Does anybody else hate it

[IamJacky]

I remember when I first joined this forum and I was so confused with all the reference numbers, it was pretty confusing to me.

But now I absolutely love it when people can actually specify the exact reference number of a certain watch, especially with the name/description of the watch too.

[SN13]

Originally Posted by dal1234

Does anybody else hate it when......

People only use reference codes, for example

I have a 2017 yahchtmaster rose gold and chocolate, SS sub date 2018, TT yellow gold blue sub 2018, YG sub 2019, TT Daytona YG black diamond face 2021,and a WG grey dial Daytona oyster flex 2021

And I have not got a clue what any of the reference numbers are

You mean a 116623, 116610, 116613, 116618, 116503, 116508

I think i got those right.

[dal1234]

Originally Posted by SN13

You mean a 116623, 116610, 116613, 116618, 116503, 116508

I think i got those right.

Lol, now I Know

[Oxfordian]

It has taken awhile for me to get my head round the reference numbers but I am slowly getting there, I think that it helps when you get an interest in a watch, I am reasonably familiar with Submariner codes but that comes simply by reading as much as I can about the model, but give me a Day-Date and I haven't got a clue how their model numbers work.

[SN13]

The codes actually mean something.

Last digit:
0 - ss
22 - rolesor Like in ym.
3 - 2tone yg
5 - rose gold
8 - yellow gold
9 - white gold
6 - platinum


Read up
https://millenarywatches.com/bracelet-and-clasp-codes/

[jamesbondOO7]

Originally Posted by SN13

The codes actually mean something.

Last digit:
0 - ss
22 - rolesor Like in ym.
3 - 2tone yg
5 - rose gold
8 - yellow gold
9 - white gold
6 - platinum


Read up
https://millenarywatches.com/bracelet-and-clasp-codes/

22 = rolesium

[sutats]

Not at all but then again the word doesn't exist in my vocabulary. The world of Patek Philippe is all about model references.

[Danishtext]

Originally Posted by sutats

Not at all but then again the word doesn't exist in my vocabulary. The world of Patek Philippe is all about model references.

True that. I wonder why tho?

[rolexonlywatch]

They think they sound cooler when they use reference numbers


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[WBaileyii]

Using both makes sense to me. They've been making the Submariners since 1954 and several of the references overlap in production years and there's date vs no-date...reference numbers are really useful in identifying the subs. I'm sure other references have similar issues. Both is good.

[NachoNeal]

Agree. It's annoying.

[myc ritz]

What about just enjoying the watches and no care about what people call them? Who are you reporting to?

[JonaG]

I use both but I do think you should at least know the reference numbers to the watches you own. I’d rather have reference numbers than “yacht” spelled incorrectly.

[TswaneNguni]

I love Omega reference numbers .

[Uppersouth]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

I love Omega reference numbers .

Lol, makes Rolex classification child’s play.

[JSolution]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

I love Omega reference numbers .

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

I love Omega reference numbers .

They used to be great. 2531.80, 2254.50, 3570.50, 2200.50 etc but now you need special skills

[Jster]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

I love Omega reference numbers .

So funny. I’m a big fan of Omega but the reference numbers are cumbersome.

[sgwatchguy]

Goes with the territory.

If you’re buying watches as jewelry, no need to educate yourself.

If you’re an enthusiast, learning and using reference numbers should be a small and easily accomplished part of being in the hobby.

[DCheeta]

Doesn’t bother to me at all. It’s a much quicker way to be specific. You can say:

“stainless steel Submariner with no date two generations prior to the current model”

or you can say

“14060.”

[accountank2000]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

Doesn’t bother to me at all. It’s a much quicker way to be specific. You can say:

“stainless steel Submariner with no date two generations prior to the current model”

or you can say

“14060.”

Exactly this.

Some of the popular models are a bit more recognisable from the model number just because people mention them more often than others, and forum regulars will start to remember them even without needing to have an eidetic memory.

You might only know a model number if you've recently been looking for one of them, or you got one and took notice of the reference, or are generally more of a 'watch nerd'. People outside watch forums that you meet on the street will not know what the hell a 116500 is, so if you are talking to them about having one or wanting one you will get further if you say it's a rolex daytona with a steel case and ceramic bezel.

