Production date, searched but cant find

[angriffnole]

Can someone inform me of what year my Sub Date was made. Its a 16610 with a serial of A248xxx. Not sure if a 98 or 99? I have learned that the A's started in november of 98 and went through 99.

[waQstar]

You are not going to be able to pin point exactly, could be either one of those years.

[Vanessa CW21]

If you have the original bracelet, you can guess a little closer with the clasp code.

Sent from my LG-MS770 using Tapatalk

[joe100]

Well the clasp code really only states when the bracelet was made. The case could have been made in 97, the bracelet in 96, the movement t in 95 and all cased up in 98

[Art 1]

Probably 99.

[angriffnole]

I was thinking 98 because the serial number was in the the first 1/4 of the numbers which put it in the early part. Am I right?

[joe100]

Originally Posted by angriffnole

I was thinking 98 because the serial number was in the the first 1/4 of the numbers which put it in the early part. Am I right?

It's not a science, just an approximation. It can be off by a lot

[angriffnole]

So really the only way to know would have been the original purchaser with the original documentation?

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by angriffnole

So really the only way to know would have been the original purchaser with the original documentation?

That would only tell you what date it was purchased.

[angriffnole]

Man, you would think there would be a way to tell?

[HogwldFLTR]

How old is the metal in it? Any idea?

[angriffnole]

[angriffnole]

--

[angriffnole]

Was not sure if I needed to start a new post or continue on this one. Someone please let me know. While I have been researching my purchase of a Sub date. I have tried to find out the actual date. As I have learned it is not an exact science and may not be possible. But being newly addicted to Rolex I find it fun to narrow it down and come to a more definitive answer. With my Serial number I think I have narrowed it down to late 98 or 99. Sub is a 16610 with a serial of A248XXX. Some have said 98 some 99. I checked the bracelet number and it is: X1 and 93150. From other charts posted on the forum it puts the bracelet at: January 1999. Now my logic would say that because the bracelet is a 99 that would most likely make the watch itself a 1999. Am I write in "assuming" that? Any thought would be appreciated.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by angriffnole

Was not sure if I needed to start a new post or continue on this one. Someone please let me know. While I have been researching my purchase of a Sub date. I have tried to find out the actual date. As I have learned it is not an exact science and may not be possible. But being newly addicted to Rolex I find it fun to narrow it down and come to a more definitive answer. With my Serial number I think I have narrowed it down to late 98 or 99. Sub is a 16610 with a serial of A248XXX. Some have said 98 some 99. I checked the bracelet number and it is: X1 and 93150. From other charts posted on the forum it puts the bracelet at: January 1999. Now my logic would say that because the bracelet is a 99 that would most likely make the watch itself a 1999. Am I write in "assuming" that? Any thought would be appreciated.

Have you tried asking the manufacturer directly?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by angriffnole

Can someone inform me of what year my Sub Date was made. Its a 16610 with a serial of A248xxx. Not sure if a 98 or 99? I have learned that the A's started in november of 98 and went through 99.

No internet chart can give you exact production date only a approx date when the case or clasp was stamped and not when watch was made.Now A serials ran from around November 1998 till December 1999 or even longer.And at this time frame the dials were starting to change from Tritium to Luminover. So if dial has say T SwissT at bottom dial or >25 Swiss its more 1998 than 1999.But from latish 1998 till about 2000 only the word Swiss was used bottom of dial with luminover lume dials.Myself cannot understand why some want to know when the watch was made, Rolex watches are good as long as properly serviced for 50-80 plus years no matter when they were made

[angriffnole]

It just says swiss on the bottom

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Have you tried asking the manufacturer directly?

Have you found Rolex to be helpful in giving out this sort of information, because I haven't.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by angriffnole

It just says swiss on the bottom

Then again it could be mid late 1998 or 1999 just cannot see what difference a year makes anyway.

