Rolex Serial Numbers
Every watch produced by Rolex is engraved with a serial number as part of the company’s careful and well-planned production process. In addition to being unique per each wristwatch, the numbers perform an excellent job of classifying and distinguishing them. Despite their complexity, this data can help you estimate a watch’s production year. If you’re looking to buy a Rolex watch as an investment, you’ll want to know the approximate year it was made and that’s where Rolex serial numbers come in. Understanding why serial numbers are vital and how they may be used as a reference when you are ready to buy a Rolex is essential, as they are normally separated into three primary sections, each with a particular format, depending upon the year the watches were manufactured. Weather you have a new or old Rolex, WatchGuys is ready to make you an offer if you are ready to sell your Rolex.
| YEAR OF PRODUCTION | SERIAL NUMBER OF ROLEX |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Random |
| 2022 | Random |
| 2021 | Random |
| 2020 | Random |
| 2019 | Random |
| 2018 | Random |
| 2017 | Random |
| 2016 | Random |
| 2015 | Random |
| 2014 | Random |
| 2013 | Random |
| 2012 | Random |
| 2011 | Random |
| 2010 | G |
| 2009 | V |
| 2008 | M or V |
| 2007 | M or Z |
| 2006 | D or Z |
| 2005 | D or F |
| 2004 | F |
| 2003 | F |
| 2002 | Y |
| 2001 | K or Y |
| 2000 | K,000,001 or P,000,001 |
| 1999 | A,000,001 |
| 1998 | U,932,144 |
| 1997 | U,000,001 |
| 1996 | T,000,001 |
| 1995 | W,000,001 |
| 1994 | S,860,880 |
| 1993 | S,000,001 |
| 1992 | C,000,001 |
| 1991 | N,000,001 or X,000,001 |
| 1990 | E,000,001 |
| 1989 | L,980,000 |
| 1988 | R,598,200 |
| 1987 | R,000,001 or R,400,000 |
| 1986 | 8,900,000 |
| 1985 | 8,614,000 |
| 1984 | 8,070,022 |
| 1983 | 7,400,000 |
| 1982 | 7,100,000 |
| 1981 | 6,520,870 |
| 1980 | 6,434,000 |
| 1979 | 5,737,030 |
| 1978 | 5,000,000 |
| 1977 | 5,008,000 |
| 1976 | 4,115,299 |
| 1975 | 3,862,196 |
| YEAR OF PRODUCTION | SERIAL NUMBER OF ROLEX |
|---|---|
| 1974 | 3,567,927 |
| 1973 | 3,200,268 |
| 1972 | 2,890,459 |
| 1971 | 2,589,295 |
| 1970 | 2,241,882 |
| 1969 | 1,900,000 |
| 1968 | 1,752,000 |
| 1967 | 1,538,435 |
| 1966 | 1,200,000 |
| 1965 | 1,100,000 |
| 1964 | 1,008,889 |
| 1963 | 824,000 |
| 1962 | 744,000 |
| 1961 | 643,153 |
| 1960 | 516,000 |
| 1959 | 399,453 |
| 1958 | 328,000 |
| 1957 | 244,000 |
| 1956 | 133,061 |
| 1955 | 97,000 |
| 1954 | 23,000 |
| 1953 | 855,726 |
| 1952 | 727,639 |
| 1951 | 709,249 |
| 1950 | |
| 1949 | |
| 1948 | 628,840 |
| 1947 | 529,163 |
| 1946 | 367,946 |
| 1945 | 302,459 |
| 1944 | 269,561 |
| 1943 | 230,878 |
| 1942 | 143,509 |
| 1941 | 106,047 |
| 1940 | 99,775 |
| 1939 | 71,224 |
| 1938 | 43,739 |
| 1937 | 40,920 |
| 1936 | 36,856 |
| 1935 | 34,336 |
| 1934 | 30,823 |
| 1933 | 29,562 |
| 1932 | 29,132 |
| 1931 | |
| 1930 | 23,186 |
| 1929 | |
| 1928 | 23,969 |
| 1927 | 20,190 |
| 1926 | 00,001 |
How To Find The Serial Numbers On Your Rolex Watch
How can you locate the Rolex serial number on the timepiece, first and foremost? Your Rolex serial number might be located in a variety of places, depending on how old your watch is. To find the Rolex watch’s serial number on older models, the serial number is engraved between the lugs at 6:00, therefore you’ll have to detach the bracelet to find it. This can be a time-consuming process, and you run the risk of damaging the watch’s lugs or bracelet if you don’t have the proper tools or skills.
Fortunately, contemporary Rolex watches don’t necessitate the removal of the band in order to determine the serial number. Instead, the serial number is etched on the watch’s inner bezel under the crystal at 6 o’clock.
Rolex lettering is etched around the entire rehaut on all watches with the serial number stamped on the rehaut. While still keeping the serial number around 6 o’clock, Rolex ceased engraving it in 2008, instead adopting a rehaut engraving. Until 2010, this was the situation with all Rolex models.
Modern Rolex timepieces only carry the serial number on the inner rehaut, not on the 6 o’clock side between the lugs. The primary reason Rolex implemented this adjustment in serial numbers was to make it much more difficult for counterfeiters to laser etch with the same level of precision that Rolex has.
How to check Rolex Serial Number?
As previously noted, the estimated year of the Rolex watch can be determined using the serial number. However, the warranty card which came with your Rolex watch will have a date and year signed on it, making that the ideal place to look for the date and the year of sale. If the Rolex watch doesn’t come with a warranty card, you can still get service by using the serial number.
Since 1926, the Rolex serial numbers for timepieces have been consecutive. Prior to 2009, the letter before the serial number was used to indicate the year of the watch’s construction, from 1987 to 2009.
Important to remember is that the Rolex serial number does not provide an exact time stamp for the watch’s manufacturing process. Some people may have kept their parts in storage before putting them together. However, based on the serial number, you can estimate the watch’s age to be within a range of 1-2 years.
How to Find the Model or Reference Number on Your Rolex Watch?
Rolex reference numbers are provided on Rolex certificates, although they are generally present on the watch casing. To find it, you must first remove the bracelet. On the 12 o’clock side, where the bracelet joins the watch case, its reference number is engraved between lugs.
The reference/model number is essentially a series of numbers that identify the watch, its material, and the type of bezel.
The serial number cannot be used to determine if a Rolex wristwatch is genuine or counterfeit. Rolex does not maintain an official record of serial numbers that they make available. Authorized Rolex retailers are also denied access to the Rolex serial database.
