Unique Identifier: How To Find Your Serial NumberLet’s look at as an example. Every Rolex watch has a unique serial number engraved directly into the metal of its case. The engraving is located between the lugs on the 6 o’clock side, and can only be seen once that side of the bracelet has been removed from the case. On modern Rolex watches, the serial number engraving appears on the inner bezel, so that it can be viewed by simply looking through the crystal, rather than by removing the bracelet.
Sep 28, 2018 If you have any of these unanswered questions, then read our handy guide to Rolex serial numbers and Rolex reference numbers. What is a Rolex Serial Number? Every Rolex watch that comes out of the factory is designated with its own serial number. As a result, each Rolex serial number is unique (there are exceptions, as we’ll see shortly).
Rolex Serial NumbersAlthough Rolex has never published an official resource regarding serial numbers and their corresponding years of production, generations of Rolex owners have amassed a collective knowledge base that is able to accurately, based on its serial number engraving. The Rolex serial number is engraved between the lugs at 6 o’clock Serial Number HistoryThe first Rolex serial numbers consisted of only numerical figures, containing a maximum of six digits. Around the mid 1950s, Rolex reached the limit of their six-digit, serial number system, and reset the count, starting the serial numbers over again. However in the mid 1960s, when they reached the end of their six-digit system once more, they added a seventh digit and continued to count upwards from there.In 1987, Rolex reached the end of their seven-digit serial number system, and rather than adding yet another digit to the length of their serial numbers, they chose to turn the first digit into a letter.
Each subsequent year of production was marked by a different letter at the beginning of the serial number (more or less), with the following six numerical digits serving as the identification number between the different watches that were manufactured within the same year. A Vintage Rolex Submariner 5512 with a gilt dial.Rolex continued with this practice until 2011, when they switched to a random serial number system that makes it virtually impossible to tell when exactly a watch left their factory. All watches manufactured between 2011 and the present will have a random serial number engraved into the bottom of the inner bezel, directly under the crystal. Accurate DatabaseAfter locating your serial number, visit our accurate Rolex Serial Numbers page, where you will find a manufacture date reference tool and accompanying chart. Simply enter your serial number and click the “submit” button. You will be redirected to a page that will clearly state the exact year that your watch was manufactured.To view and their corresponding serial numbers, just reference the chart on our Rolex Serial Numbers page, where you will find a complete list dating all the way back to 1926, along with additional charts that outline the meaning behind Rolex reference numbers and bracelet codes. Copyright Bob's Watches.
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Bob's Watches only sells pre-owned Rolex watches and provides its own warranties on the watches it sells. Rolex, is under no obligation to warranty-service watches sold by Bob's Watches. Rolex Datejust, Rolex Day Date President, Submariner, Presidential, Explorer, Sea Dweller, Super President, GMT Master, GMT, YachtMaster, Prince, Milgauss, MasterPiece, Air King, Cosmograph Daytona, and PearlMaster are all registered trademarks of the Rolex Corporation ( Rolex USA, Rolex S.A.) To buy a new Rolex watch, please visit rolex.com for a list of authorized Rolex dealers near you. Sales tax on Internet transactions is only collected on orders shipped to addresses in California or as otherwise required by law.
A Guide to Rolex Serial Numbers and Rolex Reference NumbersThis entry was posted on September 28, 2018 by Celine Simon.Once you spend a little time and comparing models, one thing you’ll notice is long strings of numbers and letters being thrown around. Submariner 114060; GMT-Master II 126710BLRO; Daytona 6263; W5642301; D246135 and so on.
What do these numbers mean? What’s the difference between Rolex serial numbers and Rolex reference numbers? How can I tell what year my Rolex was produced? If you have any of these unanswered questions, then read our handy guide to Rolex serial numbers and Rolex reference numbers.What is a Rolex Serial Number?Every Rolex watch that comes out of the factory is designated with its own serial number. As a result, each Rolex serial number is unique (there are exceptions, as we’ll see shortly). So in theory, a Rolex serial number can tell you what year (approximately) the watch was made in.We say in theory, because there have been a few irregularities over the years.
For example, Rolex reset the serial numbers in 1954 after they reached #999,999. So a watch from the 1960s can have the same reference number as one from the 1950s. Thankfully, Rolex also furnished the interior of the casebacks with date codes, thus making it easier to differentiate between a pre-1954 serial number and post-1954 one (if you open up the watch). The bracelet must be removed to see the serial and reference numbersWhen Rolex reached #9,999,999 in mid-1987, the company began adding a letter followed by six digits. But to confuse matters even more, they did not begin with the letter “A” but instead, the letter “R,” then “L,” then “E,” followed by other non-sequential letters.The biggest change in Rolex serial numbers, however, came about by the end of 2010, when Rolex decided to use random serial numbers. Due to this change, it cannot be determined what year a Rolex was made if it was manufactured post-2010. There are several theories on why Rolex has done this.
One is that the company does not want the public to know just how many units they produce a year, while another speculation says that it’s a measure against counterfeiting.Rolex Serial Number Look Up ChartUsing this Rolex Serial Number Look Up chart, you can approximate what year a Rolex was produced (pre-2011). It’s important to note that Rolex has never released official numbers so these have been approximated, recorded, and categorized by collectors over the years. It is not an exact science.Where Can I Find the Rolex Serial Number?If you have the watch’s papers, then the serial number will be on there. However, if you don’t have any documents, then you’ll find it on the Rolex watch itself.On Rolex watches made prior to 2007, the serial number can be found engraved on the case in between the lugs at 6 o’clock.
You will have to remove the bracelet to see it. The Rolex serial number is between the lugs at 6 o'clockStarting in late 2006, in addition to the case stamping Rolex also included the serial number laser engraved on the rehaut—visible through the sapphire crystal. Finally, starting in the late 2008, Rolex phased out the case engraving entirely and now exclusively displays the serial number on the rehaut.What is a Rolex Reference Number?Unlike a unique serial number, Rolex reference numbers (also known as model numbers) are shared across watches. The Rolex reference number is engraved between the lugs at 12 o'clockThe Rolex reference number is also engraved on the watch, but on the opposite side from the serial number position.
So you’ll have to remove the bracelet from the 12 o’clock side of the case to see it.How to Use Rolex Serial Numbers and Reference NumbersThe most common way a reference number is used is to identify exactly the type of Rolex watch you have (or have your eye on). This is especially important when sourcing your Rolex from the secondary market to ensure that what think you’re buying matches up with what you’re actually buying. Understanding Rolex reference numbers is important if you want to make an informed purchase.Likewise, a Rolex serial number helps you date a specific watch so that you can understand what era your watch is from. Not only will this will help you to know if the watch in question is actually an honest vintage piece, but also, it will reveal if all the other details of the watch (dial, bezel, bracelet) match up or if they were replacement/service pieces.When, the more you understand, the better decisions you’ll make when choosing which one you want to add to your collection.This entry was posted in and tagged, on September 28, 2018 by Celine Simon.