a 2006 or 2007 sub bought "new" in 2011?

[bscepter]

i'm curious as to when my sub was made. its serial number starts with a "Z," and the clasp number starts with an EO. now, i purchased this watch new just a week ago, but the numbers indicate that it was manufactured four or even five years ago. i find it unlikely that a sub date - one of the most popular rolex models - would sit around at an AD for five years. so what gives? do they do returns or refurbished models?

[esm]

How many letters and numbers is your serial number?

If it is Z123456, then it can be a NOS. If it is Z1234X56, then it is the new Random serial. The "X" can be of any letter and at any position.

[sportsmaven20]

Originally Posted by esm

how many letters and numbers is your serial number?

If it is z123456, then it can be a nos. If it is z1234x56, then it is the new random serial. The "x" can be of any letter and at any position.

nos?

[esm]

Originally Posted by sportsmaven20

nos?

New Old Stock

[SaddleSC]

Originally Posted by sportsmaven20

nos?

NOS = New Old Stock

[sportsmaven20]

Originally Posted by esm

New Old Stock

Thanks!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by bscepter

i'm curious as to when my sub was made. its serial number starts with a "Z," and the clasp number starts with an EO. now, i purchased this watch new just a week ago, but the numbers indicate that it was manufactured four or even five years ago. i find it unlikely that a sub date - one of the most popular rolex models - would sit around at an AD for five years. so what gives? do they do returns or refurbished models?

These codes are only a rough indication when a case or clasp was stamped and not necessarily when a completed watch was made and shipped to AD for sale.With movements like the cal 3135 now that movement could be weeks months or even a year plus old before its matched to a case.And if bought new from a AD it carries the same warranty no matter what the stamp is.

[bscepter]

Originally Posted by esm

How many letters and numbers is your serial number?

If it is Z123456, then it can be a NOS. If it is Z1234X56, then it is the new Random serial. The "X" can be of any letter and at any position.

the serial is Z123456. so... should i be upset that it wasn't "new," even though i paid $6k for it? (i know i could've got one cheaper via TRF, but i wanted to buy through an AD).

as i mentioned earlier - i'm more concerned why a dealer would have an NOS sub lying around. i would imagine it would be one of their top sellers.

[bscepter]

what does it mean on this chart that the Z serial is 2006 '09?



does that mean the Z serial was used from 2006-2009? or does it mean it was used only in 2006 and in 2009? (it would make more sense that mine would be an '07, '08 or '09, i guess, since the clasp code seems to indicate it was stamped in '07.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

I guess the chart says that the first Z-serials were observed in September (9), 2006...

Other lists say May, 2006... nothing is written in stone with Rolex, and be aware that those lists are not officially released from Rolex but rather lists based on observations among Rolex collectors........

[gqllc]

My local AD told me last night that the reason he had a couple of "older" Sea Dwellers around was that he bought quite a few (many of them) at one time and would put one out at a time and leave the rest in the safe. Maybe your dealer had done the same with the sub?

[bscepter]

Originally Posted by gqllc

My local AD told me last night that the reason he had a couple of "older" Sea Dwellers around was that he bought quite a few (many of them) at one time and would put one out at a time and leave the rest in the safe. Maybe your dealer had done the same with the sub?

could be. she she had "one left, in the safe."

either way, i love my watch.

[gqllc]

It very well could be. I was talking to the owner. He also had a Sub LV and a regular Sub as nos. I did not check out the serial numbers.

[tkc324]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. The watch is identical regardless of which serial number it has... unless its the new ceramic bezel subs. When Rolex makes 1 million watches a year, you have to assume that some of these watches are going to sit in a store and be picked up couple years down the road... nothing wrong with it.

[Lion]

Patrick, I wouldn't worry about a "Z" serial numbered watch being NOS and sold currently. There are many reasons why a new/old watch is still hanging around today and periodically you still see them for sale with the gray market dealers here as well as at AD's!!!

[Foxglove]

You bought a new old stock sub. Z serials were produced from 2006-2007.

