Rolex Numbers in Brief

Model Numbers: Rolex model numbers range from four to six numbers. The number is located at 12 o'clock between the lugs and under the bracelet. The first two or three digits describe the type of watch. If the watch has five digits, the second from the last indicates (some exceptions) the type of bezel and the last describes the material that the watch is made from. Around 2000, Rolex began adding a 1 in front of some model numbers... Example; the steel Daytona went from 16520 to 116520. This list is not complete and is just a break-down. You can also reference the complete Rolex model number listing.

Type of Watch... (bolded numbers represent current productions)

• Oyster Perpetual : 10, 140, 142
• Air-King : 55 & 140
• Date : 15 & 150
• Datejust : 16, 162 & 1162
• Daytona Manual Wind : 62
• Daytona Cosmograph : 165 & 1165
• Explorer : 142, 10 & 1142
• Explorer II : 16 & 165
• Sea Dweller : 16 & 166
• Submariner : 16, 166 & 168
• Submariner (no date) : 55 & 140
• GMT Master : 16, 65, 167
• GMT Master II : 167
• Oysterquartz Datejust : 170
• Oysterquartz Day-Date : 190
• Day-Date (President) : 65, 18, 180, 182, 183 & 1182
• Yachtmaster : 166, 686, 696, 1686 & 1696
• Midsize Oyster Perpetual DJ : 68, 682, 782 & 1782
• Ladies Oyster Perpetual : 67, 671, 672, 760 & 761
• Ladies Date : 65, 69, 691, 692, & 791
• Ladies Datejust : 65, 69, 691 & 692, 791 & 1791

Type of Bezel... 0 Polished 1 Finely Engine Turned 2 Engine Turned 3 Fluted 4 Hand-Crafted 5 Pyramid 6 Rotating Bezel

Type of Material... 0 Stainless 1 Yellow Gold Filled 2 White Gold Filled 3 Stainless & Yellow Gold 4 Stainless with 18k White Gold 5 Gold Shell 6 Platinum 7 14k Yellow Gold 8 18k Yellow Gold 9 18k White Gold

Serial Numbers: The serial number is located opposite of the model number at 6 o'clock between the lugs and under the bracelet. Since 1987, Rolex has used a system of 1 letter, followed by 6 digits. When buying and selling Rolex watches, that letter is one of the most important details many buyers will want to know. We believe there's a good chance Rolex will produce (tens of) thousands of cases, but not complete the watch... So a case made in 2003 with a Y#, might not leave Switzerland for 2 more years. Also, models with gold and precious stones usually do not sell as quickly as steel models and will sit around the authorized dealer for a longer period.

• Random : 2010 (Summer) - Current
• G000,001 : 2009 (Fall)
• V000,001 : 2008 (Fall)
• M000,001 : 2007 (Fall)
• Z000,001 : 2006 (Summer)
• D000,001 : 2005 (Summer)
• F000,001 : 2003 (Fall)
• Y000,001 : 2002 (Fall)
• K000,001 : 2001 (Fall)
• P000,001 : 2000 (Winter)
• A000,001 : 1999
• U000,001 : 1997 (Summer)
• T000,001 : 1995 (Summer)
• W000,001 : 1995
• S000,001 : 1993 (Fall)
• C000,001 : 1992 (Winter)
• N000,001 : 1991 (Fall)
• X000,001 : 1991 (Fall)
• E000,001 : 1990 (Summer)
• L000,001 : 1989
• R000,000 : 1987 (Summer)
• 9,999,999 : 1987
• 9,290,000 : 1986
• 8,814,000 : 1985
• 8,338,000 : 1984

...continued in the complete Rolex serial number listing.

Rather than begin an 8 digit production serial, Rolex instead began their serials with a letter prefix such as R, then L, E & X. (ROLEX without the O) N, C, & S came out during the early to mid 1990's, W, T & U a little later, etc. The latest letter prefixes are all running concurrently... Only Rolex knows the exact date that any watch was actually produced. Confused.?..contact Rolex with the exact serial number of your watch...don't expect a reply with an answer!