Rolex Random Serial number checker

[Law_ren22]

Hi i am planning on buying a Yacht master but the seller doesn’t have the papers. He himself is unsure of the year and thinks its 2015. Is there a way to check the year model of the watch with the random serial number other than bringing it to a rolex store? If none, will RSC be able to tell the year? Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tools]

I would say that if the owner is unsure of the date but "thinks" that it is 2015, it is probably a bit older.

That said, Rolex does not actually build by model-year, so there are a number of years where the watch is virtually identical to another.

It is likely that an RSC could pin down the manufacture year better but they are notoriously difficult to pull information from.

[HONDABBQ]

To me if the guy cant remember what year he bought a watch and its supposedly only 3 years old id walk away.

[Hamstur]

If the piece is authentic, and you are strongly considering due to lower price point of incomplete set, and if it's a current version model 116622:

- If it's platinum or blue dial, then it's not older than 2012
- If it's rhodium dial, then it's not older than 2016

In this case, even if the original owner bought it in 2015, it could have been manufactured in 2012 ... and maybe just not sent from Rolex/distributor to dealer or sold by dealer to consumer until 2015.

[smym18]

Originally Posted by Hamstur

If the piece is authentic, and you are strongly considering due to lower price point of incomplete set, and if it's a current version model 116622:

- If it's platinum or blue dial, then it's not older than 2012
- If it's rhodium dial, then it's not older than 2016

In this case, even if the original owner bought it in 2015, it could have been manufactured in 2012 ... and maybe just not sent from Rolex/distributor to dealer or sold by dealer to consumer until 2015.

Isn't the platinum dial much older than 2012?

[VicLeChic]

The 16622 platinum dial is from 2004 if I'm not mistaken, the next gen 116622 came out in 2012 and lasted 4 years.

Originally Posted by smym18

Isn't the platinum dial much older than 2012?

[CoveWatch]

Originally Posted by HONDABBQ

To me if the guy cant remember what year he bought a watch and its supposedly only 3 years old id walk away.

I'd agree.. its not "that" old to have to forget already

[smym18]

Originally Posted by VicLeChic

The 16622 platinum dial is from 2004 if I'm not mistaken, the next gen 116622 came out in 2012 and lasted 4 years.

So is the platinum dial now no longer made? I'm pretty sure it is right? Was the dial the same looking just not made of platinum? Is there a thread or link you can share with the Yacht-Master history? I couldn't find one.

[VicLeChic]

Originally Posted by smym18

So is the platinum dial now no longer made? I'm pretty sure it is right? Was the dial the same looking just not made of platinum? Is there a thread or link you can share with the Yacht-Master history? I couldn't find one.

The 16622 platinum dial in 40mm was actually released in 1999. The 116622 is discontinued indeed since 2016 but you should be able to find NOS at ADs.

To get you started, here's an article from Rolex Magazine on the history of the Yacht-Master:
http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2009/10...story.html?m=1

And an excellent thread from SLRdude comparing the 16622 and 116622 in photos:
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=357602

[smym18]

Originally Posted by VicLeChic

The 16622 platinum dial in 40mm was actually released in 1999. The 116622 is discontinued indeed since 2016 but you should be able to find NOS at ADs.

To get you started, here's an article from Rolex Magazine on the history of the Yacht-Master:
http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2009/10...story.html?m=1

And an excellent thread from SLRdude comparing the 16622 and 116622 in photos:
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=357602

Thanks. I had no idea the platinum dial isn't being made anymore. That's pretty surprising.