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5402 .... the search

By: MRS : September 20th, 2011-12:50

Dear Purists

I introduced myself on ths forum a few weeks ago, saying that I was looking for an AP Jumbo

I have one question: when you send your A serie for maintenance and you ask for a back replacement, do they replace the back with a new one without the ref and serial number?

I found an A serie with an AP back but no mention at all of serial number.

Thanks for your help

The search is still going on

MRS

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first make sure, that...

By: only5402 : September 21st, 2011-00:14

you collect all informations about the watch you are looking for - specially if it is a vintage watch.

Please do this for your wanted watch - the 5402 ST- generelly.

"a back replacement" is not possible, because it´s a monocoque case. The Ref you can´t find on

any place on / in the case.

If there is no mention / engraving that shows the combination, for example No A 1111 or No B 1555 or.....

you can´t know that it is a A series.

If there is any engraving left on the caseback (for example the Royal oak) look at it´s deepness (or no-deepness).

If there is no engraving left like for examle No A 1111 it is possible to find out the primary engraving it has once

by the engraved number on the caseback inside or on a document from AP about this watch.

This number inside has a logical system. I try to find out about this, but i´m only sure for A series:

Example:

caseback outside No A 666 is inside 67666

caseback outside No A 1666 it´s inside 80666

If you understand this, you can "built the "outside-number" backwards from the "inside-number"

AP changed the leading two numbers, if the "outside-number became more than 1000. The reason was that they

don´t wanted to change the "inside-number" from 5 to 6 numbers.

For B, C and D from 5402 ST there are other leading numbers or letters.

(I talked about the steel version from 5402)

regards

Stephan from Germany

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caseback 5402 steel

By: MRS : September 21st, 2011-09:36

thanks a lot for your comments

in fact the case back has the "royal oak" engraving only / it looks quite new to me with a good looking "swiss" dial and AP logo at 6

The watch is supposed to be 40 years old and it looks quite good (dial is almost new)

the watch has been serviced 6 months ago (Wempe)

thanks a lot for your input

MRS

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please calme down and think unhurriedly...

By: only5402 : September 21st, 2011-09:56

about what i wrote and what you write. Your last chance!

You write:" it looks quite new to me". How can you come to this conclusion???, if there is only the "royal oak" engraving left!!!

I told you about the deepneth from engraving.

That the watch had a revision is really good. But think about, if the watch is authenic. Wempe only can do it´s work on the baseline,

that depends on the watch they became from the consumer. I, personally really have no problem with vintage watches with signs

of using and you are right - the watch is nearly 40 years old. Bur no engraved number ???

What did the seller can tell you about engraving.

regards

Stephan

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ok thanks

By: MRS : September 21st, 2011-10:48

In fact when I say that it looks quite new to me, it's that I am afraid that the case is not the proper one

The seller doesn't give me any proper explanation / he bought it second hand a few years ago with this case back and he sent it to wempe

As you said I am not in a hurry......

thanks for your help

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and it is not forbitten to by a watch like this, but...

By: only5402 : October 15th, 2011-01:46

it is nessecary to think - after looking at the deepneth from engraving

and the not engraved number - about what you will pay for a watch like this

regards

Stephan

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5402s exist without engraved Ser.nos.

By: RobCH : September 26th, 2011-05:31

Let's not jump to conclusions, Stephan. Believe ye me, there are definitely a few genuine A series 5402s out there with 'Royal Oak' only engraved on the case back, sans number...

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