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__NOTOC__
__NOTOC__
<div style="display:none;">{{DISPLAYTITLE:<span style="display:none;">BezelBase</span>}}</div>
<div style="display:none;">{{DISPLAYTITLE:<span style="display:none;">Rolexopedia</span>}}</div>
{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=BezelBase — Watch Reference Encyclopedia
|title=Rolex Reference Encyclopedia {{!}} Rolexopedia
|description=Encyclopedic reference for Rolex watches. Vintage and discontinued Rolex references documented — specs, dial variants, serial ranges, production history.
|description=Encyclopedic reference for Rolex watches. Vintage and discontinued Rolex references documented — specs, dial variants, serial ranges, production history.
|keywords=watch reference, Rolex, Rolex Submariner, Rolex Explorer, Rolex GMT-Master, Rolex Bubbleback, Oyster, Ovettone, vintage Rolex, collector guide, watch history, production history, dial variants
|keywords=watch reference, Rolex, Rolex Submariner, Rolex Daytona, Rolex Explorer, Rolex GMT-Master, Rolex Day-Date, President, Rolex Bubbleback, Rolex Prince, Brancard, Oyster, Ovettone, vintage Rolex, collector guide, watch history, production history, dial variants
|image=Bezelbase_main_poster.webp
|image_alt=Rolexopedia — vintage Rolex reference encyclopedia
|image_width=1280
|image_height=1280
|og_type=website
}}
}}


<div style="max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 1em;">
<div class="rp-hero">
<div class="rp-hero-title">The Rolex reference encyclopedia</div>
<div class="rp-hero-lede">
Rolex changed what a wristwatch could do. The Oyster case (1926) made watches waterproof, the Perpetual rotor (1931) made them self-winding, the Prince (1928) built them to chronometer grade. Watchmakers and collectors have spent the decades since cataloguing what changed across each reference. Rolexopedia stores that record in one place.


<div style="margin: 0.5em 0 1.5em 0; font-size: 110%;">
Each article documents one reference: production years, movement, dial variants, case and bracelet details, auction record, and what to check when authenticating one. Inside one reference the watch can change a lot. A 5512 from 1962 is not the 5512 from 1978. Generation matters first. [[Rolexopedia:About|About the project →]]
Vintage Rolex is a catalogue problem as much as a collecting one. A single reference can carry a dozen dial variants across a twenty-year production run, with movement and case changes overlapping them, and placing a specific watch in its generation matters before anything else about it does. BezelBase is the archive that answers those questions, reference by reference.
 
Pages are indexed by reference number, the way collectors already think about these watches. The 5512 before the phrase "four-line gilt." The 1680 before "Red Sub." Each entry documents a reference's dial variants and production years, then maps the movement and bracelet fitments that travelled with them. Sources are named. Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than smoothed over. Scope is everything Rolex no longer makes, from the earliest bubbleback Oysters through the last five-digit Submariners. [[BezelBase:About|About →]]
</div>
</div>
 
<div class="rp-stats">
<div style="text-align:center; margin:1.5em auto 2em auto; max-width:100%;">
<div class="rp-stat"><b>{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}</b><span>reference articles</span></div>
<div style="display:inline-block; max-width:min(420px, 92vw); width:100%;">
<div class="rp-stat"><b>12</b><span>families</span></div>
[[File:Bezelbase_main_poster.webp|frameless|420x420px|link=]]
<div class="rp-stat"><b>{{NUMBEROFFILES}}</b><span>photographs</span></div>
<div class="rp-stat"><b>1926–2020</b><span>years covered</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>


