Polarouter 20217-5 serial 1691252 just turned up in our discussion group with what I assume is its original dial (characteristic 2nd ex. Pola dial).
One of the latest serials for these references, so does not support the theory of there being a "Transitional" model.
Maybe to get the name up to date when a customer came in for a service maybe to make it the same as other models in the showcase window because they didn't sell that quick and they wanted to avoid confusion
I think if that were the case, we would see just as many 1st execution as 2nd execution with polE dials - which we dont.
Im most inclined to think they were service replacements for now, but im open to change my opinion in light of new evidence.
Just a case of eliminating as many of the theories as possible, and then see whats left to narrow it down.
Polarouter 20217-5 serial 1691252 just turned up in our discussion group with what I assume is its original dial (characteristic 2nd ex. Pola dial).
One of the latest serials for these references, so does not support the theory of there being a "Transitional" model.
I think if that were the case, we would see just as many 1st execution as 2nd execution with polE dials - which we dont.
Im most inclined to think they were service replacements for now, but im open to change my opinion in light of new evidence.
Just a case of eliminating as many of the theories as possible, and then see whats left to narrow it down.
Your conclusion is completely logical but it does rely on the assumption that these things were produced in serial number order; a completely reasonable assumption but an assumption nonetheless.
It does not seem impossible that new Polerouter dials were combined with a batch of unused Polarouter cases that happen to have earlier serial numbers than the last batch of 'standard' Polarouters.
What I think we need to disprove that theory altogether is to find Polarouters with serials very very close to some 'transitional' examples (preferably with serials just above and just below).
I agree that if they were used as service replacements then we would see just as many 1st and 2nd Exec with these Polerouter dials but we don't.
So are you suggesting that they were used as 2nd Exec service replacements only?
The reason why i would maybe suggest some were changed when they were not already sold is because like other models some watches weren't sold directly they might have stayed at the ad for several years and in an effort to sell their unsellable stock of polarouter second gen they might have changed the dial to a more up to date model in the hope of selling.
In that case id probably expect them all to be the same kind of dial - the earliest PolE dial with single lume at 12...?
