Rolex serial numbers are located on the side of the watch case, between the lugs on the 6:00 end. It is usually necessary to release the bracelet in order to see the serial number. This should only be done by an experienced watchmaker to prevent scratching the case or bracelet. The Numbers on a Rolex. Model and Serial Number – Rolex watches have a sealed back case. Very few sellers can easily open the case to show the movement, so we have to look carefully at the outside of the case. Rolex etches the model (case) number between the lugs at 12 o'clock and the serial number between the lugs at 6 o'clock.
- Rolex Model And Serial Numbers
- Where Is Rolex Serial Number Located Usa
- Where Is Rolex Serial Number Located On The Map
Rolex Serial Numbers..
Rolex watches feature two sets of identification numbers..
a Serial Number and a Case Reference Number.
On modern Oyster cases (excluding the OysterQuartz),
these numbers are engraved between the lugs,
hidden behind the end pieces (as shown in the images below).
ABOVE: Around 2005, Rolex started engraving the Case's Serial Number into the inside edge of the case (at the 6 o'clock position, under the crystal and below the bezel), also known as the rehaut, as shown in these images, which were taken at BASELWORLD 2005, in Switzerland in early April. BELOW: A close-up view of the same watch, you can clearly see the Serial Number |
A Brief Explanation of the Rolex Serial Numbering System..
Around this same time, Rolex had initiated another dating system--They stamped the inside of the case back with a code consisting of a Roman numeral and two numbers. The Roman numerals were I, II, III, IV, which represented which quarter of the year the watch was produced. The numbers simply represented the two-digit year in which the watch was produced. Therefore, the code 'III 53' would represent the 3rd quarter (i.e. July-September) of 1953--this code continued until around 1970. Please note, some examples (primarily from around 1959), did feature the Roman Numeral and a 4-digit year (i.e. 'ii 1959'). In the early 1960s, Rolex once again reached the 999,999 mark, but this time added a 7th digit and continued into the 'millions' until mid 1987, when the numbering reached 9,999,999. At this time, Rolex elected to start numbering with a letter prefix (e.g. R000001). The system started with the letter 'R', whcih was then subsequently followed by L-E-X. Thus spelling out the word 'ROLEX' with the 'O' being omitted, to help avert any possible confusion with the number '0'. This sequence continued through November 1991, when a new numbering system was introduced utilizing the letters N, C and S, which took them through 1993. In 1994, Rolex started yet another sequence with the letters: W, T and U, then A, P, and K in subsequent years, followed by Y, F, D, Z, M, V and then G in 2010. Please note, during the 1990s and 2000s, it is estimated that Rolex produced around around 1 million watches per year. Coincidentally, the numbering sequence of any particular Letter from this system (e.g. V000001 to V999999), would in fact also be 1 million serial numbers, and worked well with this system. It is worth mentioning that Rolex would not cease a letter prefix run at the end of a given calendar year, but would continue a letter run until all numbers were used before changing the prefix code. Therefore, letter prefixes could end at random times of the year, and did not start or stop at the beginning or end of a calendar year. Then, later in 2010, they scrapped the entire system and implemented a brand new 'Random' numbering system, in which each watch is issued a (unique) 8-digit 'Random' number consisting of numbers and letters. An example of this number would be something like '16G9L7F4' and could start with either a letter or number. This offers them a seemingly endless numbering system by which they could continue indefinitely. Figuring 8 digits with a possible 36 characters (26 letters and 10 numbers) per digit, gives them over 2 Trillion (2,821,109,907,456 to be exact) possible serial numbers. Even if they were to omit the letters 'O' and 'I', to help avert any possible confusion with the numbers '0' and '1' (as they did in the previous numbering system), that would still give them 1,785,793,904,896 possible combinations. While this This also offers Rolex an opportunity to keep the exact year of manufacture for any particular watch a secret. Something that has come back to haunt them for some time now. Therefore, only Rolex knows exactly when any particular watch was made and they aren't talking.
A Tudor (work in progress) Serial Number List is included at the bottom of this page.. Please Note: John E. Brozek, InfoQuest Publishing, Inc. and this website are in no way associated with Rolex USA, nor any of its associated companies. John E. Abbyy finereader 7.0 professional edition serial number. Brozek does not now, nor has he EVER worked for the Rolex Watch Company or any of its subsidiaries. The information provided on this page is solely the work of the author and has not been reviewed or authorized by Rolex USA. Furthermore, the publishers have received no help from Rolex USA, nor any of its associated companies or any serving employees. |
ROLEX
Dwg viewer for windows 10. Serial Numbers by Date of Manufacture.
