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__NOTOC__
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<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=Rolex Reference Encyclopedia {{!}} BezelBase
|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 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
|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=Bezelbase_main_poster.webp
|image_alt=BezelBase — vintage Rolex reference encyclopedia
|image_alt=Rolexopedia — vintage Rolex reference encyclopedia
|image_width=1280
|image_width=1280
|image_height=1280
|image_height=1280
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<div style="max-width: 720px; 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;">
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 →]]
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. BezelBase tries to store this information in a single place.
</div>
<div class="rp-stats">
<div class="rp-stat"><b>{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}</b><span>reference articles</span></div>
<div class="rp-stat"><b>12</b><span>families</span></div>
<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>


Each article documents one Rolex reference: production years, movement, dial variants, case and bracelet details, auction record, and the things to check when authenticating one. Coverage spans the main Rolex lines so the history reads as one connected archive.
== Browse by family ==


Inside one reference, the watch can change a lot. A 5512 from 1962 is not the 5512 from 1978. A pointed-crown-guard 1675 is not the late matte 1675. Generation matters first. [[BezelBase:About|About →]]
<div class="rp-grid">
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover">[[File:Submariner vintage poster.webp|400px|link=Reference:submariner|alt=Rolex Submariner]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-meta">1953–2010 documented · 33 references</div>
<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>
</div>
<div class="rp-card">
<div class="rp-card-img rp-cover">[[File:Daytona vintage poster.webp|400px|link=Reference:daytona|alt=Rolex Daytona]]</div>
<div class="rp-card-body">
<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>
</div>


<!-- FEATURED:START -->
<!-- FEATURED:START -->
== From the archive: Explorer 1016 ==
== From the archive ==


<div style="display:flex; gap:18px; padding:16px; margin:0 0 2em 0; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555;">
<div class="rp-featured">
<div style="flex:0 0 240px; align-self:flex-start;">
<div class="rp-featured-img">[[File:Ref 1665 hero.webp|400px|link=Reference:1665|alt=Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665]]</div>
[[File:Ref 1016 hero.webp|frameless|240px|link=Reference:1016]]
<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.
 
<span class="rp-button">[[Reference:1665|Read the 1665 article →]]</span>
</div>
</div>
<div style="flex:1; min-width:0;">
The [[Reference:1016|1016]] is the Explorer that defined the line: a plain black 3-6-9 dial, a 36mm Oyster case, and a 26-year run that moved from gilt gloss to matte to the late Mark dials. It is the reference collectors mean when they talk about the classic Explorer, and its dial chronology is a study in its own right.
'''[[Reference:1016|Read the full 1016 article →]]'''
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- FEATURED:END -->
<!-- FEATURED:END -->


<!-- RECENT:START -->
== Reference guides ==
== Recently updated ==
* '''23 August 2026''' — [[Reference:3009|3009]] (Oyster) · [[Reference:2240|2240]] (Bubbleback) · [[Reference:3134|3134]] (Bubbleback) · [[Reference:1873|1873]] (Oyster) · [[Reference:3599|3599]] (Bubbleback) · [[Reference:2784|2784]] (Oyster) · [[Reference:2765|2765]] (Oyster) · [[Reference:3135|3135]] (Bubbleback)
* '''18 August 2026''' — [[Reference:1018|1018]] (Oyster Perpetual) · [[Reference:116520|116520]] (Daytona) · [[Reference:16528|16528]] (Daytona) · [[Reference:116503|116503]] (Daytona) · [[Reference:18238|18238]] (Day-Date)
* '''17 August 2026''' — [[Reference:19019|19019]] (Day-Date) · [[Reference:19018|19018]] (Day-Date) · [[Reference:118139|118139]] (Day-Date) · [[Reference:1016|1016]] (Explorer)
* '''16 August 2026''' — [[Reference:1002|1002]] (Oyster Perpetual) · [[Reference:3348|3348]] (Oyster Perpetual) · [[Reference:3548|3548]] (Oyster Perpetual) · [[Reference:3064|3064]] (Oyster Perpetual) · [[Reference:3353|3353]] (Oyster Perpetual)
<!-- RECENT:END -->


