5508 Caseback vs Serial number

[dpa94114]

I've searched the archives - couldn't find anything - so apologies in advance if i've missed a thread.

I have been looking at birth year watches (1961) and inevitably end up at the beautiful old subs...esp the 5508.

What is rather odd is that i seem to keep finding them with casebacks dating to 1958 but serial numbers that run anywhere from 1958 to 1962. These are not shabby dealers, franken looking rolexes.

I know the documentation on the dials from them is anything but set in stone, so I was just wondering if there was some agreement to disagree of sorts - that they produced a boatload of casebacks in 1958 that were used beyond the case production...or bad cases that needed to be repaired...

or something i just do not know in terms of the history.

thanks

doug

[Jfullm42]

Jacek just posted a 6536-1 and the papers are marked 61'
Original owner purchased it when he was in the Navy

[themaninblack]

Nearly all 5508's carry 1958 case backs but case numbers dating them to 1958, 1959 sometimes 1961 or 1962. The 62 case backs usually match to a 1962 case number. Why? I figure they made more case backs than completed watches and when the 5512 came into production in 1959 the 5508 temporarily ceased production, or something along those lines, then in 1961-2 they used up remaining stock of already dated casebacks and mid cases that then got later case numbers.

[dpa94114]

Originally Posted by themaninblack

Nearly all 5508's carry 1958 case backs but case numbers dating them to 1958, 1959 sometimes 1961 or 1962. The 62 case backs usually match to a 1962 case number. Why? I figure they made more case backs than completed watches and when the 5512 came into production in 1959 the 5508 temporarily ceased production, or something along those lines, then in 1961-2 they used up remaining stock of already dated casebacks and mid cases that then got later case numbers.

Thanks - that was my guess...and thought I had read something along those lines. I think it's clear that Rolex were looser with their rules in the 60s and 70s than they apply today to the same watches when you service them.

(there is a long string about a Quartz daydate having a dial that doesn't indicate it's an oysterquartz, but has service papers from a RSC documenting service from them)>

[Tools]

Originally Posted by dpa94114

. . .
What is rather odd is that i seem to keep finding them with casebacks dating to 1958 but serial numbers that run anywhere from 1958 to 1962. These are not shabby dealers, franken looking rolexes.

. . .

doug

You are falling into the trap that many do. The Charts on the Internet are not actual production dates, they are guesses and made up from relatively small samples by enthusiasts. They are not actual Rolex production data.

It is well documented that Rolex did not produce their watches sequentially and there is overlap in both directions.