Identify Rolex By Serial Number



ROLEX PRODUCTION DATES BY SERIAL NUMBER…

  1. Rolex Serial Number List
  2. Rolex Serial Number By Year

The serial number is traditionally located at 6 o’clock between the lugs and under the bracelet. In 2005, Rolex began engraving the serial number on the rehaut (French for ‘flange’) between the dial and the crystal as well as the 6′ o’clock location. Starting in 2008, Rolex stopped engraving the serial number at the case 6 o’clock location, using only the rehaut location. By 2010 this practice had gradually transitioned to all models.

In 2010, Rolex mostly abandoned their conventional numbering sequence in favor for a mixed (aka random aka scrambled) serial. They will be 8 digits, opposed to 7 in the past. Random examples of these indecipherable numbers are “OT23Q257”, “12345J78”, and “345X29VN”.

Serial

Rolex watches are symbols of excellence, performance, prestige and innovation. Discover the Rolex watch collection on the Official Website. Rolex Serial Numbers. Rolex has been placing serial numbers on their watches since the beginning. Just about every Rolex watch ever produced has some sort of identification or serial number placed on it. These numbers help to determine the year or batch that the watch was made. Buyers, sellers, dealers, and collectors all use these numbers for.

Serial NumberProduction Date
G000,001*2009 (Fall) to Present
V000,0012008 (Fall)
M000,0012007 (Fall)
Z000,001
2006 (Summer)
D000,001
2005 (Summer)
F000,001
2003
Y000,001
2002
K000,001
2001
P000,001
2000
A00,001
1999
U000,001
1997
00,001
1995
S000,001
1993
C000,001
1992
N000,001 1991
X000,001 1991 (fall)
E000,001 1990
L000,001 1989
R000,000 1987 (summer)
9,999,999 1987
9,290,000 1986
8,814,000 1985
8,338,000 1984
7,862,000 1983
7,386,0001982
6,910,0001981
6,434,0001980
5,958,0001979
5,482,0001978
5,006,0001977
4,539,0001976
4,267,100 1975
4,004,2001974
3,741,3001963
Serial NumberProduction Date
1,558,000 1962
1,480,000 1961
1,402,000 1960
1,100,000 1959
400,000 1956
200,000 1955
999,000 1954
950,000 1953
803,800 1952
738,700 1951
673,600 1950
608,500 1949
543,400 1948
478,300 1947
413,200 1946
348,100 1945
283,000 1944
253,400 1943
223,800 1942
194,200 1941
164,600 1940
135,000 1939
117,000 1938
99,000 1937
81,000 1936
63,000 1935
45,000 1934
42,680 1933
40,250 1932
37,820 1931
35,390 1930
32,960 1929
30,430 1928
28,000 1927

* We have seen G serialed watches that were produced in 2012, so Rolex is using both the mixed and the G at the same time.

** In 1987, rather than begin an 8 digit production serial, Rolex instead began their serials with a letter prefix such as R, then L, E & X. (ROLEX without the O) N, C, & S came out during the early to mid 1990’s, W, T & U a little later. The latest letter prefixes are all running concurrently…as Rolex wishes! Only Rolex knows the exact date that any watch was actually produced. Confused…contact Rolex with the exact serial number of your watch…don’t expect a reply with an answer!

*** When Rolex reached the 999,999 production serial in the early 1950’s…they restarted the production serial at 100,000 rather than begin a 7 digit number at 1,000,000. During this period Rolex was also putting the date code on the inside of the case backs…so confusing production serials can sometimes have their production date determined. Look for the Roman number I, II, III or IV for the quarter & two arabic digits for the year.

In the late 1950’s, Rolex again reached the 999,999 production serial & they started their 7 digit numeric numbering system at 1,000,000 for production serials, this continued until the 1990’s until production serials reached 9,999,999.

How Does Rolex Assign Serial Numbers?

