Vinatage Rolex due dligence advice please

[phelix_da_kat]

Morning fellow TRFers,

I am preparing myself for taking the vintage plunge.. :-)

Am doing research and learning about a few pieces - trying collate advice about due diligence.

So here's my query please..

1) Serial number vs Date stamp
Do serials always match the date stamp on the inside of the case?
Is it acceptable they are sometimes a couple of years out?
If they are out of sync, what is more common, the serial or the stamping being "older"?

2) case date stamp.
Are these always in the format of [roman numerals representing the month][arabic numbers for the year].
Or can they be all arabic numbers?

3) Sometimes I see scratchings or writen numbers on the inside of the caseback.
Does this refer to when the watch was serviced?


Thank you for your advice.. Promise to share pictures once I find somthing special..




(PS apologies for my spelling mistake..)