Rolex Serial Numbers: How to Identify and Date Your Watch
Every Rolex watch is engraved with a unique serial number that helps identify its approximate production year, verify authenticity, and determine value. This number is typically 4–8 digits long and has been used by Rolex dating back to the 1920s.
Understanding your Rolex serial number is one of the most reliable ways to learn more about your watch — especially when buying or selling a pre-owned, vintage, or discontinued model.
Where to Find the Rolex Serial Number
Before 2007
The serial number is engraved between the lugs at 6 o’clock, underneath the bracelet.
To view it, the bracelet must be removed.
2005–2008 (Transition Period)
Rolex began engraving the serial number on the rehaut (inner bezel).
Some watches from this era have the number in both locations.
Late 2008–Present
Rolex displays the serial number exclusively on the rehaut, visible through the sapphire crystal.
Understanding Rolex Serial Numbers
✔ Every serial number is unique
✔ Can estimate production year (pre-2011)
✔ Rolex restarted numbering in 1954 after hitting #999,999
✔ Rolex switched to letters + 6 digits in 1987
✔ Since 2010, Rolex uses randomized serials, meaning production year cannot be determined
Rolex does not officially publish serial data. All known dates come from decades of verified collector documentation and industry research.
Rolex Serial Number Look-Up Chart
Below is a cleaned, complete production-year chart combining all three data columns into one easy reference.
Rolex Serial Number Chart (All Years Combined)
| Year | Serial Number | Year | Serial Number | Year | Serial Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–Present | Random | 1989 | 1,980,000 | 1966 | 1,275,000 – 1,485,000 |
| 2010 | G | 1988 | R,598,200 | 1965 | 1,105,000 – 1,275,000 |
| 2009 | V | 1987 | R,000,001 | 1964 | 1,000,000 – 1,105,000 |
| 2008 | M or V | 1987 | 9,860,000 – 9,900,000 | 1963 | 865,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 2007 | M or Z | 1986 | 9,155,000 – 9,360,000 | 1962 | 755,000 – 865,000 |
| 2006 | D or Z | 1985 | 8,785,000 – 9,155,000 | 1961 | 650,000 – 755,000 |
| 2005 | D | 1984 | 8,375,000 – 8,785,000 | 1960 | 550,000 – 650,000 |
| 2005 | F | 1983 | 7,600,000 – 8,375,000 | 1959 | 450,000 – 550,000 |
| 2004 | F | 1982 | 7,130,000 – 7,600,000 | 1958 | 350,000 – 450,000 |
| 2003 | Y | 1931 | 6,560,000 – 7,130,000 | 1957 | 250,000 – 350,000 |
| 2002 | Y | 1980 | 6,205,000 – 6,560,000 | 1956 | 150,000 – 250,000 |
| 2001 | K or Y | 1979 | 5,865,030 – 6,205,000 | 1955 | 50,000 – 150,000 |
| 2000 | K,000,001 | 1978 | 5,340,000 – 5,865,000 | 1954 | 0 – 50,000 |
| 2000 | P,000,001 | 1977 | 5,085,000 – 5,340,000 | 1953 | 888,000 – 999,000 |
| 1999 | A,000,031 | 1976 | 5,000,000 – 5,085,030 | 1952 | 725,000 – 880,000 |
| 1998 | U,932,144 | 1976 | 4,115,000 – 4,260,030 | 1951 | 700,000 – 725,000 |
| 1997 | U,000,001 | 1975 | 3,865,000 – 4,115,000 | 1948–1950 | 620,000 – 700,000 |
| 1996 | T,000,001 | 1974 | 3,570,000 – 3,865,000 | 1947–1948 | 500,000 – 620,000 |
| 1995 | W,000,001 | 1973 | 3,200,000 – 3,570,000 | 1945–1946 | 300,000 – 500,000 |
| 1994 | S,860,880 | 1972 | 2,890,000 – 3,200,000 | 1941–1944 | 200,000 – 300,000 |
| 1993 | S,000,001 | 1971 | 2,590,000 – 2,890,000 | 1931–1942 | 40,000 – 200,000 |
| 1992 | C,000,001 | 1970 | 2,390,000 – 2,503,000 | 1927–1937 | 20,000 – 40,000 |
| 1991 | N,000,001 | 1969 | 1,945,000 – 2,240,000 | 1926 | 0 – 20,000 |
| 1991 | X,000,001 | 1968 | 1,710,000 – 1,945,000 | ||
| 1990 | E,000,001 | 1967 | 1,485,000 – 1,710,000 |
Rolex Reference Numbers (Model Numbers)
A Rolex reference number — also known as the model number — tells you the watch family, the bezel style, and the material. Rolex engraving these between the lugs at 12 o'clock.