Last Updated: December 2007

Model Numbers: Rolex model numbers range from four to six numbers. The number is located at 12 o’clock between the lugs and under the bracelet. The first two or three digits describes the type of watch.

If the watch has five digits, the second from the last describes (some exceptions) the type of bezel and the last describes the material that the watch is made from.

Around 2000, Rolex began adding a 1 in front of some model numbers… Example; the steel Daytona went from 16520 to 116520.

Rolex Model Reference Numbers

Rolex

The following list is not complete and is just a break-down.

Type of Watch…

Oyster Perpetual10, 140, 142
Air-King55 & 140
Date15 & 150
Datejust16, 162 & 1162
Daytona Manual Wind62
Daytona Cosmograph165 & 1165
Explorer142, 10 & 1142
Explorer II16 & 165
Sea Dweller16 & 166
Submariner16, 166 & 168
Submariner (no date)55 & 140
GMT Master16, 65, 167
GMT Master II167
Oysterquartz Datejust170
Oysterquartz Day-Date190
Day-Date (President)65, 18, 180, 182, 183 & 1182
Yachtmaster166, 686, 696, 1686 & 1696
Midsize Oyster Perpetual DJ68, 682, 782 & 1782
Ladies Oyster Perpetual67, 671, 672, 760 & 761
Ladies Date65, 69, 691, 692, & 791
Ladies Datejust65, 69, 691 & 692, 791 & 1791

Type of Bezel

0Polished
1Finely engine turned
2 Engine turned
3Fluted
4Hand-crafted
5Pyramid
6Rotating bezel

Type of Material

0Stainless
1Yellow gold filled
2White gold filled
3Stainless & yellow gold
4Stainless with 18k white gold
5Gold shell
6Platinum
714k yellow gold
818k yellow gold
918k white gold

Rolex Serial Number Lookup Chart

Serial Numbers: The serial number is located opposite of the model number at 6 o’clock between the lugs and under the bracelet. Since 1987, Rolex has used a system of 1 letter, followed by 6 digits. When buying and selling Rolex watches, that letter is one of the most important details many buyers will want to know. We believe there’s a good chance Rolex will produce (tens of) thousands of cases, but not complete the watch… So a case made in 2003 with a Y#, might not leave Switzerland for 2 more years. Also, models with gold and precious stones usually do not sell as quickly as steel models and will sit around the authorized dealer for a longer period.

Manufacturing DateRolex Serial Number
2010 – presentRandom
2010G
2009V
2008M or V
2007M or Z
2006D or Z
2005D
2005F
2004F
2003F
2002Y
2001K or Y
2000K,000,001
2000P,000,001
1999A,000,001
1998U,932,144
1997U,000,001
1996T,000,001
1995W,000,001
1994S,860,880
1993S,000,001
1992C,000,001
1991N,000,001
1990E,000,001
1989L,980,000
1988R,598,200
1987R,000,01
19879,860,000 – 9,900,000
19869,155,000 – 9,860,000
19858,785,000 – 9,155,000
19848,375,000 – 8,785,000
19837,600,000 – 8,375,000
19827,130,000 – 7,600,000
19816,560,000 – 7,130,000
19806,205,000 – 6,560,000
19795,865,000 – 6,205,000
19785,430,000 – 5,865,000
19775,085,000 – 5,865,000
Manufacturing DateRolex Serial Number
19765,000,000 – 5,085,000
19764,115,000 – 4,260,000
19753,865,000 – 4,115,000
19743,570,000 – 3,865,000
19733,200,000 – 3,570,000
19722,890,000 – 3,200,000
19712,590,000 – 2,890,000
19702,240,000 – 2,590,000
19691,945,000 – 2,240,000
19681,710,000 – 1,945,000
19671,485,000 – 1,710,000
19661,275,000 – 1,485,000
19651,105,000 – 1,275,000
19641,000,000 – 1,105,000
1963865,000 – 1,000,000
1962755,000 – 865,000
1961650,000 – 755,000
1960550,000 – 650,000
1959450,000 – 550,000
1958350,000 – 450,000
1957250,000 – 350,000
1956150,000 – 250,000
195550,000 – 150,000
19540 – 50,000
RESETRESET
1953880,000 – 999,000
1952725,000 – 888,000
1951700,000 – 725,000
1948 – 1950620,000 – 700,000
1947 – 1948500,000 – 620,000
1945 – 1946300,000 – 500,000
1941 – 1944200,000 – 300,000
1938 – 194220,000 – 40,000
1927 – 193720,000 – 40,000
19260 – 20,000

