Expat Beast]

1/76 mean first quarter 1976, and bracelet letter codes started sometime that year. That's all I can tell you, I'm not a clasp expert. Not even sure when the 78360 started.

[Juggernaut]

Wow...that's pretty cool...ok, yes reviewing some information on the web, it seems that Rolex didn't use the familiar letters/numbers stamping until 1976...so it makes sense that this is an older bracelet....it was advertised as a Explorer I bracelet. It's now on my 1982 Datejust. But was the 78760 bracelet around in 1976?...or was it still the folded-link style 7836?
This must be one of the earliest 76360's that still had the earlier code stamping...a transitional model.

Here's some good info, but Adam...you get credit for this one!...thanks again.

http://www.watchprosite.com/?page=wf...568&pi=5901553

[springer]

I have seen 93150 bracelets stamped 76 and although my memory isn't the best, I'm quite sure the 78360s were probably available also during 1975.

[Friedenthsl46]

I have a submariner date with scrambled SN indicating it was manufactured after 2010. The code on the clasp however is 8cl, which from what I can see indicates the bracelet is manufactured in 2004. I understand the bracelet and watch could have been manufactured in different years, but 6 years apart? This is a pre owned watch from a reputable business, but not an AD. Should I be worried?

[datejust24]

Originally Posted by Friedenthsl46

I have a submariner date with scrambled SN indicating it was manufactured after 2010. The code on the clasp however is 8cl, which from what I can see indicates the bracelet is manufactured in 2004. I understand the bracelet and watch could have been manufactured in different years, but 6 years apart? This is a pre owned watch from a reputable business, but not an AD. Should I be worried?

A 16610 or 116610?

[Friedenthsl46]

That would be 116610.

[padi56]

B

Originally Posted by Friedenthsl46

That would be 116610.

Well first its a totally different clasp and bracelet on any 116610 so clasp cannot be 2004 don't read to much into any internet codes.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Friedenthsl46

I have a submariner date with scrambled SN indicating it was manufactured after 2010. The code on the clasp however is 8cl, which from what I can see indicates the bracelet is manufactured in 2004. I understand the bracelet and watch could have been manufactured in different years, but 6 years apart? This is a pre owned watch from a reputable business, but not an AD. Should I be worried?

Clasp codes are also random numbers now, so don't try to ascribe an earlier code list to new bracelets.

[Friedenthsl46]

Thanks for the responses