How To Start Collecting Vintage Watches~9

Some tips about Rolex oyster bands

Photo 1: Rolex oyster band

This is an ever last Rolex band style. Most fans like oyster band because it looks young. Most fans feel that 5 beads jubilee band is a bit old fashion.

There are 2 types of oyster band base on structure: solid links band and folded links band. Photo 1 is a solid links ref 75380 (5 digits and ends with "0").  4 digits ref 7835 is the folded links band. 7835 is the earlier model before 78350.

Base on size: 19mm lug width (7835 / 78350) and  20mm lug width  (7836 / 78360). Photo 1 is ref 78350 for 34mm diameter Rolex watch. 7836 /78360 are for 20mm lug width sport models.

Photo 1 is an excellent condition watch band:

a) the band is near perfect horizontal while holding the watch head as per photo 1

b) links are closely / tightly linked, the gaps between links are very small

Photo 2

Band of photo 1 is of better condition than band of photo 2:

a) When placing the band horizontally, the head to band angle is about 90 degrees for photo 1. Re. photo 2, that angle is much greater than 90

b) Considering the gaps between links, photo 2 band is larger than that of photo 1 band

Putting 2 photos together for easy comparison

Photo 3: ref 7835 folded oyster band

The red arrows point to to areas how the links were folded. Note the style!  If come across 7835 or 7836 bands NOT of this style, BEWARE! It's fake! At present (Sep 2023), authentic Rolex steel bands are about USD500- to over USD1250 depending on condition. Hence, it is important to learn how to authenticate before actual buying! 

Left is folded style. Right is solid link band.

Photo 4:  Codes on band

"78350" is the band model ref. "0" means stainless steel

"19" stands for the lug width between two legs: 19mm

"557" is the band ear ref number. Different models may have different shapes and they may not be interchangeable.

Photo 5: Codes on buckle

"78350" is the band ref number

"K4" is the production time. Rolex started using alphabet to date a band since 1976. Hence, "K" means about 1986. "4" indicates 4th quarter. The Rolex chop mark is another  thing has to be noted for authentication. But, not discussed at this stage.

Photo 6: Codes on buckle

Two digits were used before 1976 to date a band. "64" means 1964. "3" above means 3rd quarter.

Just a few simple photos and text, understanding vintage watches is not difficult. This is my designed aims of my ebook "DT Vintage Watch Photo Guide". Helping readers to master skills in  evaluating vintage watch condition with high efficiency and funs.

There was no such online information 30 years ago. Today, information is flooding on web. You need to spend a lot of time to select and screen useful vintage watch knowledge!

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ebook "DT Vintage Watch Photo Guide"

Dickson Tai (DT) has been with the vintage watch business for over 30 years. I wrote a PDF ebook about vintage watch, "DT Vintage Watch Photo Guide".

This is a book with abundant HD watch photos and simple text explanations. It is a very useful tool book for vintage watch collection. Actually, it is an introductory course for vintage watch collection.  Also, sharing my 30 years vintage watch experiences.

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PDF ebook "DT Vintage Watch Photo Guide"

How To Start Collecting Vintage Watches~9

Some tips about Rolex oyster bands

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