== Submariner ==
== Browse by family ==


{| style="width:100%; font-size:90%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed;"
<div class="rp-grid">
|-
<div class="rp-card">
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 4px; width:220px;" | Era
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover">[[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp|400px|link=Reference:submariner|alt=Rolex Submariner]]</div>
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 4px;" | References
<div class="rp-card-body">
|-
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]]</div>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Early<br/><small>1953–59</small>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1953–2010 documented · 33 references</div>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6204|6204]] · [[Reference:6205|6205]] · [[Reference:6200|6200]] · [[Reference:6536|6536]] · [[Reference:6536-1|6536/1]] · [[Reference:6538|6538]]
<div class="rp-card-text">The dive watch that became the template. Big Crowns, gilt 5512 and 5513 runs, the Red Sub, and the five-digit sapphire era.</div>
|-
</div>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Crown-guard<br/><small>1958–90</small>
</div>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:5508|5508]] · [[Reference:5510|5510]] · [[Reference:5512|5512]] · [[Reference:5513|5513]] · [[Reference:5514|5514]] · [[Reference:5517|5517]] · [[Reference:1680|1680]]
<div class="rp-card">
|-
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover">[[File:Daytona vintage poster.webp|400px|link=Reference:daytona|alt=Rolex Daytona]]</div>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Five-digit<br/><small>1979–2010</small>
<div class="rp-card-body">
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:14060|14060]] · [[Reference:14060M|14060M]] · [[Reference:16800|16800]] · [[Reference:16610|16610]] · [[Reference:16610LV|16610LV]] · [[Reference:16803|16803]] · [[Reference:16808|16808]] · [[Reference:16613|16613]] · [[Reference:16618|16618]]
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:daytona|Daytona]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1963–2016 documented · 37 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">Manual-wind Valjoux chronographs, the Paul Newman exotic dials, the Zenith automatics and the in-house 4130 generation.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover rp-cover-top">[[File:Ref gmt-master chuck-yeager-ad.webp|400px|link=Reference:gmt-master|alt=Rolex GMT-Master II Chuck Yeager advertisement]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:gmt-master|GMT-Master]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1955–2019 documented · 26 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">From the Bakelite-bezel 6542 through the long 1675 run to the ceramic GMT-Master II.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover rp-cover-top">[[File:Ref explorer vintage-ad.webp|400px|link=Reference:explorer|alt=Rolex Explorer advertisement with Hillary and Tenzing on Everest]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:explorer|Explorer]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1952–2021 documented · 14 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">The 3-6-9 dial from the 6150 and 6350 to the 26-year 1016 and its sapphire successors.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover rp-cover-top">[[File:Ref explorer-ii vintage-ad.webp|400px|link=Reference:explorer-ii|alt=Rolex Explorer II advertisement with Alain Hubert]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:explorer-ii|Explorer II]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1971–2010 documented · 5 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">The orange-hand 1655 Freccione, the transitional 16550 and the long-run 16570.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover rp-cover-top">[[File:Ref sea-dweller deepstar-ad.webp|400px|link=Reference:sea-dweller|alt=Rolex Deepstar 4000 advertisement]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:sea-dweller|Sea-Dweller]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1967–2017 documented · 6 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">COMEX saturation divers: Single Red, Double Red, Great White, Triple Six and the 116600.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover rp-cover-top">[[File:Ref day-date 1960-ad.webp|400px|link=Reference:day-date|alt=Rolex Day-Date 1960 advertisement]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:day-date|Day-Date]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1956–2019 documented · 39 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">The President from the 1956 originals through the 1803 era, five-digit sapphire, Day-Date II and Oysterquartz.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover">[[File:Milgauss vintage poster.webp|400px|link=Reference:milgauss|alt=Rolex Milgauss]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:milgauss|Milgauss]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1956–2023 documented · 4 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">The anti-magnetic Rolex: lightning-bolt 6541, the CERN 1019 and the green-crystal 116400GV.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover rp-cover-top">[[File:Ref air-king vintage-ad.webp|400px|link=Reference:air-king|alt=Rolex Air-King advertisement, steel is a precious metal]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:air-king|Air-King]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1945–2014 documented · 19 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">Battle of Britain origins, the 5500 mainstay that ran for three decades and the sapphire 14000 line.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img">[[File:Ref 1002 hero.webp|400px|link=Reference:oyster-perpetual|alt=Rolex Oyster Perpetual]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:oyster-perpetual|Oyster Perpetual]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1950s–2020 documented · 25 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">The plain-dial Oyster: classic four-digit 1002 to 1018, five-digit and the last pre-refresh 116000 generation.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover rp-cover-top">[[File:Ref oyster 1929-ad.webp|400px|link=Reference:bubbleback|alt=Rolex Oyster 1929 advertisement]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:bubbleback|Bubbleback and early Oyster]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1926–1953 documented · 30 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">The first waterproof Oysters, the domed-caseback automatics, the Padellone and the Oyster Precision manual-winds.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover rp-cover-top">[[File:Ref prince 1932-ad.webp|400px|link=Reference:prince|alt=Rolex Prince 1932 advertisement]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:prince|Prince]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1928–1949 documented · 9 references</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">Rectangular Art-Deco chronometers: Classic 1343, Brancard 971, Railway and Tigre variants.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>


