Reference:Serial-numbers: Difference between revisions

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The 3525 records show why dates should stay attached to individual watches. Antiquorum dates the [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-163-311 Nutting case 185,983] to 1941; Sotheby’s dates [https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2019/important-watches-n10082/lot.183.html case 186,144] to circa 1942 and [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/important-watches-part-ii/monoblocco-ref-3525-stainless-steel-chronograph case 372,822] to circa 1945. Sotheby’s describes an earlier group with the reference and serial on the outer caseback, and a later group with the reference inside and the serial between the lugs. These are auction-house estimates, not a Rolex production ledger. A serial alone does not establish when a watch was made or delivered.

Catalogue dates for ref. [[Reference:3668|3668]] also conflict with case-number order. Christie's dates case 45'998 to 1941, while Accademia Fine Art dates lower-numbered case 45,344 to 1945; Phillips dates cases 47'954 and 47'948 circa 1939; Sotheby's dates the same case 47'948 circa 1946. These are lot-level estimates, not a serial-year chart or production sequence. [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5731344 Christie's, case 45'998] [https://www.accademiafineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/montres_bijoux.pdf Accademia Fine Art, case 45,344] [https://www.phillips.com/detail/ROLEX/NY080118/97 Phillips, case 47'948] [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080122/191 Phillips, case 47'954] [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/important-watches-3/reference-3668-a-pink-gold-and-stainless-steel Sotheby's, case 47'948]

Auction catalogues date ref. [[Reference:6034|6034]] examples across several case-number groups: 692'692 to circa 1950, 847'636 to 1951, 847'427 to circa 1952, 847'307 and 907'407 to circa 1953, 944'123 to 1954, and 92'379 and 97'436 to circa 1955. Another Christie's example, case 907'744, is dated circa 1952. These are catalogue estimates for individual watches, not a serial-year chart; they do not establish a production endpoint. Phillips estimates a roughly five-year run from 1950, while Christie's and Antiquorum publish broader dates into the early 1960s. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-6034-oyster-chronograph-lot-321-669?page=1&q=Rolex Antiquorum, case 692'692]; [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5643962 Christie's, case 847'636]; [https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2009/important-watches-n08543/lot.116.html Sotheby's, case 847'427]; [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080123/99 Phillips, case 847'307]; [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6212811 Christie's, case 907'407]; [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-144-30 Antiquorum, case 944'123]; [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/210525 Phillips, case 92'379]; [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-6034-oyster-chronograph-lot-386-573 Antiquorum, case 97'436]; [https://www.christies.com/lot/rolex-a-fine-and-rare-stainless-steel-6200134/?intObjectID=6200134&lid=3 Christie's, case 907'744].

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== Per-reference serial detail ==

For chronograph ref. [[Reference:2057|2057]], Phillips identifies case 12'271 and dates it circa 1938; a 2026 FutureGrail caseback photograph shows the same number, while its catalogue transcription dates it circa 1927. Phillips' 2023 ref. 2022 catalogue refers back to the 2057 as case 12'272, one digit different. Preserve the discrepancy; these records do not establish a serial sequence or production span. [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080218/40 Phillips, 2018, lot 40]; [https://everywatch.com/rolex/2057/watch-32733221 EveryWatch transcription of FutureGrail, 2026, lot 32]; [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080223/170 Phillips, 2023, lot 170]

For the Oyster Perpetual ref. 1013, a Rago Arts & Auction Center lot dated serial 1,900,046 to 1969. Pergola's unofficial serial chart places that number in its 1968 range. These are conflicting estimates for one watch; neither establishes a production-year boundary for the reference. [https://www.ragoarts.com/auctions/2022/02/interesting-timepieces/508 Rago lot 508]; [https://rolexhaven.com/serial-numbers.html Pergola serial chart].

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 The 3525 records show why dates should stay attached to individual watches. Antiquorum dates the [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-163-311 Nutting case 185,983] to 1941; Sotheby’s dates [https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2019/important-watches-n10082/lot.183.html case 186,144] to circa 1942 and [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/important-watches-part-ii/monoblocco-ref-3525-stainless-steel-chronograph case 372,822] to circa 1945. Sotheby’s describes an earlier group with the reference and serial on the outer caseback, and a later group with the reference inside and the serial between the lugs. These are auction-house estimates, not a Rolex production ledger. A serial alone does not establish when a watch was made or delivered.
+Catalogue dates for ref. [[Reference:3668|3668]] also conflict with case-number order. Christie's dates case 45'998 to 1941, while Accademia Fine Art dates lower-numbered case 45,344 to 1945; Phillips dates cases 47'954 and 47'948 circa 1939; Sotheby's dates the same case 47'948 circa 1946. These are lot-level estimates, not a serial-year chart or production sequence. [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5731344 Christie's, case 45'998] [https://www.accademiafineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/montres_bijoux.pdf Accademia Fine Art, case 45,344] [https://www.phillips.com/detail/ROLEX/NY080118/97 Phillips, case 47'948] [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080122/191 Phillips, case 47'954] [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/important-watches-3/reference-3668-a-pink-gold-and-stainless-steel Sotheby's, case 47'948]
 Auction catalogues date ref. [[Reference:6034|6034]] examples across several case-number groups: 692'692 to circa 1950, 847'636 to 1951, 847'427 to circa 1952, 847'307 and 907'407 to circa 1953, 944'123 to 1954, and 92'379 and 97'436 to circa 1955. Another Christie's example, case 907'744, is dated circa 1952. These are catalogue estimates for individual watches, not a serial-year chart; they do not establish a production endpoint. Phillips estimates a roughly five-year run from 1950, while Christie's and Antiquorum publish broader dates into the early 1960s. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-6034-oyster-chronograph-lot-321-669?page=1&q=Rolex Antiquorum, case 692'692]; [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5643962 Christie's, case 847'636]; [https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2009/important-watches-n08543/lot.116.html Sotheby's, case 847'427]; [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080123/99 Phillips, case 847'307]; [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6212811 Christie's, case 907'407]; [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-144-30 Antiquorum, case 944'123]; [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/210525 Phillips, case 92'379]; [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-6034-oyster-chronograph-lot-386-573 Antiquorum, case 97'436]; [https://www.christies.com/lot/rolex-a-fine-and-rare-stainless-steel-6200134/?intObjectID=6200134&lid=3 Christie's, case 907'744].
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 == Per-reference serial detail ==
+For chronograph ref. [[Reference:2057|2057]], Phillips identifies case 12'271 and dates it circa 1938; a 2026 FutureGrail caseback photograph shows the same number, while its catalogue transcription dates it circa 1927. Phillips' 2023 ref. 2022 catalogue refers back to the 2057 as case 12'272, one digit different. Preserve the discrepancy; these records do not establish a serial sequence or production span. [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080218/40 Phillips, 2018, lot 40]; [https://everywatch.com/rolex/2057/watch-32733221 EveryWatch transcription of FutureGrail, 2026, lot 32]; [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080223/170 Phillips, 2023, lot 170]
 For the Oyster Perpetual ref. 1013, a Rago Arts & Auction Center lot dated serial 1,900,046 to 1969. Pergola's unofficial serial chart places that number in its 1968 range. These are conflicting estimates for one watch; neither establishes a production-year boundary for the reference. [https://www.ragoarts.com/auctions/2022/02/interesting-timepieces/508 Rago lot 508]; [https://rolexhaven.com/serial-numbers.html Pergola serial chart].