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Rolex serial numbers and years of production

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4 min read

Rolex serial numbers and years of production

Rolex serial numbers and years of production

How to interpret the serial number of your Rolex watch? How to find the manufacturing date of your Rolex watch? Some tips so that the origin of your watch, the serial numbers, and the references of certain parts are no longer a secret to you.

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The serial numbers on a Rolex brand watch can often establish the production date of the case. This identification is possible for watches produced until 2010. After 2010, Rolex marked its watches with randomly arranged numbers and letters (commonly referred to as RANDOM serial numbers), making it impossible to determine the year of production, at least for now.

It is important to note that while serial numbers can accurately indicate the year of production of the watch case in some years, the same does not apply to the surrounding parts. Thus, especially for vintage watches, it is possible to find cases produced in 1985 with dials and bezels replaced in 1995. An article on this subject will be published soon.

Where to Find the Serial Number of Your Rolex?

If your Rolex was produced before 2005, the serial number of your Rolex watch is necessarily engraved on the case between the two lower lugs (at 6 o'clock). If it was produced between 2005 and 2008, the serial number may also sometimes be engraved on the rehaut of the watch (see photos). After 2008, the number is only engraved on the rehaut around the watch dial. For engravings on the rehaut, it is often necessary to tilt the watch properly to read this number and use a small flashlight to make reading the serial number easier, if necessary.

Since 2010 marks the beginning of random numbering - no longer allowing determination of the watch's production year - it is still important to be able to read this number to verify if it matches the one indicated on the Rolex warranty card.

To find the serial number of your Rolex, if it dates before 2005, it will be necessary to remove the bracelet.

Illustration of the serial number located between the lugs

To refer to the Rolex serial number table below, note the serial number you find between the lugs or on the rehaut of your Rolex (for models from 2005 and onwards) and simply look at the corresponding date in the left column. Here’s how to read this table:

K,000,001 2000

If your watch has the number K203405, its production date corresponds to 2000

1985                     8,614,000 (number corresponding to the beginning of the production year)

If your watch has the number 8,785,120, its production date corresponds to 1985

If your watch has the number 8,512,420, its production date corresponds to 1984

As mentioned earlier, it is very important to note that this number is only marked on the case and/or on the rehaut of the watch, not on other parts. This chart helps you date your watch (note: production date, not commercialization date), but it does not serve as a means of authenticating the watch.

G 2010 8,070,022 1984 97,000 1955
V 2010 7,400,000 1983 23,000 1954
M or V 2008 7,100,000 1982 855,726 1953
M or Z 2007 6,520,870 1981 726,639 1952
D or Z 2006 6,434,000 1980 709,249 1951

The Reference Number of Your Rolex

For information, you can find the reference number of your watch between the top lugs, at 12 o'clock. The reference number simply tells you the model of your watch. It is interesting to note that these numbers provide much more information than just a reference. For example, for a Rolex Submariner gold and steel from 1985, commonly known as Sultan, you will find the reference 16613 (followed by LB for a blue bezel and a blue dial, and LN for a black bezel and a black dial). This Rolex reference number is deciphered as follows:

166 = Rolex Submariner

1 = Rotating bezel

3 = Gold/Steel

For a Rolex Daytona in steel, reference 116500:

1165 = Rolex Daytona

0 = Fixed bezel

0 = Steel

All the information can be found in the tables below

DenominationReference
Submariner (No date) 55 & 140
Submariner 16, 166 & 168
Sea Dweller 16 & 166
GMT Master 16, 65 & 167
GMT Master II 167 & 1167
Day-Date (President) 65, 66, 18, 180, 182 & 183
Datejust 16 & 162
Daytona Manual Wind 62
Daytona Cosmograph 165 & 1165
Explorer II 10, 140 & 142
Oyster Perpetual 10, 140 & 142
Airking 55 & 140
Date 15 & 150
Oysterquartz Datejust 170
Oysterquartz Day-Date 190
Yachtmaster 166, 686 & 696
Oyster Perp Datejust Medium 68, 682
Lady Oyster Perpetual 67, 671 & 672
Lady Date 65, 69, 691 & 692
Lady Datejust 65, 69, 691 & 692
DenominationReference
Polished 0
Guilloché 1
Guilloché 2
Fluted 3
Manufactured 4
Pyramid 5
Rotating 6
DenominationReference
Stainless 0
Yellow Gold Filled 1
White Gold Filled 2
Stainless & Yellow Gold 3
Stainless w/ 18k White Gold 4
Gold Shell 5
Platinum 6
14k Yellow Gold 7
18k Yellow Gold 8

How to Know the Origin of Your Rolex

Each country has a code, and this code is found on the warranty card of your Rolex or on your certificate. It corresponds to the country of the authorized dealer that first sold the watch. This information is very interesting, especially when purchasing a pre-owned watch from an individual.

Country CodeCountry
10 Switzerland
12 Switzerland
13 Switzerland
14 Switzerland
15 Switzerland
21 Switzerland
25 Switzerland
26 Switzerland
33 Switzerland
45 Switzerland
100 Germany
110 France
113 France
115 France (special French assignments)
119 COMEX
120 Austria
121 Austria
123 Austria

Production Dates of Rolex Bracelets and Codes

Like your Rolex watch, your Rolex bracelet can also be dated, allowing you to know if it has been replaced or if it corresponds to the production date of your watch. It is common for a watch owner to replace their bracelet when it is worn out or damaged. The number of your bracelet is engraved on the folding clasp, readable when it is open. Below is the table containing the production codes of Rolex bracelets.

Rolex Bracelet Code Year of Production
A or VA 1976
B or VB 1977
C or VC 1978
D or VD 1979
E or VE 1980
F or VF 1981
G 1982
H 1983
I 1984
J 1985
K 1986
L 1987
M 1988
N 1989
O 1990
P 1991
Q 1992
R 1993
S 1994
T or W 1995
V 1996
Z 1997
U 1998
X 1999
AB 2000
DE 2001
DT 2002
AD 2003
CL 2004
MA 2005
OP 2006
EO 2007
PJ 2008
LT 2009
RS 2010
CP 2011
RANDOM 201+

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