|}
<!-- FEATURED:START -->
== From the archive ==


'''[[Reference:submariner|→ Full Submariner index]]'''
<div class="rp-featured">
== Explorer ==
<div class="rp-featured-img">[[File:Ref 1665 hero.webp|400px|link=Reference:1665|alt=Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665]]</div>
<div>
<span class="rp-eyebrow">Sea-Dweller</span>
<div class="rp-featured-title">[[Reference:1665|Sea-Dweller 1665]]</div>
<div class="rp-featured-body">
The [[Reference:1665|1665]] is the original Sea-Dweller, the deep-saturation diver built with a helium escape valve for COMEX saturation work. Its Single Red and Double Red dials and its patent-pending caseback make it one of the most documented and most faked references in the catalogue.


{| style="width:100%; font-size:90%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed;"
<span class="rp-button">[[Reference:1665|Read the 1665 article →]]</span>
|-
</div>
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 4px; width:220px;" | Era
</div>
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 4px;" | References
</div>
|-
<!-- FEATURED:END -->
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Pre-Explorer & early<br/><small>1952–59</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6150|6150]] · [[Reference:6350|6350]] · [[Reference:6610|6610]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Foundation<br/><small>1960–89</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:1016|1016]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Modern<br/><small>1989–2021</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:14270|14270]] · [[Reference:114270|114270]] · [[Reference:214270|214270]]


|}
== Reference guides ==


'''[[Reference:explorer|→ Full Explorer index]]'''
<div class="rp-grid">
== GMT-Master ==
<div class="rp-card"><div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:Serial-numbers|Serial numbers]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">Date any Rolex from its serial</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">Decodes the three Rolex serial systems: numeric before 1987, letter prefixes 1987–2010, and random alphanumeric from 2010.</div>
</div></div>
<div class="rp-card"><div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:Bracelets|Bracelets]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">Bracelets, end links, clasps</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">Rivet, folded and solid Oyster, Jubilee and President bracelets, end-link numbers and the clasp date-code key.</div>
</div></div>
<div class="rp-card"><div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:Movements|Movements]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">Every caliber, cross-family</div>
<div class="rp-card-text">From the early manual-wind Oyster calibers through the 1500 and 3000 series to the Zenith and in-house chronographs.</div>
</div></div>
</div>


{| style="width:100%; font-size:90%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed;"
== Every reference, by era ==
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 4px; width:220px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 4px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Early<br/><small>1955–59</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6542|6542]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Long vintage<br/><small>1959–79</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:1675|1675]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Transitional<br/><small>1979–88</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16750|16750]] · [[Reference:16753|16753]] · [[Reference:16758|16758]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Late GMT-Master<br/><small>1988–99</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16700|16700]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | GMT-Master II<br/><small>1983–2007</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16760|16760]] · [[Reference:16710|16710]] · [[Reference:16713|16713]] · [[Reference:16718|16718]]


