1976 Sub date help

[Deepsea Blue]

I've been searching for a birth year watch - 1976 and I've come across one with no box and papers but its claiming to be a 76 watch.

The number is - 4.446.XXX, is this correct for 1976 ?

Thanks for any help

[Old Expat Beast]

Probably...could be 75, too. The dates by this time were/are based on stamped warranty papers, not case back dates, so it's very hard to be 100% sure without those. But, yes, I would think there's a high chance that your watch 'hit the street' in 1976. There's no knowng when it was actually made.

[Haywood_Milton]

Are you sure that is not a watch which has had a new mid-case supplied by Rolex ?

4,4xx,xxx numbers are a bit special in that regard.....

Haywood Milton, UK

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton

Are you sure that is not a watch which has had a new mid-case supplied by Rolex ?

4,4xx,xxx numbers are a bit special in that regard.....

Haywood Milton, UK

Good point...I hadn't thought of that.

[Deepsea Blue]

Is it worth giving it a miss until one creeps up with box and papers then ?

Have you got any 76 Sub dates Haywood ?

[Haywood_Milton]

Submariners from that era tend to come my way and not then go any further :-)

I think perhaps you should ask what you mean by a 1976 watch. One with papers from 1976 will probably not have been manufactured that year. One manufactured that year will probably have sold in a following year. Please do NOT put too much faith in the charts of case numbers and dates you see on the internet fora and some dealers' / collectors' own websites. They are vaguely correct but not in the specific. For example, and this is little recognised, Rolex commonly drew from more than one number range within a specific year so that, for example, in 1976 they will have manufactured 4million and 5million case number watches but NOT in one single, contiguous batch of numbers.

With kind regards,

Haywood Milton

[Deepsea Blue]

Thanks Haywood.

Would it be worth buying without box and papers ?

And what roughly is it worth with no credentials?

Thanks again.

[Haywood_Milton]

1680 white dial, loose watch and no history........dial and then bracelet condition particularly relevant normally, but I'd expect this to be about £4k at retail give or take. Maybe less for a private sale, where your chances of any "come-back" if it turns out stolen or to have material problems are usually close to nil. If dial marked then most would walk away. Bracelet can be replaced but is expensive.

Anything is worth buying at the right price.

Haywood

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Deepsea Blue

Thanks Haywood.

Would it be worth buying without box and papers ?

And what roughly is it worth with no credentials?

Thanks again.

As HM says, with a 4.4 serial, it could be a service case, which means the main body of the watch could be much newer, having replaced a damaged case. With no papers, it' impossible to say without asking Rolex directly.

[Haywood_Milton]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

As HM says, with a 4.4 serial, it could be a service case, which means the main body of the watch could be much newer, having replaced a damaged case. With no papers, it' impossible to say without asking Rolex directly.

Sorry, yes, if it's a service replacement case ( I believe it will be ) then this specific example should be worth less than the prices I just suggested, which were for a "normal" 1680 white / loose watch.

Haywood M

[Deepsea Blue]

Thanks so much.

I think the search continues for a full set 76 sub date then

[Haywood_Milton]

Patience is the best weapon any watch buyer has, so arm yourself well with it :-)

I'd expect what you're looking for to be a £5k target.

Bon chance!

Haywood Milton

[Deepsea Blue]

It was around the £4600 mark and I would of paid full asking if it was furnished with box and papers but its not and you guys have helped me not pull the trigger with excitement.

May the search continue.......