~Ross

[Foxglove]

Also, fwiw I tried to buy a 16610 from my AD, but they were all sold out (this was 6 months ago), they only had the newer 116610. It's unusual that an AD would still have a Z serial laying around, but then again weirder things have happened.

If you bought from an AD and the papers were blank (and now have your name/ date of sale on them) then I would just assume NOS and you either like that or not. Wouldn't bother me at all.

~Ross

[Rolex116520]

Originally Posted by bscepter

i'm curious as to when my sub was made. its serial number starts with a "Z," and the clasp number starts with an EO. now, i purchased this watch new just a week ago, but the numbers indicate that it was manufactured four or even five years ago. i find it unlikely that a sub date - one of the most popular rolex models - would sit around at an AD for five years. so what gives? do they do returns or refurbished models?

Did you buy it new from an AD or from a gray dealer that maybe "sat on it" with blank documents till he sold it to you ?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by bscepter

the serial is Z123456. so... should i be upset that it wasn't "new," even though i paid $6k for it? (i know i could've got one cheaper via TRF, but i wanted to buy through an AD).

as i mentioned earlier - i'm more concerned why a dealer would have an NOS sub lying around. i would imagine it would be one of their top sellers.

You bought a watch that was discontinued over a year ago and replaced by the new ceramic models, so any 16610 still around coulx be said to be "NOS" and I'll bet that there are still some in Dealer safes and back rooms, especially the green one.

You also only paid $6,000 for it, which was the price a couple of years ago.
At this point I would have to ask if you knew what you were buying..

As to the chart... The Z serials were first seen in 2006 and were still being seen in 2009. Letter serials last in the system for 2 to 4 years before they are no longer being produced and shipped.. All serials are not produced in a single day or year as some charts imply; therefore yours may have only been in the system for a year or so and you were lucky to find one..

[bscepter]

Originally Posted by Tools

You also only paid $6,000 for it, which was the price a couple of years ago.
At this point I would have to ask if you knew what you were buying..

i knew what i was buying. i wanted the last of the 16610s. i was figuring it was a 2010 model or whatever. i just wanted a new, uncirculated sub with the old case, and i wanted my name on the warranty card. and that's what i got.

my only concern over it possibly being a little older than what i thought, is that maybe it was a return or that maybe there was something wrong with it. i'm sure i'm just being paranoid.

[SaddleSC]

Originally Posted by bscepter

i just wanted a new, uncirculated sub with the old case, and i wanted my name on the warranty card. and that's what i got.

Sounds like exactly what you got...but if that is all you wanted, why post the thread in the first place?

If you have your name on the warranty card and you purchased from an AD, then I think it is time to stop obsessing and start enjoying that beautiful new Submariner!

BTW, you clasp code of EO dates the bracelet to 2007

[Tools]

Originally Posted by bscepter

i knew what i was buying. i wanted the last of the 16610s. i was figuring it was a 2010 model or whatever. i just wanted a new, uncirculated sub with the old case, and i wanted my name on the warranty card. and that's what i got.

my only concern over it possibly being a little older than what i thought, is that maybe it was a return or that maybe there was something wrong with it. i'm sure i'm just being paranoid.

You did good......... Many enthusiasts are scouring the Dealers looking for what you found, and willing to pay current prices for one......

[bscepter]

Originally Posted by SaddleSC

Sounds like exactly what you got...but if that is all you wanted, why post the thread in the first place?

as i said earlier - i was just concerned that it might be fishy that it was that old. if you guys think this is no big deal, then i won't worry. and i'm already enjoying the hell out of the watch.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by bscepter

i knew what i was buying. i wanted the last of the 16610s. i was figuring it was a 2010 model or whatever. i just wanted a new, uncirculated sub with the old case, and i wanted my name on the warranty card. and that's what i got.

my only concern over it possibly being a little older than what i thought, is that maybe it was a return or that maybe there was something wrong with it. i'm sure i'm just being paranoid.

You just summed it up with your own words being paraniod its a only watch, and watches don't go off, or have a sell buy date.And when bought new have the same warranty as any other case stamp, because thats all it is a case stamp.