Hello, I am negotiating a 5513 Submariner with 5.5 serial (so from 1978) that according to the handwritten guarantee was sold in november 1980. The guarantee is original but it also has the code (200) for 80's guarantee. If we suppose the watch stayed maybe 1 years and half in the shop (that was in a small city in Italy) do you think it's possible that a 1978 watch has a guarantee with the 80's code?
Indeed, some watches showing production years in the late 70's were definitely sold in the early80's. Is the serial handwritten or punched.. Some folks would do anything to capitalize on a full set by getting certificates to go with a watch that has no papers.. Some sets you know are original to the watches, others you can tell were cobbled up together..
Papers are handwritten and original with the watch I think. The problem is (assuming that a late 70's watch was sold in 1980): is it possible that a 78/79 watch has papers with the 80's code (200)?
I, personally, would not pay a premium for a handwritten paper unless the package is undoubtedly from an original owner. Again, that is just me. Is it possible, anything is possible with a handwritten paper being filled out of period. As with boxes, watches were not shipped with boxes. Whatever was available at the time of the sale was married up with the watch, i.e., green stripe box, early bufkor, etc.
I know. And yes it's from an original owner, who has 16520 L6 sold in the 1990 in the same shop. So it's likely that they didn't make a lot of sale at the time...
The started punching 5513's papers in the mid 80's (in Italy even a bit later), my original doubt was about the 1/2 years discrepancy
The time difference is totally within the norm, especially considering the selling dealer's size and location.
My 1979 1680 has punch papers and was filled out in 1983 by an AD. I got the watch from the original owner, so I know it is legit.
@mr.kaplan As you've described it, the scenario seems legitimate so I would move forward with the purchase. [Of course, you haven't provided any watch pics, so can't comment on the 5513 itself].