Photo 36

A) Upper red circle: "557" engraved. This is the end link model reference number

B) Lower red circle: "78350" engraved. This is the band reference number

C)  "19" below "78350" means 19mm indicating the width between the watch legs (double arrow red line)

Photo 37 marks on the buckle bridge

A) lower red circle "78350" is the band ref

B) upper red circle "K4" means the production year of the band

From about 1976-77, Rolex started using English words to mark the production year. A is the first one used. Then B and so on.

You can GOOGLE search "Rolex clasp code" and relevant information can be found

"K4" is about 1986

Photo 38 early stage date marks on bridge.

Before 1976, the production time was directly engraved.

"3" on top means 3rd quarter. "64" means 1964

Tightness and Straightness of a band

A high quality band should be tight and straight. Normally, we hold the band like photo 38 and view the result. A loosed band is of course cheaper than a tight and straight band.

Photo 38 How to test a watch band

A) Hold the watch head and place it 90 degree to the table/ ground.

See if the band can keep a near horizontal line parallel to line 2 which is 90 degree to line 1.

If so, the band tightness and straightness is of great standard and vice versa.

B) Arrows 3,4 and 5 point to the gaps between links. The gap distance should be small.

The smaller it is the better the tightness.

C) Arrows 6 and 7 point to the gaps of the opposite side of the band.

The gaps there seems a bit larger than gaps 3,4 and 5!

On whole, the band of photo 38 is of great condition!

Photo 39 A band with less tightness and straightness

It is easy to identify the differences if there is comparison.

From photo 38, you can see that I have to hold further back the watch head in order to keep the band horizontal to the table.

Also, photo 39 shows that the gaps between links is larger than that of photo 38.

Photo 40 next portion of the same band of photo 39

This time I add no lines. See if you can judge the band yourself.

P. 10

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