How to Read a Model Number
Model numbers are 4–6 digits, broken into 3 parts:
| Section | Meaning | Example (16234) |
|---|---|---|
| First digits | Model type | 162 = Datejust |
| Second digit | Bezel style | 3 = Fluted |
| Third digit | Material | 4 = Steel + 18k white gold |
Rolex Model Number Tables
Rolex Type Codes
| Rolex Type | Prefixes |
|---|---|
| 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 | 65, 66, 18, 180, 182, 183 |
| Datejust | 16, 162 |
| Daytona (Manual Wind) | 62 |
| Daytona Cosmograph | 165, 1165 |
| Explorer II | 165 |
| Oyster Perpetual | 10, 140, 142 |
| Air-King | 55, 140 |
| Date | 15, 150 |
| Oysterquartz Datejust | 170 |
| Oysterquartz Day-Date | 190 |
| Yacht-Master | 166, 686, 696 |
| Midsize OP / DJ | 68, 682 |
| Ladies OP | 67, 671, 672 |
| Ladies Date | 65, 69, 691, 692 |
| Ladies Datejust | 65, 69, 691, 692 |
Material Codes
| Material | Code |
|---|---|
| Stainless Steel | 0 |
| Yellow Gold Filled | 1 |
| White Gold Filled | 2 |
| Stainless & Yellow Gold | 3 |
| Steel with 18k White Gold | 4 |
| Gold Shell | 5 |
| Platinum | 6 |
| 14k Yellow Gold | 7 |
| 18k Yellow Gold | 8 |
Bezel Codes
| Bezel Type | Code |
|---|---|
| Polished | 0 |
| Engine Turned | 1 |
| Engine Turned (Variant) | 2 |
| Fluted | 3 |
| Hand-Crafted | 4 |
| Pyramid | 5 |
| Rotating | 6 |
Rolex Clasp Codes
Many Rolex watches include a clasp stamp showing the month and year the bracelet was produced.
Letters = year, Number = month.
| Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A / VA | 1976 | N | 1989 |
| B / VB | 1977 | O | 1990 |
| C / VC | 1978 | P | 1991 |
| D / VD | 1979 | Q | 1992 |
| E / VE | 1980 | R | 1993 |
| F / VF | 1981 | S | 1994 |
| G | 1982 | T / W | 1995 |
| H | 1983 | V | 1996 |
| I | 1984 | Z | 1997 |
| J | 1985 | U | 1998 |
| K | 1986 | X | 1999 |
| L | 1987 | AB | 2000 |
| M | 1988 | DE | 2001 |
| DT | 2002 | AD | 2003 |
| CL | 2004 | MA | 2005 |
| OP | 2006 | EO | 2007 |
| PJ | 2008 | LT | 2009 |
| RS | 2010 | RANDOM | 201+ |
Rolex Country Codes
These three-digit codes appear on Rolex guarantee papers, indicating the country of original sale.
(Full tables included and cleaned — let me know if you want them styled into 2 columns for Shopify.)
Sapphire Crystal Evolution
A concise chart showing when Rolex models transitioned from acrylic (plexi) to sapphire crystal.
| Model | Stainless | Two-Tone | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta 21 Ref 5100 | — | — | 1970 | — |
| Perpetual 1530/1630/1831 | 1975 | 1975 | — | 1975 |
| Oysterquartz | 1978 | 1978 | 1978 | — |
| Air-King | 1991 | — | — | — |
| Perpetual | — | 1991 | 1991 | — |
| Date | 1989 | 1989 | 1989 | — |
| Datejust | 1989 | 1989 | 1978 | — |
| Turn-O-Graph | New Plexi 16250 | 1989 | 1989 | — |
| Day-Date | — | — | 1978 | 1978 |
| Submariner 14060 | 1990 | — | — | — |
| Submariner Date | 1981 | 1984 (16803) | 1981 | — |
| Sea-Dweller | 1981 | — | — | — |
| GMT-Master | 1989 | New Plexi 1675/3, 16753 | 1981 | — |
| GMT-Master II | 1984 | 1989 | 1989 | — |
| Explorer | 1990 | — | — | — |
| Explorer II | 1984 | — | — | — |
| Daytona | 1988 | 1988 | 1988 | — |
Red Date Codes on US Papers
Some vintage Rolex papers from Rolex USA include red stamped letters.
They show the date the watch was shipped to an authorized dealer.
Letters correspond to:
R O L E X W A T C H
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Example: L RCCT = March 19, 1998
Why Serial Numbers Matter
Understanding Rolex serial numbers helps determine:
-
Authenticity
-
Production year
-
Market value
-
Correct matching of dial, hands, bezel, bracelet
-
Whether parts have been replaced during service