'Round Number' Serial Number List
20000 ...............1927 |
| 22500 ...............1928 |
| 25000 ...............1929 |
| 26500 ...............1930 |
| 28000 ...............1931 |
| 28500 ...............1932 |
| 29000 ...............1933 |
| 32000 ...............1934 |
| 35000 ...............1935 |
| 37000 ...............1936 |
| 40000 ...............1937 |
| 55000 ...............1938 |
| 71000 ...............1939 |
| 90000 ...............1940 |
| 106000 ...............1941 |
| 150000 ...............1942 |
| 230000 ...............1943 |
| 270000 ...............1944 |
| 302000 ...............1945 |
| 400000 ...............1946 |
| 529000 ...............1947 |
| 570000 ...............1948 |
| 600000 ...............1949 |
| 650000 ...............1950 |
| 700000 ...............1951 |
| 800000 ...............1952 |
| 900000 ..............1953 |
| 10000 to 300000 .....1953 to 1957 (At this time Rolex started the numbering system back at 10000. This time period also saw the start of the 'Roman Numeral' dating system explained above.) |
| 350000 ...............1958 |
| 400000 ..............1959 |
| 550000 ...............1960 |
| 700000 ..............1961 |
| 800000 ...............1962 |
| 900000 ..............1963 |
| 1000000 ...............1964 |
| 1200000 ..............1965 |
| 1400000 ...............1966 |
| 1600000 ..............1967 |
| 1850000 ...............1968 |
| 2300000 ..............1969 |
| 2500000 ...............1970 |
| 2900000 ..............1971 |
| 3300000 ...............1972 |
| 3750000 ..............1973 |
| 3900000 ...............1974 |
| 4250000 ..............1975 |
| 4500000 ...............1976 |
| 5000000 .............1977 |
| 5400000 ...............1978 |
| 5950000 .............1979 |
| 6400000 ...............1980 |
| 7000000 .............1981 |
| 7350000 ...............1982 |
| 7750000 .............1983 |
| 8100000 ...............1984 |
| 8600000 .............1985 |
| 9000000 ...............1986 |
| 9500000 .............1987 (Start of the letter prefix system.) R000001 .............1987 |
| L000001 .............1989 |
| E000001 .............1990 |
| X000001 .............1991 |
| N000001 .............1991 |
| C000001 .............1992 |
| S000001 .............1993 |
| W000001 .............1994 |
| T000001 .............1996 |
| U000001 .............1997 |
| A000001 .............1998 |
| P000001 .............2000 |
| K000001 .............2001 |
| Y000001 .............2002 |
| F000001 .............2003 Also started engraving the serial number inside the bezel (under the crystal) |
| D000001 .............2005 |
| Z000001 .............2006 |
| M000001 .............2007 |
| V000001 .............2008 |
| G000001 ..........Mid 2010 |
| Random Numbers ..Late 2010 to present (Now features 8-digits instead of 7) |
TUDOR
Serial Numbers by Date of Manufacture.
'Round Number' Serial Number List
Please Note: The following list is a 'Work in Progress' and will be updated periodically.
240000 ...............1956 |
| 250000 ...............1957 |
| 260000 ...............1958 |
| 270000 ...............1959 |
| 280000 ...............1960 |
| 340000 ...............1961 |
| 340000 ...............1962 |
| 390000 ...............1963 |
| 430000 ...............1964 |
| 430000 ...............1965 |
| 560000 ...............1966 |
| 590000 ...............1967 |
| 620000 ...............1968 |
| 680000 ...............1969 |
| 740000 ...............1970 |
| 750000 ...............1971 |
| 770000 ...............1972 |
| 790000 ...............1973 |
| 810000 ...............1974 |
| 830000 ...............1975 |
| 840000 ...............1976 |
| 860000 ...............1977 |
| 880000 ...............1978 |
| 900000 ...............1979 |
| 930000 ...............1980 |
| 950000 ...............1981 |
| 970000 ..............1982 |
| 980000 ..............1983 |
| 990000 ...............1984 |
| 140000 ..............1985 |
| 170000 ...............1986 |
| 190000 ..............1987 |
| 210000 ...............1988 |
| 260000 ..............1989 |
| B330000 ...............1990 |
| B360000 ..............1991 |
| B390000 ...............1992 |
| B500000 ..............1993 |
| B560000 ...............1994 |
| B590000 ..............1995 |
| B790000 ...............1996 |
| B850000 ..............1997 |
| B990000 ...............1998 |
| H130000 ..............1999 |
| H170000 ...............2000 |
| H240000 ..............2001 |
| H300000 ...............2002 |
Paul Thorpe writes on a subject that is close to all Rolex enthusiast's hearts…
Years ago I could send a FAX to Rolex with a list of serial numbers taken from watches that I wanted to purchase.
Within an hour or so, a FAX would be returned to me from Rolex, stating that all the serial numbers were clear on their ‘lost and stolen' register which in turn cleared me to go ahead with the purchase. What a great service from a world class watch company..
Copies of that FAX could then be supplied to the next owner, offering them assurance that their watch had never been the subject of theft or loss, or indeed an dodgy insurance claim.
In their wisdom, and for reasons only known to themselves, Rolex suddenly stopped offering this service in about 2011 (from memory) to both the trade and indeed the general public.
At first, it was thought the cessation was only temporary whilst Rolex moved their service centre from Bexley to West Malling. The weeks quickly turned into months, and it started to become clear that the ‘lost and stolen' service had gone, and probably, forever. Vce exam simulator 2.7 crack.