|}
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:submariner|Full Submariner index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Pre-five-digit<small>1953–90</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:6204|6204]] [[Reference:6205|6205]] [[Reference:6200|6200]] [[Reference:6536|6536]] [[Reference:6536-1|6536/1]] [[Reference:6538|6538]] [[Reference:5508|5508]] [[Reference:5510|5510]] [[Reference:5512|5512]] [[Reference:5513|5513]] [[Reference:5514|5514]] [[Reference:5517|5517]] [[Reference:1680|1680]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Five-digit<small>1979–2010</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:14060|14060]] [[Reference:14060M|14060M]] [[Reference:16800|16800]] [[Reference:16610|16610]] [[Reference:16610LV|16610LV]] [[Reference:16803|16803]] [[Reference:16808|16808]] [[Reference:16613|16613]] [[Reference:16618|16618]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:daytona|Daytona]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:daytona|Full Daytona index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Manual-wind chronograph<small>1962–1988</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:6238|6238]] [[Reference:6239|6239]] [[Reference:6240|6240]] [[Reference:6241|6241]] [[Reference:6262|6262]] [[Reference:6263|6263]] [[Reference:6264|6264]] [[Reference:6265|6265]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Zenith automatic<small>1988–2000</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:16520|16520]] [[Reference:16518|16518]] [[Reference:16519|16519]] [[Reference:16523|16523]] [[Reference:16528|16528]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">In-house cal 4130<small>2000–2016</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:116520|116520]] [[Reference:116523|116523]] [[Reference:116528|116528]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:gmt-master|GMT-Master]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:gmt-master|Full GMT-Master index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Vintage<small>1955–99</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:6542|6542]] [[Reference:1675|1675]] [[Reference:16750|16750]] [[Reference:16753|16753]] [[Reference:16758|16758]] [[Reference:16700|16700]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">GMT-Master II<small>1983–2007</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:16760|16760]] [[Reference:16710|16710]] [[Reference:16713|16713]] [[Reference:16718|16718]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Ceramic 5-digit<small>2005–19</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:116718LN|116718LN]] [[Reference:116713LN|116713LN]] [[Reference:116710LN|116710LN]] [[Reference:116710BLNR|116710BLNR]] [[Reference:116719BLRO|116719BLRO]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Ceramic 6-digit<small>2018–present</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]] [[Reference:126711CHNR|126711CHNR]] [[Reference:126715CHNR|126715CHNR]] [[Reference:126710BLNR|126710BLNR]] [[Reference:126720VTNR|126720VTNR]] [[Reference:126713GRNR|126713GRNR]] [[Reference:126718GRNR|126718GRNR]] [[Reference:126710GRNR|126710GRNR]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:explorer|Explorer]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:explorer|Full Explorer index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Vintage<small>1952–89</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:6150|6150]] [[Reference:6350|6350]] [[Reference:6610|6610]] [[Reference:1016|1016]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Modern<small>1989–2021</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:14270|14270]] [[Reference:114270|114270]] [[Reference:214270|214270]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:explorer-ii|Explorer II]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:explorer-ii|Full Explorer II index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Vintage Freccione<small>1971–1984</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1655|1655]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Transitional<small>1985–1989</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:16550|16550]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Modern 40mm<small>1989–2010</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:16570|16570]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:sea-dweller|Sea-Dweller]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:sea-dweller|Full Sea-Dweller index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Single Red to Great White<small>1967–1983</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1665|1665]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Triple Six and 16600<small>1978–2008</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:16660|16660]] [[Reference:16600|16600]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Ceramic<small>2008–2017</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:116600|116600]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:day-date|Day-Date]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:day-date|Full Day-Date index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Originals<small>1956–59</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:6510|6510]] [[Reference:6511|6511]] [[Reference:6611|6611]] [[Reference:6612|6612]] [[Reference:6612B|6612B]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">4-digit President<small>1959–78</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1803|1803]] [[Reference:1804|1804]] [[Reference:1806|1806]] [[Reference:1807|1807]] [[Reference:1811|1811]] [[Reference:1831|1831]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">5-digit<small>1977–2000</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:18038|18038]] [[Reference:18028|18028]] [[Reference:18048|18048]] [[Reference:18078|18078]] [[Reference:18238|18238]] [[Reference:18248|18248]] [[Reference:18348|18348]] [[Reference:18208|18208]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">6-digit Day-Date 36<small>2000–19</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:118238|118238]] [[Reference:118208|118208]] [[Reference:118235|118235]] [[Reference:118138|118138]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Day-Date II 41mm<small>2008–15</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:218238|218238]] [[Reference:218206|218206]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Oysterquartz<small>1977–2001</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:19018|19018]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:milgauss|Milgauss]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:milgauss|Full Milgauss index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Original and CERN era<small>1956–1988</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:6541|6541]] [[Reference:1019|1019]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Modern<small>2007–2023</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:116400|116400]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:air-king|Air-King]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:air-king|Full Air-King index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Battle of Britain origin<small>1945–53</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:4925|4925]] [[Reference:4365|4365]] [[Reference:4499|4499]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">First automatic<small>1953–57</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:6552|6552]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Long-run mainstay<small>1957–89</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:5500|5500]] [[Reference:5501|5501]] [[Reference:5502|5502]] [[Reference:5504|5504]] [[Reference:5506|5506]] [[Reference:5520|5520]] [[Reference:5700|5700]] [[Reference:5701|5701]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Sapphire era<small>1989–2014</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:14000|14000]] [[Reference:14000M|14000M]] [[Reference:114200|114200]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:oyster-perpetual|Oyster Perpetual]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:oyster-perpetual|Full Oyster Perpetual index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Classic four-digit<small>1959–1988</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1002|1002]] [[Reference:1003|1003]] [[Reference:1005|1005]] [[Reference:1007|1007]] [[Reference:1018|1018]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Last pre-refresh generation<small>2007–2020</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:116000|116000]] [[Reference:114300|114300]] [[Reference:177200|177200]] [[Reference:176200|176200]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:bubbleback|Bubbleback and early Oyster]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:bubbleback|Full Bubbleback and early Oyster index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Pre-Oyster and Oyster<small>1922–37</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:3666|3666]] [[Reference:2136|2136]] [[Reference:3003|3003]] [[Reference:3004|3004]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Bubbleback era<small>1933–45</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1858|1858]] [[Reference:3131|3131]] [[Reference:3372|3372]] [[Reference:3525|3525]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Datejust, Padellone, Super Oyster<small>1945–53</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:4467|4467]] [[Reference:5030|5030]] [[Reference:5031|5031]] [[Reference:6031|6031]] [[Reference:6075|6075]] [[Reference:6105|6105]] [[Reference:8171|8171]] [[Reference:6098|6098]]</div></div>
</div>
<div class="rp-index">
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:prince|Prince]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:prince|Full Prince index →]]</div></div>
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Brancard era<small>1928–mid-1940s</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1343|1343]] [[Reference:971|971]] [[Reference:1490|1490]] [[Reference:1491|1491]] [[Reference:1527|1527]] [[Reference:1862|1862]] [[Reference:3361|3361]] [[Reference:3937|3937]]</div></div>
</div>


