Have I been sold the wrong watch

[mcilwain]

I have today purchased a Submariner 16800 which is suppose to be of a 1982 model from an AD in London, however since getting it home i'm not sure i've been sold the correct watch.

I spent many hours researching this sight for helpful ideas to making a purchase, however as soon as I started raising these questions the AD just dismissed this type of site as people who where not dealers but enthusiast.

It came with the paperwork which shows the date of purchase as 19/1/82.
The green wallet, watch case and guarantee show a serial number 0f 645****,
The model number on the guarantee is a 16800.

I queried the serial number with the AD as I thought it should be a 7.2 -7.75 million serial number , to which he replied that Rolex originally said that the 7.2 - 7.75 million was from that date but changed there mind due to unauthenticated record...

In addition the bracelet and clasp has been changed, which I was told but the only number I can see on the strap is 78360 on the clasp (no year or month marking) and 78360 on the bracelet wit 501 B on one of the ends as well.

I was under my own pressure to come up with the watch as buy son is getting married next Saturday and wanted to get him something which was special and he could enjoy. I had only seen one other but that had a lot of flex on the bracelet.

Any thoughts or help would be much appreciated.

[red98a4ss]

It probably just has a Newer style bracelet the original was probably worn. I wouldn't worry about it enjoy the watch.

[azguy]

The serial # looks appropriate for a watch sold in 1982, dating is not an exact science, watches could and have sat for year before being sold.

As for the bracelet, it could have easily been replaced in the last 30+ years.

Enjoy, and BTW, pictures are always the preferred method of helping people out.

[SLS]

Please post some pictures...but here goes.
Please keep in mind that the dates are not an exact science, but more of an estimate. 6.4 million places the watch to be made around 1980, so its not unrealistic for it to be sold in early 1982. The 78630 is a less expensive way to replace the oyster bracelet, but as you noticed the correct bracelet should be 93150. 501B endlinks are correct for the watch. Honestly, aside from the bracelet being not a fliplock, it sounds like you are OK.

[mcilwain]

Thank you for your comments BUT my camera would not focus in on the numbers even in Macro setting. Would you be happy with the no year/month details on the bracelet?

[SLS]

I would like to see pics of the dial and case.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by mcilwain

. . . I spent many hours researching this sight for helpful ideas to making a purchase, however as soon as I started raising these questions the AD just dismissed this type of site as people who where not dealers but enthusiast.

It came with the paperwork which shows the date of purchase as 19/1/82.
The green wallet, watch case and guarantee show a serial number 0f 645****,
The model number on the guarantee is a 16800.

I queried the serial number with the AD as I thought it should be a 7.2 -7.75 million serial number , to which he replied that Rolex originally said that the 7.2 - 7.75 million was from that date but changed there mind due to unauthenticated record...

In addition the bracelet and clasp has been changed, which I was told but the only number I can see on the strap is 78360 on the clasp (no year or month marking) and 78360 on the bracelet wit 501 B on one of the ends as well.

. . .

I have to laugh at that AD comment.. In our view, Dealers are nothing but sales outlets and very few of them have any useful information or knowledge.. Like their serial number statement.. Rolex has never released any production data, and so they could not have said one thing then changed their mind..

In any event, your serial number is close enough to be late '81 or early '82, which your paperwork confirms. Dating by serial number only gets you within a couple of years and is not that precise.

If you are happy with the bracelet, don't worry about it.. It is rare that you would have an original bracelet on a 30+ year old watch. What matters most is that it is in good condition.