[angriffnole]

Well in the grand scheme of things a year really does not matter. But I would love to be able to say I have a 1999 Sub Date. Not I have a 98 or 99 Sub Date, not really sure. To a Non-Rolex person this sounds like you really don't know much about what you have. Before I joined this sight and become more knowledgeable, I might have passed on buying this because even though the person I bought from is a well known, respected collector in my area, It still would have seemed odd if he said. Its a 98 or 99 don't really know for sure, so do you want to buy it? I just like to know exactly what I have. But again, may not be possible. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me to own an item worth thousands of dollars and not know for sure the date. Not like it was made in the late 30's or something.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by angriffnole

Was not sure if I needed to start a new post or continue on this one. Someone please let me know. While I have been researching my purchase of a Sub date. I have tried to find out the actual date. As I have learned it is not an exact science and may not be possible. But being newly addicted to Rolex I find it fun to narrow it down and come to a more definitive answer. With my Serial number I think I have narrowed it down to late 98 or 99. Sub is a 16610 with a serial of A248XXX. Some have said 98 some 99. I checked the bracelet number and it is: X1 and 93150. From other charts posted on the forum it puts the bracelet at: January 1999. Now my logic would say that because the bracelet is a 99 that would most likely make the watch itself a 1999. Am I write in "assuming" that? Any thought would be appreciated.

No you're not.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by angriffnole

Well in the grand scheme of things a year really does not matter. But I would love to be able to say I have a 1999 Sub Date. Not I have a 98 or 99 Sub Date, not really sure. To a Non-Rolex person this sounds like you really don't know much about what you have. Before I joined this sight and become more knowledgeable, I might have passed on buying this because even though the person I bought from is a well known, respected collector in my area, It still would have seemed odd if he said. Its a 98 or 99 don't really know for sure, so do you want to buy it? I just like to know exactly what I have. But again, may not be possible. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me to own an item worth thousands of dollars and not know for sure the date. Not like it was made in the late 30's or something.

If you bought a brand new watch from an AD you wouldn't know when it was made. It's not reasonable to expect more than that from something that's almost 15 years old. Cars have model years and planned obsolescence, Rolex doesn't and that should be a good thing. If you don't like it, then the brand isn't for you.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

Have you found Rolex to be helpful in giving out this sort of information, because I haven't.

No, however, I have never had the need to ask them for any information.

I only posted the response because I am not sure what a random group of anonymous people on the internet could tell the OP as opposed to the manufacturer.

[angriffnole]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

If you bought a brand new watch from an AD you wouldn't know when it was made. It's not reasonable to expect more than that from something that's almost 15 years old. Cars have model years and planned obsolescence, Rolex doesn't and that should be a good thing. If you don't like it, then the brand isn't for you.

I dont like it but to say the brand is not for me seems a little snooty. But then again most of here have a little extra green laying around for the brand. That in itself might give some the "thats how we role or hit the road attitude".

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by angriffnole

I dont like it but to say the brand is not for me seems a little snooty. But then again most of here have a little extra green laying around for the brand. That in itself might give some the "thats how we role or hit the road attitude".

Not trying to be snooty, there are just a lot of cool watch brands out there. It seems people sometimes get stuck on Rolex, even when there's very little they like about the brand - see some of the "Rolex should make nothing but 47mm watches" comments for instance. If you were to buy an IWC you could order an archive extract and learn exactly when the watch was made and where (country/store) it was originally sold. Rolex chooses not to support that sort of enthusiast interaction (which is a shame).

[angriffnole]

I understand and I am certainly not one of those who think they should do things the way I think. I guess I am still on my Rolex high. I have been absolutely entranced by Rolex since I was a teenager. Now that I can own one, or two or three, I want to know everything about it. Thanks for giving me a better understanding on the subject.

[shadowcaster]

Have you tried this site yet ? http://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-serial-numbers

[angriffnole]

Originally Posted by shadowcaster

Have you tried this site yet ? http://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-serial-numbers

Will do

[angriffnole]

Bob says its a 1999, I am going with that and will start worrying about my next Rolex purchase not the date, Thanks everyone.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by angriffnole

Bob says its a 1999, I am going with that and will start worrying about my next Rolex purchase not the date, Thanks everyone.

I told you that a couple of days ago.