Verifying Serial Numbers and Clasp Codes?

[tony_leotardo_jr]

All, I am considering purchasing a 1999 16220 datejust and wanted to quickly understand one point. The serial number makes sense as it’s an A,000,001 serial number, but the clasp code starts with a U which is from 1998. Looking at the papers the watch was purchased in Feb 1999. Is that a red flag? Also can someone tell me their view on if this has been repolished?

[padi56]

No internet chart can give a exact date of clasps or watches as all these codes are a approx date between X&Y years when they were stamped and not when they were made. And clasps are mass produced separately from the watch cases and rest of bracelets so codes could be different to watch case.

[KatGirl]

As long as the bracelet is the correct one for that model watch, you are all good. No worries. As clean as that clasp is, it has been at least lightly polished. It looks very good, for its age.

Kat


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[SS Oyster]

Clasps made in 1998 definitely would have been used in early 1999 watches. I’d be willing to bet your entire watch is actually 1998 (serial number should confirm), but just wasn’t sold until Feb 1999. Nothing to worry about.


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[SS Oyster]

Now if the clasp was 2001, then you know it was swapped for some reason.


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[SS Oyster]

Believe it or not, while shopping for a Daytona 116519 “ghost”, which the AD had in stock (back two years before the madness), that same AD had another 116519, but it was like 8 years old with a gray alligator strap (pic below was not the watch but it was like the one below) with the old clasp, priced exactly as the new OF Ghost!


I asked the AD. They said it had just never sold, but when it does, it will get a 2018 warranty card. That seems odd to me because the buyer will have a watch that need service immediately, but they will have a 5 year warranty and won’t send it in for service until 10 years after purchase.




Now that’s gonna be a hard one to explain.

I suggested the AD mark at the original price and I’d buy it, but they refused.


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[thesharkfactor]

Ofcourse it has been polished - it's a used watch and it looks like new?

For what it's worth, it looks immaculate, lovely and sharp with very nice condition lugs, I'd buy that and Im VERY fussy when it comes to polishing.

Understand., all watches from grey dealers that have no marks on them have been polished.

Ruined or over polished on the polish wheel is something quite differnet to a 'tidy up pre-sale'..

[joli160]

A 25 year old watch looking like this is polished.
It would be a unicorn if it wasn’t

[padi56]

Originally Posted by joli160

A 25 year old watch looking like this is polished.
It would be a unicorn if it wasn’t

Must not mention the word polish as the anti-polish brigade will say you are causing negative vibes.