Rolex Know-How
Rolex Serial Numbers
The serial number tells you roughly how old a Rolex is. Here's where to find it, how to read the table, and where the info online goes wrong.
Where to find the serial number
The serial number is the easiest way to work out roughly how old a Rolex is. It's engraved into the case between the lugs at 6 o'clock, so you have to take the bracelet off to read it. On newer watches the number is also on the rehaut, the inner ring of the bezel. And of course it's on the warranty card.
Looking up the production year
Rolex doesn't publish any official information about age, so collectors have put together lists that match serial numbers to years. Unfortunately there are several of them floating around the internet. They're broadly similar, but differ in the details. They give you a rough idea of a watch's age, but nobody can guarantee they're right. One more thing to keep in mind: the dates refer to when the watch was made. The day it was sold can be quite a bit later.
The table below is based on lists found online (for example Hannes' Oysterworld list). I simplified it and added to it over the years.
| Year | Serial number |
|---|---|
| 1925 | – |
| 1926 | – |
| 1927 | 20190 |
| 1928 | 23969 |
| 1929 | 28290 |
| 1930 | – |
| 1931 | – |
| 1932 | 29312 |
| 1933 | 29933 |
| 1934 | 30823 |
| 1935 | 34336 |
| 1936 | 36856 |
| 1937 | 40920 |
| 1938 | 43793 |
| 1939 | 71224 |
| 1940 | 99775 |
| 1941 | 106047 |
| 1942 | 143509 |
| 1943 | 230878 |
| 1944 | 269561 |
| 1945 | 302459 |
| 1946 | 367946 |
| 1947 | 529163 |
| 1948 | 628840 |
| 1949 | – |
| 1950 | – |
| 1951 | 709249 |
| 1952 | 726639 |
| 1953 | 793930 |
| 1954 | 976195 |
| 1955 | 30634 |
| 1956 | 139400 |
| 1957 | 216821 |
| 1958 | 353343 |
| 1959 | 399xxx |
| 1960 | 511687 |
| 1961 | 6469xx |
| 1962 | 763663 |
| 1963 | 95xxxx |
| 1964 | 997436 |
| 1965 | 1193xxx |
| 1966 | 1289727 |
| 1967 | 1554xxx |
| 1968 | 1720977 |
| 1969 | 2060xxx |
| 1970 | 242xxxx |
| 1971 | 2728xxx |
| 1972 | 305xxxx |
| 1973 | 3523678 |
| 1974 | 3761535 |
| 1975 | 3886050 |
| 1976 | 4155863 |
| 1977 | 5008000 |
| 1978 | 5238376 |
| 1979 | 5952834 |
| 1980 | 6434000 |
| 1981 | 6594xxx |
| 1982 | 7129351 |
| 1983 | 7862000 |
| 1984 | 8338000 |
| 1985 | 8624000 |
| 1986 | 9290000 |
| 1987 | 9863279 |
| 1987 / 1988 | R |
| 1988 / 1989 | L |
| 1989 / 1990 | L |
| 1990 / 1991 | E |
| 1991 / 1992 | X/N (from Nov.) |
| 1992 / 1993 | C |
| 1993 / 1994 | S |
| 1994 / 1995 | W |
| 1995 / 1996 | W |
| 1996 / 1997 | T |
| 1997 / 1998 | U (from Aug.) |
| 1998 / 1999 | A (from Nov.) |
| 1999 / 2000 | A |
| 2000 / 2001 | P (from Jan.) |
| 2001 / 2002 | K (from Sept.) |
| 2002 / 2003 | Y (from Sept.) |
| 2003 / 2004 | F (from Sept.) |
| 2004 / 2005 | F |
| 2005 / 2006 | D (from Apr.) |
| 2006 / 2007 | Z (from May) |
| 2007 / 2008 | M (from August) |
| 2008 / 2009 | V (from Aug.) |
| 2009 / 2010 | V |
| 2010 | G (from June) |
| From 2010 | Random combination of letters and numbers, 8 characters. Seen here and there from 2007 on. |
Mid-1950s: Rolex starts over
This chart is a real treasure. Watch collector Georg Burger entered every serial number he knew of. You can use it to analyze a serial number and place it in time.
The chart shows something odd about how Rolex handed out serial numbers:
In the mid-1950s Rolex ran out of numbers at 999,999 and decided, for reasons that are hard to follow today, to start over at 100,000. They probably had to make that call quickly and took the path of least resistance, since the tools for stamping the numbers already existed.
That means serial numbers from 100,000 to 999,999 show up in two different periods. To date a watch in that range, you absolutely have to look at the model too. Online listings get this wrong all the time because they ignore it.
An example:
A GMT 1675 with serial number 510xxx doesn't belong to 1947. It's from 1960, because that model wasn't on the market in 1947 yet.
Replaced cases: 44 and 47
A serial number that starts with 44 or 47 means Rolex swapped the case.
New serial numbers from around 2007
From around 2007, Rolex replaced the old system with the letter in front by what looks like a random mix of letters and numbers. The switch started around 2007 and was complete by about 2010. Since then, you can't tell the production date from the serial number anymore.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the serial number of my Rolex?
It's engraved into the case between the lugs at 6 o'clock, and you need to take the bracelet off to read it. On newer watches it's also on the rehaut, the inner ring of the bezel, and on the warranty card.
How do I find out how old my Rolex is?
Look up the serial number in the table above and match it to the year of production. Rolex doesn't publish an official list. The tables come from collectors and give you a rough idea, with no guarantee that they're right. For numbers from 100,000 to 999,999 the model matters too, because Rolex started over at 100,000 in the mid-1950s. A GMT 1675 with 510xxx is from 1960, not 1947, since that model didn't exist in 1947.
Does the serial number tell me when the watch was sold?
No. The number shows when the watch was made. The sale can be quite a bit later.
Why can't I read the production year on my newer Rolex?
From around 2007 Rolex replaced the serial numbers with a letter in front by what looks like a random mix of letters and numbers, completely by about 2010. You can't read a production date off those numbers anymore.
What does it mean when the serial number starts with 44 or 47?
A serial number that starts with 44 or 47 means Rolex replaced the case.