'''[[Reference:gmt-master|→ Full GMT-Master index]]'''
<div class="rp-recent">
== Oyster & Bubbleback ==
<!-- RECENT:START -->
 
== Recently updated ==
{| style="width:100%; font-size:90%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed;"
* '''23 August 2026''' — [[Reference:3009|3009]] (Oyster) · [[Reference:2784|2784]] (Oyster) · [[Reference:1873|1873]] (Oyster) · [[Reference:2765|2765]] (Oyster) · [[Reference:2240|2240]] (Bubbleback) · [[Reference:2136|2136]] (Oyster) · [[Reference:3139|3139]] (Oyster) · [[Reference:3131|3131]] (Bubbleback) · [[Reference:3065|3065]] (Bubbleback) · [[Reference:3595|3595]] (Bubbleback) · [[Reference:3003|3003]] (Precision) · [[Reference:6694|6694]] (Precision)
|-
<!-- RECENT:END -->
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 4px; width:220px;" | Era
</div>
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 4px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Pre-Oyster / Submarine<br/><small>1922–1926</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:3666|3666]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Pre-Perpetual Oyster<br/><small>1926–1937</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:2136|2136]] · [[Reference:3003|3003]] · [[Reference:3004|3004]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | First Bubbleback<br/><small>1933–1935</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:1858|1858]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Two-piece Bubbleback<br/><small>1936–1944</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:3131|3131]] · [[Reference:3372|3372]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Oyster chronograph<br/><small>1939–1945</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:3525|3525]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | First Datejust / Ovettone<br/><small>1945–1953</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:4467|4467]] · [[Reference:5030|5030]] · [[Reference:5031|5031]] · [[Reference:6031|6031]] · [[Reference:6075|6075]] · [[Reference:6105|6105]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Triple calendar — Padellone<br/><small>1949–1953</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:8171|8171]]
|-
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Super Oyster (pre-Submariner)<br/><small>1952–1953</small>
| style="padding:4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6098|6098]]
 
