Rolex Serial Number Production Dates

The serial number has traditionally been located at 6 o'clock between the lugs and under the bracelet. In 2005, Rolex began engraving the serial number on the rehaut (French for 'flange') between the dial and the crystal as well as the 6' o'clock location. For a few years, Rolexes had two serial numbers engraved on them. Starting in 2008, Rolex stopped engraving the serial # at the case 6 o'clock location, using only the rehaut location. By 2010 this practice had gradually transitioned to all models.

In 2009, Rolex started to discontinue their conventional numbering sequence in favor for a mixed (aka random aka scrambled) serial. They will be 8 digits, opposed to 7 in the past. Random examples of these indecipherable numbers are "OT23Q257", "52335J78", and "345X29VN". On occasion, some of these random serials will start with letters like F which could confuse an unsuspecting appraiser of thinking the watch is older than it actually is.

After you get the number from your watch, you can use the chart below to determine the age.


  • Mixed Serials 2010 (Summer) to Present
  • 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) **

Rolex never started a series with B, I, J, O, or Q. (These serials appear to have been reserved for use in Tudor cases)

There are some scrambled models that can begin with J, O, or Q.

YEAR
FROM
TO
1927
20190
21691
1928
23969
24747
1929
28290
1930
29312
1931
1932
29312
1933
29933
1934
30823
1935
34336
35365
1936
36856
37569
1937
40920
1938
43793
1939
71224
1940
99775
1941
106047
1942
143509
202026
1943
230878
1944
269561
1945
302459
1946
367946
387216
1947
529163
1948
628840
1949
1950
1951
709249
710776
1952
726639
840396
1953
793930
973830
1954
976195
43325**
1955
30634
1297XX
1956
139400
217821
1957
216821
358XXX
YEAR
FROM
TO
1958
353343
426510
1959
399XXX
502683
1960
511687
642993
1961
6469XX
702XXX
1962
763663
894XXX
1963
95XXXX
1021800
1964
997436
1195238
1965
1193XXX
1259699
1966
1289727
1557XXX
1967
1554XXX
186XXXX
1968
1720977
2477152
1969
2060XXX
22927XX
1970
242XXXX
2959XXX
1971
2728XXX
3037XXX
1972
305XXXX
3478400
1973
3523678
3741300
1974
3761535
4194183
1975
3886050
4267100
1976
4155863
4538000
1977
5008000
5367817
1978
5238376
5737030
1979
5952834
6122790
1980
6434000
1981
6594XXX
6910000
1982
7129351
7437845
1983
7862000
8085072
1984
8338000
1985
8624000
8734XXX
1986
9290000
9824763
1987
9863279

** In 1987, 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. The latest letter prefixes are all running concurrently...as Rolex wishes! 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!

*** When Rolex reached the 999,999 production serial in the early 1954s...they restarted the production serial at 100,000 rather than begin a 7 digit number at 1,000,000. During this period Rolex was also putting the date code on the inside of the case backs...so confusing production serials can sometimes have their production date determined. Look for the Roman number I, II, III or IV for the quarter & two arabic digits for the year.

In the late 1950's, Rolex again reached the 999,999 production serial & they started their 7 digit numeric numbering system at 1,000,000 for production serials, this continued until the 1990's until production serials reached 9,999,999.