== Submariner ==
<div class="rp-grid">
<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%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
== Every reference, by era ==
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Pre-five-digit<br/><small>1953–90</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[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]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Five-digit<br/><small>1979–2010</small>
| style="padding:3px 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]]
|}


'''[[Reference:submariner|→ Full Submariner index]]'''
<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>


== Daytona ==
<div class="rp-recent">
 
<!-- RECENT:START -->
{| style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
== Recently updated ==
|-
* '''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)
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
<!-- RECENT:END -->
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
</div>
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Manual-wind chronograph<br/><small>1962–1988</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6238|6238]] · [[Reference:6239|6239]] · [[Reference:6240|6240]] · [[Reference:6241|6241]] · [[Reference:6262|6262]] · [[Reference:6263|6263]] · [[Reference:6264|6264]] · [[Reference:6265|6265]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Zenith automatic<br/><small>1988–2000</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16520|16520]] · [[Reference:16518|16518]] · [[Reference:16519|16519]] · [[Reference:16523|16523]] · [[Reference:16528|16528]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | In-house cal 4130<br/><small>2000–2016</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:116520|116520]] · [[Reference:116523|116523]] · [[Reference:116528|116528]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:daytona|→ Full Daytona index]]'''
 
== Explorer ==
 
{| style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Vintage<br/><small>1952–89</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6150|6150]] · [[Reference:6350|6350]] · [[Reference:6610|6610]] · [[Reference:1016|1016]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Modern<br/><small>1989–2021</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:14270|14270]] · [[Reference:114270|114270]] · [[Reference:214270|214270]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:explorer|→ Full Explorer index]]'''
 
== Explorer II ==
 
{| style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Vintage Freccione<br/><small>1971–1984</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:1655|1655]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Transitional<br/><small>1985–1989</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16550|16550]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Modern 40mm<br/><small>1989–2010</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16570|16570]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:explorer-ii|→ Full Explorer II index]]'''
 
== GMT-Master ==
 
{| style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Vintage<br/><small>1955–99</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6542|6542]] · [[Reference:1675|1675]] · [[Reference:16750|16750]] · [[Reference:16753|16753]] · [[Reference:16758|16758]] · [[Reference:16700|16700]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | GMT-Master II<br/><small>1983–2007</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16760|16760]] · [[Reference:16710|16710]] · [[Reference:16713|16713]] · [[Reference:16718|16718]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Ceramic 5-digit<br/><small>2005–19</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:116718LN|116718LN]] · [[Reference:116713LN|116713LN]] · [[Reference:116710LN|116710LN]] · [[Reference:116710BLNR|116710BLNR]] · [[Reference:116719BLRO|116719BLRO]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Ceramic 6-digit<br/><small>2018–present</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]] · [[Reference:126711CHNR|126711CHNR]] · [[Reference:126715CHNR|126715CHNR]] · [[Reference:126710BLNR|126710BLNR]] · [[Reference:126720VTNR|126720VTNR]] · [[Reference:126713GRNR|126713GRNR]] · [[Reference:126718GRNR|126718GRNR]] · [[Reference:126710GRNR|126710GRNR]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:gmt-master|→ Full GMT-Master index]]'''
 
== Oyster & Bubbleback ==
 
{| style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Pre-Oyster & Oyster<br/><small>1922–37</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:3666|3666]] · [[Reference:2136|2136]] · [[Reference:3003|3003]] · [[Reference:3004|3004]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Bubbleback era<br/><small>1933–45</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:1858|1858]] · [[Reference:3131|3131]] · [[Reference:3372|3372]] · [[Reference:3525|3525]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Datejust / Padellone / Super Oyster<br/><small>1945–53</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:4467|4467]] · [[Reference:5030|5030]] · [[Reference:5031|5031]] · [[Reference:6031|6031]] · [[Reference:6075|6075]] · [[Reference:6105|6105]] · [[Reference:8171|8171]] · [[Reference:6098|6098]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:bubbleback|→ Full Bubbleback index]]'''


