Rolex Explorer II

[shingles06]

Does it mean anything if the Serial number on the watch dates it to late 2003 (F) and the code on the bracelet dates it to 2004 (CL8)? Is that combo normal? The watch was sold new in 2006 by CD Peacock.

AZ

shingles06@gmail.com

[faingator]

IMO, it doesn't mean a thing. The watch case was manufactured in 2003 (F Series) but probably not assembled for sale until 2004. At which time the bracelet was manufactured and assembled to the watch case. And probably held in Rolex inventory until 2005 and then sent to CD Peacock and sold as brand new in 2006. This a normal process for Rolex.

[ccm123]

Nice photo!

[shingles06]

Thanks for the info. Somehow I assumed that Rolex sells what they make almost immediately instead of three years later. Very interesting.
AZ

[tools]

Charts are research tools, not absolute dating documents, and only represent an approximation of when a stamp was put on, not when it was actually manufactured... that information is never released by Rolex..

The 2003 date on a chart for an F is the first time that it was ever seen on the market (by WIS who post on the Internet. Nobody actually knows when or what number was made first or last.), but it is likely that F's, as well as any other serial prefix, were manufactaured over a 2 to 4 year period... Rolex also released more than one prefix at a time..

If you were actually trying to get the best date for your watch, you would go with the latest code you can find........ and there are more than just the clasp and the case stamps.. they're on the endlinks and movement as well.

Just using your numbers alone, you would say that the clasp was stamped (it's just a guess) in August of 2004, so it is likely it never got to a Delear before 2005, so your F Explorer is likely a 2005 build that spent some time in final assembly shipping/display stock and sold in early 2006...

No mystery.

[vonsteuben]

Thanks for replying. I'm learning something new every day. Like the wording OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE does not mean it actually has a perpetual calendar hidden inside somewhere! Perpetual (automatic) so long as the wearer keeps it in motion as opposed to perpetual motion.