Rolex Serial Numbers

People are often looking for a Rolex serial number or Rolex model number database to verify their Rolex serial numbers and to work out their Rolex year of manufacture. Unfortunately many of the online Rolex serial number databases are very inaccurate, out of date and have been copied inaccurately many times. Still many people quote them and so wrongly date their watch.

I have therefore compiled a more accurate Rolex serial number database below, for everyone to use, from utilising highly accurate and trusted data.

The Rolex serial number of a watch is stamped between the lower lugs, where the bracelet is held in place. Up until the end of 1972, the ‘quarter’ of manufacture and year could also be found stamped inside the case back (eg iii 65 for 3rd quarter of 1965). The stamped case back date is usually close to the case date. It should never be newer than the date of the serial number, but on occassions it could be up to a year or two older as Rolex would have casebacks produced in batches and use them up as needed.

The Rolex serial no database below should give you a reasonably accurate idea of the year of your Rolex. Remember that the year of Rolex manufacture does not necessarily mean that was the year of sale, so Rolex guarantee papers or bracelets could be dated later, but not earlier.

If you have a query please feel free to contact me and if I can help you I will certainly try.

But if you are trying to work out “what year is my Rolex?” this should be a good place to start….

Rolex Serial NumberYear
20,000 – 40,0001927 -1937
40,000 – 200,0001938 -1942
200,000 – 300,0001941 -1944
300,000 – 500,0001945 -1946
500,000 – 620,0001947 -1948
620,000 – 700,0001948 -1950
700,000 – 725,0001951
725,000 – 880,0001952
880,000 – 999,0001953
0 – 49,0001954

In 1954 when Rolex reached serial numbers of 1 million they started again as follows:-

Rolex Serial NumberYear
0  –  50,0001954
50,000  – 150,0001955
150,000 – 250,0001956
250,000 – 350,0001957
350,000 – 450,0001958
450,000 – 550,0001959
550,000 – 650,0001960
650,000 – 755,0001961
755,000 – 865,0001962
865,000 – 1,000,0001963
1,000,000 – 1,105,0001964
1,105,000 – 1,275,0001965
1,275,000 – 1,485,0001966
1,485,000 – 1,710,0001967
1,710,000 – 1,945,0001968
1,945,000 – 2,240,0001969
2,240,000 – 2,590,0001970
2,590,000 – 2,890,0001971
2,890,000 – 3,200,0001972
3,200,000 – 3,570,0001973
3,570,000 – 3,865,0001974
3,865,000 – 4,115,0001975

4,115,000 – 4,260,000

5,000,000 – 5,085,000

1976
5,085,000 – 5,430,0001977
5,430,000 – 5,865,0001978
5,865,000 – 6,205,0001979
6,205,000 – 6,560,0001980
6,560,000 – 7,130,0001981
7,130,000 – 7,600,0001982
7,600,000 – 8,375,0001983
8,375,000 – 8,785,0001984
8,785,000 – 9,155,0001985
9,155,000 – 9,860,0001986
9,860,000 – 9,900,0001987

* During 1976 Rolex retained cases to be used as future ‘Service Cases’ and have issued these, so far, from late 4.38m cases to 4.8m cases.

When Rolex reached their 10,000,000’th serial number in 1987 they switched to Letter Prefix based serials starting with ‘R’. These did not follow alphabetically, nor did they start on the 1st of January each year – instead starting at different points within a year once all the serials had been used. A letter prefix was followed by 6 digits – so again giving 1m serials per letter and in the order below.

Letter PrefixYear Started
R1987
L1988
E1990
X1991
N1992
C1993
S1994
W1995
T1996
U1997
A1998
P2000
K2001
Y2002
F2003
D2005
Z2006
M2007
V2008
G2010

From 2010 onwards Rolex serial numbers changed again. This time to 8 digits consisting of randomly generated numbers and letters. This does mean that currently and going forward only Rolex will be able to tell you the date of production on any particular watch.