== Day-Date ==
<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>
 
{| style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Originals<br/><small>1956–59</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6510|6510]] · [[Reference:6511|6511]] · [[Reference:6611|6611]] · [[Reference:6612|6612]] · [[Reference:6612B|6612B]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | 4-digit President<br/><small>1959–78</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:1803|1803]] · [[Reference:1804|1804]] · [[Reference:1806|1806]] · [[Reference:1807|1807]] · [[Reference:1811|1811]] · [[Reference:1831|1831]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | 5-digit<br/><small>1977–2000</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:18038|18038]] · [[Reference:18028|18028]] · [[Reference:18048|18048]] · [[Reference:18078|18078]] · [[Reference:18238|18238]] · [[Reference:18248|18248]] · [[Reference:18348|18348]] · [[Reference:18208|18208]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | 6-digit Day-Date 36<br/><small>2000–19</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:118238|118238]] · [[Reference:118208|118208]] · [[Reference:118235|118235]] · [[Reference:118138|118138]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Day-Date II 41mm<br/><small>2008–15</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:218238|218238]] · [[Reference:218206|218206]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Oysterquartz<br/><small>1977–2001</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:19018|19018]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:day-date|→ Full Day-Date index]]'''
 
== Air-King ==
 
{| style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Battle of Britain origin<br/><small>1945–53</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:4925|4925]] · [[Reference:4365|4365]] · [[Reference:4499|4499]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | First automatic<br/><small>1953–57</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6552|6552]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Long-run mainstay<br/><small>1957–89</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:5500|5500]] · [[Reference:5501|5501]] · [[Reference:5502|5502]] · [[Reference:5504|5504]] · [[Reference:5506|5506]] · [[Reference:5520|5520]] · [[Reference:5700|5700]] · [[Reference:5701|5701]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Sapphire era<br/><small>1989–2014</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:14000|14000]] · [[Reference:14000M|14000M]] · [[Reference:114200|114200]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:air-king|→ Full Air-King index]]'''
 
== Prince ==
 
{| style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Brancard era<br/><small>1928–mid-1940s</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:1343|1343]] · [[Reference:971|971]] · [[Reference:1490|1490]] · [[Reference:1491|1491]] · [[Reference:1527|1527]] · [[Reference:1862|1862]] · [[Reference:3361|3361]] · [[Reference:3937|3937]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:prince|→ Full Prince index]]'''
 
== Reference guides ==
 
Three pages cover material that applies across every Rolex line documented here. '''[[Reference:Bracelets|Bracelets]]''' catalogs bracelet refs, end links, clasps, and link types alongside the clasp date-code key. '''[[Reference:Movements|Movements]]''' lists every caliber spanning the manual-wind chronograph, Zenith-driven, and in-house generations. '''[[Reference:Serial-numbers|Serial numbers]]''' decodes the three Rolex serial systems — numeric pre-1987, letter 1987–2010, and random alphanumeric 2010+.
 
</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
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
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
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
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
1971–2010 documented · 5 references
The orange-hand 1655 Freccione, the transitional 16550 and the long-run 16570.
Rolex Deepstar 4000 advertisement
1967–2017 documented · 6 references
COMEX saturation divers: Single Red, Double Red, Great White, Triple Six and the 116600.
Rolex Day-Date 1960 advertisement
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
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
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
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
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
1928–1949 documented · 9 references
Rectangular Art-Deco chronometers: Classic 1343, Brancard 971, Railway and Tigre variants.

From the archive

Reference guides

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, end links, clasps
Rivet, folded and solid Oyster, Jubilee and President bracelets, end-link numbers and the clasp date-code key.
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

Manual-wind chronograph1962–1988
Zenith automatic1988–2000
In-house cal 41302000–2016
Vintage Freccione1971–1984
Transitional1985–1989
Modern 40mm1989–2010
Single Red to Great White1967–1983
Triple Six and 166001978–2008
Ceramic2008–2017
Originals1956–59
4-digit President1959–78
6-digit Day-Date 362000–19
Day-Date II 41mm2008–15
Oysterquartz1977–2001
Original and CERN era1956–1988
Modern2007–2023
Battle of Britain origin1945–53
First automatic1953–57
Long-run mainstay1957–89
Sapphire era1989–2014
Classic four-digit1959–1988
Last pre-refresh generation2007–2020
Pre-Oyster and Oyster1922–37
Bubbleback era1933–45
Datejust, Padellone, Super Oyster1945–53

Recently updated

  • 23 August 20263009 (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.