On watch forums, people like to know what specific thing you're talking about and visualise what you've got, or what you want, or what you're comparing. If I say I have a 116519LN and you don't know what that is, you can right click on your web browser and "Search Google for 116519LN" and find out in two seconds. If I have to spend longer writing out "current-generation Rolex Daytona, in white gold, but it's the version that comes on an oysterflex bracelet with black ceramic bezel", it's not very efficient from my side and gives you more to look up.

I could make up my own proprietary abbreviation of the description using words instead of numbers, and say "WG oysterflex daytona" and forum regulars would probably know the one I meant. If they didn't they could put it into a search engine, but would get a less accurate result than if I gave the model number.

For example, I just put the above string into Bing in inprivate mode so it wouldn't be too influenced by my recent googling history. The first hit was, as it happens, a page called "Rolex WG | Daytona Oysterflex 116519LN" on Chrono24, and then there were some images of the 116519LN.

But the next line down on the search was RubberB's page for "Rolex Daytona Rubber Strap for models on Leather YG / WG - Classic Series"; with a picture of some old yellow rolex and the only use of the word oysterflex on the page was to say that particular rubber strap they were selling was not compatible with newer daytonas that came on oysterflex.

The next line down the search was Rolex's own page for the 116518LN, headed "Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Watch: 18 ct yellow gold ..."; it's not what I have.

After that, there was another for sale ad for a 116519LN, but then the next result after that was the Chrono24 page for 116519 models generally (not the LN version I have), and if you clicked through to it you would see sixty different daytonas in white gold with various faces, some diamond dials or MOP or custom ones, and all with WG bezels, none of which I own.

So if I said I was talking about my current model WG oysterflex daytona it's not specific enough and I would at least need to add the word ceramic in there too for people to filter their websearches and it would still be a crapshoot for people to find it (we can perhaps blame Bing for being an abomination of a search engine ).

But anyway, I highly recommend my 116519LN (the version without diamonds or mother-of-pearl...)

[JerBear]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

Doesn’t bother to me at all. It’s a much quicker way to be specific. You can say:

“stainless steel Submariner with no date two generations prior to the current model”

or you can say

“14060.”

[t65tampa]

I tend to use the model numbers when it matters, as there are subtle distinctions between the specific models over time.


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[Burlington]

I can certainly appreciate how learning number/letter combinations can be difficult for some people.

But the precision offered by a reference number is very useful.

[Harry-57]

Hate? No. It's such an ugly, disgusting emotion. People who hate need help.

Have to Google sometimes? Yes. It's good to learn new things about something you love.

Care? No.

Most people, including my AD, use model numbers, popular nick names and slang interchangeably. I find that having a broad knowledge (sometimes with the help of Google) allows me to more actively participate in a discussion about what I love and what fascinates me.

What does irritate a bit (only a bit, it's not like any of this is actually important) is people trying to force nick names onto new morels. They are not necessarily silly names, but they can seem like it because of the silliness of the people spraying them around. Nick names don't work like that. Not in the real world and not in our artificial one.

[joli160]

Just a little reading up and true interest in the brand for which this forum exists is all that it takes to understand the numbers.

[jamesbondOO7]

Nope, it's the only way to be specific.
Same with cars, I always talk about W126 or C126 or R107 or C107 or W113 for exemple when I talk about Mercedes.
With Rolls-Royce and Bentley, it is easier, everybody knows what a Silver Cloud III or a Bentley S3 is. Now with older ones, obviously, one has to mention the coachbuilder and the body type.

[RJRJRJ]

You're probably not a great communicator if people constantly have to look up, or learn what you're talking about.

I'm also not a fan pf posts that ask "what would you do?" and many times even includes a different brand, and the post doesn't include pictures. You can save dozens of people the time of looking them up by just including them in the OP.

[AshCashEmAll]

Read long enough on this forum and you will learn the reference numbers if you want. Anytime I didn’t know a reference number I googled it and that’s how I know all of them now.


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[Orangeface]

Lots of Rolexes out there, more all the time. The only reference numbers that matter to me are the ones referring to the models I prefer. That’s all that matters, and easy enough to learn.