ROLEX watch Serial Number check
ROLEX Serial Number Check
What is and where to find a Rolex's serial number?
The serial number indicates when a Rolex watch was made, so that you can determine the age of your watch. For watches before 2002, the serial number consists only of numbers, and after 2002 there are often letters and numbers.
Every genuine Rolex has a unique serial number.
Where is located?
The serial number is often located between the lugs, and in order to read it, the strap will have to be removed from the case. Or it is on the inner bezel, called the rehaut.
Rolex serial numbers have between 4 – 8 digits. Modern Rolex watches are machine engraved or stamped, making them very perfect and precise markings. However, between the 1920s and 1980s Rolex serial numbers were hand stamped and these markings do not always look 100% perfect and precise under magnification.
So, to clarify:
- On watches produced between 1920 and 1987, serial numbers were not engraved;
- On watches produced between 1927 and 1987, the serial number is located between the lugs;
- On watches produced after 1987, the serial number is usually located between the lugs and is engraved.
- Starting in 2005, the serial number is found on the inside of the rehaut.( Inner bezel)
Rolex watches made from 2005 onwards will have the word 'Rolex' repeated around the inner bezel, with the brand logo at the 12 o'clock position and the serial number at 6 o'clock.
In 2008, the company switched to only engraving the serial number on the inner bezel, as this is much harder to counterfeit.
In addition to the serial number, model numbers and country codes also tell a few things about the watch and where it was purchased.
Important notes:
- When Rolex made their millionth watch, they confusingly restarted their serial numbers at 100,000 instead of carrying on with a seven-digit code.
- In autumn 2009, Rolex started using a random numbering system to generate its serial numbers. The only way to identify the exact date of a Rolex produced in late 2009 onwards is to take it into an official Rolex dealer.
- When looking for your Rolex serial number, make sure you don’t get confused with the Rolex model reference number. Rolex model reference numbers are located between the watch lugs at the 12 o’clock position. It may be 4, 5 or 6 digits long, the unique sequence of numbers indicates the watches materials and parts used.
- it is possible that some older Rolex watches have their serial numbers worn away by bulky tight-fitting straps that continuously rub on the serial number. This is more likely to happen on gold watches as gold is a softer metal, but it is possible with steel Rolexes also.
|
Production date |
Serial Number |
Production date | Serial Number |
|
Autumn 2009–present |
Random |
1967 |
2,163,900–2,426,800 |
|
2009 |
Any code beginning with G |
1966 |
1,871,000–2,163,899 |
|
2008 |
Any code beginning with V |
1965 |
1,792,000–1,870,999 |
|
2007 |
Any code beginning with M |
1964 |
1,714,000–1,791,999 |
|
2006 |
Any code beginning with Z |
1963 |
1,636,000–1,713,999 |
|
2005 |
Any code beginning with D |
1962 |
1,558,000–1,635,999 |
|
2003–2004 |
Any code beginning with F |
1961 |
1,480,000–1,557,999 |
|
2002 |
Any code beginning with Y |
1960 |
1,402,000–1,479,999 |
|
2001 |
Any code beginning with K |
1959 |
1,100,00–1,401,999 |
|
2000 |
Any code beginning with P |
1957-1958 |
600,000–1,099,999 |
|
1999 |
Any code beginning with A |
1956 |
400,000–599,999 |
|
1997-1998 |
Any code beginning with U |
1955 |
200,000–399,999 |
|
Summer 1995–1996 |
Any code beginning with T |
1954 |
100,000–200,000 |
|
1995 (Spring) |
Any code beginning with W |
1953 |
950,000–999,999 |
|
1993–1994 |
Any code beginning with S |
1952 |
803,800–949,999 |
|
1992 |
Any code beginning with C |
1951 |
738,700–803,799 |
|
1991 (Autumn) |
Any code beginning with N |
1950 |
673,600–738,699 |
|
1991 (Spring) |
Any code beginning with X |
1949 |
608,500–673,599 |
|
1990 |
Any code beginning with E |
1948 |
545,400–608,499 |
|
1989 |
Any code beginning with L |
1947 |
478,300–545,399 |
|
1987–1988 |
Any code beginning with R |
1946 |
413,200–478,299 |
|
1986 |
9,290,000–9,999,999 |
1945 |
348,100–413,199 |
|
1985 |
8,814,000–9,289,999 |
1944 |
283,000–348,099 |
|
1984 |
8,338,000–8,813,999 |
1943 |
253,400–282,999 |
|
1983 |
7,862,000–8,337,999 |
1942 |
223,800–253,399 |
|
1982 |
7,338,000–7,861,999 |
1941 |
194,200–223,799 |
|
1981 |
6,910,000–7,337,999 |
1940 |
164,600–194,199 |
|
1980 |
6,434,000–6,909,999 |
1939 |
135,000–164,599 |
|
1979 |
5,958,000–6,433,999 |
1938 |
117,00–134,999 |
|
1978 |
5,958,000–6,433,999 |
1937 |
99,000–116,999 |
|
1977 |
5,006,000–5,481,999 |
1936 |
81,000–98,999 |
|
1976 |
4,539,000–5,005,999 |
1935 |
63,000–80,999 |
|
1975 |
4,267,100–4,538,999 |
1934 |
45,000–62,999 |
|
1974 |
4,004,200–4,267,099 |
1932–1933 |
42,680–44,999 |
|
1973 |
3,741,300–4,004,199 |
1931 |
40,250–42,679 |
|
1972 |
3,478,400–3,741,299 |
1930 |
37,820–40,249 |
|
1971 |
3,215,500–3,478,399 |
1929 |
35,390–37,819 |
|
1970 |
2,952,600–3,215,499 |
1928 |
32,960–35,389 |
|
1969 |
2,689,700–2,952,599 |
1927 |
30,430–32,959 |
|
1968 |
2,426,800–2,689,699 |
1926 |
28,000–30,429 |