Rolex Serial Numbers.

Rolex Serial Number List

Repairs By Post has compiled a guide on how you can look-up the production year of any authentic Rolex Watch. Whether you are looking to sell, buy or repair your watch, learning how to locate the serial number is a good start.

If you're for a rough guide of Rolex service costs, you can check our Rolex 2020 service prices.

Serial

Rolex is one of the worlds most famous watch brands. Initially called Wilsdorf and Davis in London in 1905, after its founders, is became Rolex in 1908. After WW1, high taxations were implemented, the company moved to Geneva, where it has remained ever since. Of the ten most expensive watches ever purchased, 3 are Rolex, including the most expensive watch, Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona which sold for US$17.75 million.

Rolex uses the serial number system to track when a timepiece was made and to mark its authenticity. If you own an Rolex watch, you use the serial number checker below to look-up the year of production.

How to check Rolex watch serial number

Every authentic Rolex watch has a unique 4 to 8 digit serial number. This identification number is machined into the case of the watch during production. The location of which will depend on the year of manufacture, and age of the timepiece. Rolex has used several locations over the years.

Where to find Rolex serial number

To see the serial number of a Rolex (prior to 2005) you must first remove the watch band at the lugs. Once removed, on one side you have the serial number, and on the other side, you'll find the model number stamped into the case. After 2008 Rolex started engraving serial numbers on the 'rehaut' (this is the inside flange between the dial and the glass). After 2005 the company were engraving serial numbers on both the 'rehaut' and between the lugs, but this was to be phased out in 2008.

Identify

Rolex serial numbers checker

Use the table below to check your serial number and locate it's year of production.

DateSerial No
2010 – PresentG/Random
Dec 08 – 2010V 000,001
Jan 08 – Nov 08M 000,001
July 06-Dec 07Z 000,001
Jan 05-July 06D 000,001
2003 - 05F 000,001
2001, 2002Y 000,001
2001K 000,001
2000P 000,004
1998-1999A 000,002
1997-1998U 000,001
1996-1998T 000,001
1995-1998W 000,001
1993.75S 000,001
1992.25C 000,001
1991.75N 000,001
1991.5X 000,001
1991.25E 999,999
1990.5E 000,001
1990L 999,999
1989L 000,001
1988R 999,999
1987.5R 000,000
1987.59,999,999
19879,760,000
19869,300,000
19858,814,000
19848,388,000
19837,860,000
19827,366,000
19816,910,000
19806,430,000
19795,959,000
19785,481,000
19775,005,000
19764,535,000
19754,265,000
19744,000,000
19733,741,000
19723,478,000
19713,215,000
19702,952,000
19692,689,000
19682,426,000
19672,164,000
19661,870,000
19651,791,000
19641,713,000
19631,635,000
19621,557,000
19611,485,000
19601,401,000
19591,323,000
19581,245,000
19571,167,000
19561,095,000
19551,010,000
1954935,000
1953869,000
1952804,000
1951735,000
1950372,000
1949608,000
1948543,000
1947478,000
1946413,000
1945348,000
1944284,000
1943253,000
1942224,000
1941194,000
1940165,000
1939136,000
1938118,000
193798,000
193682,000
193562,000
193455,000
193349,000
193243,000
193140,000
193038,000
192935,000
192833,000
19273,000
192628,000
192525,000

Rolex Serial Number By Year

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