|}


'''[[Reference:bubbleback|→ Full Bubbleback index]]'''
<div class="rp-footnote">Rolexopedia is an independent community reference and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Rolex SA. "Rolex" and the model names on this site are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify the watches described. See the [[Rolexopedia:General disclaimer|disclaimer]].</div>
 
</div>


[[Category:BezelBase]]
[[Category:Rolexopedia]]

Latest revision as of 05:30, 5 September 2026

The Rolex reference encyclopedia

Rolex changed what a wristwatch could do. The Oyster case (1926) made watches waterproof, the Perpetual rotor (1931) made them self-winding, the Prince (1928) built them to chronometer grade. Watchmakers and collectors have spent the decades since cataloguing what changed across each reference. Rolexopedia stores that record in one place.

Each article documents one reference: production years, movement, dial variants, case and bracelet details, auction record, and what to check when authenticating one. Inside one reference the watch can change a lot. A 5512 from 1962 is not the 5512 from 1978. Generation matters first. About the project →

252reference articles
12families
1,136photographs
1926–2020years covered

Browse by family

Rolex Submariner
Submariner
1953–2010 documented · 33 references
The dive watch that became the template. Big Crowns, gilt 5512 and 5513 runs, the Red Sub, and the five-digit sapphire era.
Rolex Daytona
Daytona
1963–2016 documented · 37 references
Manual-wind Valjoux chronographs, the Paul Newman exotic dials, the Zenith automatics and the in-house 4130 generation.
Rolex GMT-Master II Chuck Yeager advertisement
GMT-Master
1955–2019 documented · 26 references
From the Bakelite-bezel 6542 through the long 1675 run to the ceramic GMT-Master II.
Rolex Explorer advertisement with Hillary and Tenzing on Everest
Explorer
1952–2021 documented · 14 references
The 3-6-9 dial from the 6150 and 6350 to the 26-year 1016 and its sapphire successors.
Rolex Explorer II advertisement with Alain Hubert
Explorer II
1971–2010 documented · 5 references
The orange-hand 1655 Freccione, the transitional 16550 and the long-run 16570.
Rolex Deepstar 4000 advertisement
Sea-Dweller
1967–2017 documented · 6 references
COMEX saturation divers: Single Red, Double Red, Great White, Triple Six and the 116600.
Rolex Day-Date 1960 advertisement
Day-Date
1956–2019 documented · 39 references
The President from the 1956 originals through the 1803 era, five-digit sapphire, Day-Date II and Oysterquartz.
Rolex Milgauss
Milgauss
1956–2023 documented · 4 references
The anti-magnetic Rolex: lightning-bolt 6541, the CERN 1019 and the green-crystal 116400GV.
Rolex Air-King advertisement, steel is a precious metal
Air-King
1945–2014 documented · 19 references
Battle of Britain origins, the 5500 mainstay that ran for three decades and the sapphire 14000 line.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual
Oyster Perpetual
1950s–2020 documented · 25 references
The plain-dial Oyster: classic four-digit 1002 to 1018, five-digit and the last pre-refresh 116000 generation.
Rolex Oyster 1929 advertisement
Bubbleback and early Oyster
1926–1953 documented · 30 references
The first waterproof Oysters, the domed-caseback automatics, the Padellone and the Oyster Precision manual-winds.
Rolex Prince 1932 advertisement
Prince
1928–1949 documented · 9 references
Rectangular Art-Deco chronometers: Classic 1343, Brancard 971, Railway and Tigre variants.

From the archive

Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665

Sea-Dweller

Sea-Dweller 1665

The 1665 is the original Sea-Dweller, the deep-saturation diver built with a helium escape valve for COMEX saturation work. Its Single Red and Double Red dials and its patent-pending caseback make it one of the most documented and most faked references in the catalogue.

