How do they date a Rolex with no papers?

[Tiggsy]

Looking to get other half a 1989 ladies datejust for her birthday (her birth year) taht she's wanted for a while.

Found one in a little store just off 5th in NY (online) - they have a good rep so happy to buy. But - how do they date these things when it is paperless? DOes the serial number show up on a database from that far back???? or do they just guess?

[GCH]

Serial number between the lugs gives the date.

Which store? Is it on 47th st?

[SULAND]

1989 should be a A series number.

[Tiggsy]

Cool. So they are accurate.

Now getting from Luxembourg as the NY one (although cheaper) ended up a little more after import tax.

[Jayho]

What site are you using to find the watch? I'm possibly looking at a birth year watch for myself as I too am turning 30 this year. Seems to be very limited selections on the usual second hand sites. I do have slight reservations about buying online / used too as I'm not fully in tunes for what to look out for (incass I buy a fake).

[Dicky Knee]

Jayho said:

What site are you using to find the watch? I'm possibly looking at a birth year watch for myself as I too am turning 30 this year. Seems to be very limited selections on the usual second hand sites. I do have slight reservations about buying online / used too as I'm not fully in tunes for what to look out for (incass I buy a fake).

Chrono24 allows you to search by year (363 Rolex from 1989 at the moment). Burlington Arcade also have a couple of watch stores that sell by year although they seems pretty expensive.

[smithyithy]

^ From my experience though, searching by year isn't totally accurate on Chrono24 - I'm 30 next year so was looking for 1990 watches, found quite a few and enquired with the sellers and many came back to me and said the year wasn't accurate.

So just take it with a pinch of salt and make double sure to check paperwork etc to make sure it is actually from that year.

[Tiggsy]

yep chron24 - but spoke with the actual dealer.

She wants plain gold which is hard to find in a datejust - most of them are two tone.

[Tiggsy]

with regards paperwork - many (from 30 years ago) no longer have papers - does one just assume that a proper jewellers will have done the relevant checks? Is there much you can do with regards checking yourself (with an online purchase?)

[Jayho]

Dicky Knee said:

Jayho said:

What site are you using to find the watch? I'm possibly looking at a birth year watch for myself as I too am turning 30 this year. Seems to be very limited selections on the usual second hand sites. I do have slight reservations about buying online / used too as I'm not fully in tunes for what to look out for (incass I buy a fake).

Chrono24 allows you to search by year (363 Rolex from 1989 at the moment). Burlington Arcade also have a couple of watch stores that sell by year although they seems pretty expensive.

Thanks, I'll have another look to see if there's any tickling my fancy. The original goal was for a brand new explorer 1, but my current circumstances would mean that it's a stretch. I've been putting money aside for a nice watch, bit with new house and everything my cash seems to be best utilised somewhere else. Another potential is moon watch. Fits perfectly in the collection as I don't have a manual chronograph in the collection. Main watch at the moment is a classic omega and a Tudor black bay, and an array of quartz and digital watches. Another one which has been tempting me sorely is a Tudor Ranger which can be had at a steal brand new and I can save from now for an explorer for my 40th.

[Dicky Knee]

There was a nice Daytona on there for £75k!!!