There are a number of theories why Rolex stopped offering this service. The most popular belief is that the cost of running the service became to high. But I've never subscribed to that theory and I'll tell you why…
As far as I'm aware there were only two employees working the L&S register.
Over the years I put hundreds of serial numbers through the Rolex system and I only ever dealt with the same two ladies during all of that time. It didn't seem to be a huge department at all.
Tapping a serial number into a computer doesn't take a rocket scientist nor does it require a lot of man or women power.
So for a company the size of Rolex, this doesn't make any sense to me at all. Besides, if finances were an issue, charging callers just £1 a time would earn Rolex a fortune.
I believe the reasons behind the death of the L&S register are a tiny bit more sinister.
There's little doubt in my mind that Rolex's decision was taken in an attempt to push Rolex buyers through the door of authorised dealers and away from the independents. To encourage the public to buy new, rather than used..
I guess you could say ‘'who can blame them?' but if my theory is correct that it is a very short sighted attitude. Certainly not one fitting of a world class brand that prides itself in being among the very best in every way.
Let's get this right, Rolex are really only interested in two things. (1) selling new watches and (2) servicing old ones. That's how they make their money, period.
But their is a very strong flip side to that argument. In ceasing the L&S register you could say Rolex are in danger of diluting the value of pre-owned Rolex watches and therefore, at the same time, diluting their own brand.
After all, the value of a new Rolex is what it is ONLY because of the value of a used one, and vice-versa. Its a perpetuating cycle and neither market should be compromised.
Copies of that FAX could then be supplied to the next owner, offering them assurance that their watch had never been the subject of theft or loss, or indeed an dodgy insurance claim.
In their wisdom, and for reasons only known to themselves, Rolex suddenly stopped offering this service in about 2011 (from memory) to both the trade and indeed the general public.
At first, it was thought the cessation was only temporary whilst Rolex moved their service centre from Bexley to West Malling. The weeks quickly turned into months, and it started to become clear that the ‘lost and stolen' service had gone, and probably, forever. Vce exam simulator 2.7 crack.
There are a number of theories why Rolex stopped offering this service. The most popular belief is that the cost of running the service became to high. But I've never subscribed to that theory and I'll tell you why…
As far as I'm aware there were only two employees working the L&S register.
Over the years I put hundreds of serial numbers through the Rolex system and I only ever dealt with the same two ladies during all of that time. It didn't seem to be a huge department at all.
Tapping a serial number into a computer doesn't take a rocket scientist nor does it require a lot of man or women power.
So for a company the size of Rolex, this doesn't make any sense to me at all. Besides, if finances were an issue, charging callers just £1 a time would earn Rolex a fortune.
I believe the reasons behind the death of the L&S register are a tiny bit more sinister.
There's little doubt in my mind that Rolex's decision was taken in an attempt to push Rolex buyers through the door of authorised dealers and away from the independents. To encourage the public to buy new, rather than used..
I guess you could say ‘'who can blame them?' but if my theory is correct that it is a very short sighted attitude. Certainly not one fitting of a world class brand that prides itself in being among the very best in every way.
Let's get this right, Rolex are really only interested in two things. (1) selling new watches and (2) servicing old ones. That's how they make their money, period.
But their is a very strong flip side to that argument. In ceasing the L&S register you could say Rolex are in danger of diluting the value of pre-owned Rolex watches and therefore, at the same time, diluting their own brand.
After all, the value of a new Rolex is what it is ONLY because of the value of a used one, and vice-versa. Its a perpetuating cycle and neither market should be compromised.
These days, dealers like myself participate in extreme due diligence to ensure that all the watches we buy are clean and come from absolutely impeccable sources.
This includes ID checks, ID presentation, history, previous sales records, etc. etc. etc. All of which is fine, but what about the poor unsuspecting public?
Rolex Model And Serial Numbers
If Rolex wish to make pre-owned watches harder to sell, then where does that leave their brand?
Five years after the end of the L&S register the move doesn't appear to have done them any harm. But there have been a number of cases where people have been caught out when a simple phone call would have saved them a lot of time, trouble, heartache and indeed, money…
A little tip. If you Google the serial number of a Rolex, there's a fair chance that its previous owner will have put their watch and its serial number on the internet if its been stolen.
To some degree, Google has become the modern L&S register. Its certainly not fool proof, but it's a good place to start.
Where Is Rolex Serial Number Located Usa
And if your watch is ever stolen, make sure you place the serial number and details on a Forum somewhere, and it will then show on a Google search. Use a keyword rich search term, such as ‘Rolex Submariner stolen serial number XXXXXX'
The same goes when you're checking for authenticity. Fake watches invariably carry a generic serial number. For example, there are hundreds of fake Omega's out there bearing the same serial number.
Try this, just for fun… Go to Google and type in 'Omega Seamaster serial number 30198259' and see what happens. Good old Google eh?
Rolex, take note!
Thanks for looking.
Where Is Rolex Serial Number Located On The Map
Paul Thorpe..