Read the 1665 article →

Reference guides

Serial numbers
Date any Rolex from its serial
Decodes the three Rolex serial systems: numeric before 1987, letter prefixes 1987–2010, and random alphanumeric from 2010.
Bracelets
Bracelets, end links, clasps
Rivet, folded and solid Oyster, Jubilee and President bracelets, end-link numbers and the clasp date-code key.
Movements
Every caliber, cross-family
From the early manual-wind Oyster calibers through the 1500 and 3000 series to the Zenith and in-house chronographs.

Every reference, by era

Submariner
Full Submariner index →
Pre-five-digit1953–90
6204 6205 6200 6536 6536/1 6538 5508 5510 5512 5513 5514 5517 1680
Five-digit1979–2010
14060 14060M 16800 16610 16610LV 16803 16808 16613 16618
Daytona
Full Daytona index →
Manual-wind chronograph1962–1988
6238 6239 6240 6241 6262 6263 6264 6265
Zenith automatic1988–2000
16520 16518 16519 16523 16528
In-house cal 41302000–2016
116520 116523 116528
GMT-Master
Full GMT-Master index →
Vintage1955–99
6542 1675 16750 16753 16758 16700
GMT-Master II1983–2007
16760 16710 16713 16718
Ceramic 5-digit2005–19
116718LN 116713LN 116710LN 116710BLNR 116719BLRO
Ceramic 6-digit2018–present
126710BLRO 126711CHNR 126715CHNR 126710BLNR 126720VTNR 126713GRNR 126718GRNR 126710GRNR
Explorer
Full Explorer index →
Vintage1952–89
6150 6350 6610 1016
Modern1989–2021
14270 114270 214270
Explorer II
Full Explorer II index →
Vintage Freccione1971–1984
1655
Transitional1985–1989
16550
Modern 40mm1989–2010
16570
Sea-Dweller
Full Sea-Dweller index →
Single Red to Great White1967–1983
1665
Triple Six and 166001978–2008
16660 16600
Ceramic2008–2017
116600
Day-Date
Full Day-Date index →
Originals1956–59
6510 6511 6611 6612 6612B
4-digit President1959–78
1803 1804 1806 1807 1811 1831
5-digit1977–2000
18038 18028 18048 18078 18238 18248 18348 18208
6-digit Day-Date 362000–19
118238 118208 118235 118138
Day-Date II 41mm2008–15
218238 218206
Oysterquartz1977–2001
19018
Milgauss
Full Milgauss index →
Original and CERN era1956–1988
6541 1019
Modern2007–2023
116400
Air-King
Full Air-King index →
Battle of Britain origin1945–53
4925 4365 4499
First automatic1953–57
6552
Long-run mainstay1957–89
5500 5501 5502 5504 5506 5520 5700 5701
Sapphire era1989–2014
14000 14000M 114200
Oyster Perpetual
Full Oyster Perpetual index →
Classic four-digit1959–1988
1002 1003 1005 1007 1018
Last pre-refresh generation2007–2020
116000 114300 177200 176200
Bubbleback and early Oyster
Full Bubbleback and early Oyster index →
Pre-Oyster and Oyster1922–37
3666 2136 3003 3004
Bubbleback era1933–45
1858 3131 3372 3525
Datejust, Padellone, Super Oyster1945–53
4467 5030 5031 6031 6075 6105 8171 6098
Prince
Full Prince index →
Brancard era1928–mid-1940s
1343 971 1490 1491 1527 1862 3361 3937

Recently updated

  • 23 August 2026 — 3009 (Oyster) · 2784 (Oyster) · 1873 (Oyster) · 2765 (Oyster) · 2240 (Bubbleback) · 2136 (Oyster) · 3139 (Oyster) · 3131 (Bubbleback) · 3065 (Bubbleback) · 3595 (Bubbleback) · 3003 (Precision) · 6694 (Precision)
Rolexopedia is an independent community reference and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Rolex SA. "Rolex" and the model names on this site are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify the watches described. See the disclaimer.
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