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Rolex serial numbers

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Rolex used numeric case serials, then letter-prefixed serials, and later randomized alphanumeric strings. Numeric and letter-prefixed ranges can suggest a production period. Randomized serials have no public year mapping. None of these systems establishes the originality of the dial, movement or bracelet.

The three systems

Rolex restarted its numeric case sequence in the mid-1950s. The same short number can therefore fall in more than one period. Letter-prefixed serials appeared around 1987; randomized serials followed around 2010. Neither change happened as a simple one-year boundary across every reference.

Finding the serial number

On many Oyster references made before the rehaut transition of the mid-2000s, the serial is engraved between the lugs at 6 o'clock, beneath the bracelet. The reference number is usually between the opposite lugs at 12 o'clock. Earlier case designs need reference-specific guidance.

The serial moved to the rehaut, the inner ring around the dial, during the 2000s. It appears at 6 o'clock. The change varied by reference; compare transition-period watches with documented examples of the same model. Serial placement alone does not establish a case replacement.

Matching serials link a warranty card or guarantee paper to the case number, provided the document itself is authentic. They do not establish the originality of every component. The clasp uses a separate dating system. A movement can carry caliber designations, part references and an individual movement number; identify the marking before interpreting it.

Numeric serials (≤1987)

The table transcribes selected entries from the Pergola and Dowling–Hess charts reproduced in these photographs. These are unofficial collector charts. Dowling–Hess places serial 132,562 in III 1953; Pergola puts 63,425–139,166 in 1955. The disagreement cannot be resolved by averaging the dates.

The table is selective, with gaps between some entries. For a number outside it, compare documented examples of the reference. A matching row supplies an estimate, not proof of manufacture, assembly or sale in that year.

Serial / range in source Date assigned by source Chart
23,969 1928 Dowling and Hess
28,290 1930 Dowling and Hess
35,365 1935 Dowling and Hess
99,775 1940 Dowling and Hess
143,509 1942 Dowling and Hess
387,216 1946 Dowling and Hess
529,163 1947 Dowling and Hess
628,840 1948 Dowling and Hess
710,776 1951 Dowling and Hess
840,396 1952 Dowling and Hess
927,301–929,261 1952/1953 Pergola
929,262–974,681 1953 Pergola
974,682–982,114 1953/1954 Pergola
982,115–999,999 1954 Pergola
10,001–32,180 1954 Pergola, restarted sequence
32,181–63,424 1954/1955 Pergola
63,425–139,166 1955 Pergola
139,167–147,690 1955/1956 Pergola
147,691–261,715 1956 Pergola
272,289–360,987 1957 Pergola
381,923–426,480 1958 Pergola
437,255–530,168 1959 Pergola
539,969–663,484 1960 Pergola
688,767–785,296 1961 Pergola
840,046–919,916 1962 Pergola
950,451–974,197 1963 Pergola, after the reset
997,136–1,104,068 1964 Pergola
1,141,050–1,269,458 1965 Pergola
1,284,790–1,503,591 1966 Pergola
1,534,083–1,695,119 1967 Pergola
1,720,977–1,938,064 1968 Pergola
1,958,607–2,236,978 1969 Pergola
2,357,480–2,558,656 1970 Pergola
2,558,657–2,591,204 1970/1971 Pergola
3,215,500 1971 Dowling and Hess
3,478,400 1972 Dowling and Hess
3,741,300 1973 Dowling and Hess
4,004,200 1974 Dowling and Hess

Conflicting catalogue dates: reference 6244

Catalogue dates differ even for nearby case numbers on the Oyster Royal 6244. Phillips dates case 834,991 to 1952. Christie's gives circa 1959 for case 836,438 and 1962 for case 836,447, only nine numbers apart. These catalogue dates do not establish a continuous production sequence. The reference page lists further examples.

Letter serials (1987–2010)

Letter-prefixed case serials usually contain one letter and six digits. The years below come from Colin A. White's The Vintage Rolex Field Manual, page 27. These collector estimates overlap and should be checked against the individual reference.

Prefix Years listed by White
R 1987–1988
L 1989
E 1990
N 1991
X 1991
C 1992
S 1993–1994
W 1995
T 1996
U 1997–1998
A 1999
P 2000
K 2000–2001
Y 2001–2002
F 2003–2005
D 2005–2006
Z 2006–2007
M 2007–2008
V 2008–2009
G 2010

Phillips records Explorer 114270 case G030393 with a guarantee dated 30 November 2010. That records a transaction date; it does not date the manufacture of the case.

Case serial prefixes and clasp codes are different systems. A letter on the clasp cannot be read as the same letter in the case-serial table.

Random serials (around 2010 onward)

Rolex began using randomized case serials around 2010, during the period of the final letter prefixes. Mixed-letter-and-digit serials have no public year mapping. A guarantee can establish a recorded sale date, but the serial alone cannot give the exact production year.

For a modern watch, start with the production span of the reference and any dated paperwork. Randomized clasp codes also lack a public year mapping. The case serial remains useful for linking records to a particular watch.

Early references and hallmark dating

For early Prince, Bubbleback and manual Oyster references such as 3478, compare the case number with examples of the same reference and material. A chart covering later Oyster production may not describe an earlier case-number sequence. British hallmarks on precious-metal cases provide a separate assay date. Steel cases need other evidence.

Glasgow and Edinburgh assay marks

British hallmarks can identify the assay office, metal standard, sponsor and assay year. The sponsor is the party responsible for submitting the item; the mark does not necessarily identify its manufacturer. Imported cases may carry different office marks from domestic work. Match the complete punch, including its shield and lettering, to the correct office and period.

For a Glasgow or Edinburgh mark, use that office's historical import-mark chart. Date-letter cycles and the dates on which letters changed varied between offices and periods. The letter records assay, which may precede assembly or retail sale. David Boettcher's guide explains these distinctions. Opening a case requires suitable tools and care.

Antiquorum describes Prince 971 case 70,064 as sterling silver with a Glasgow import stamp and a 1928 hallmark. The date is the auctioneer's reading of the hallmark; it does not establish when the movement was made or fitted.

Assay letters and case-serial prefixes

The R, L and later case-serial prefixes belong to a system introduced around 1987. They cannot decode assay letters on 1920s–1950s Prince cases. Those letters belong to the assay office's own sequence.

Prince dating examples

The table lists catalogue observations on Prince watches and related Eaton presentation pieces. “c.” means an approximate date assigned by the auctioneer. Hallmark readings and presentation inscriptions are identified separately. These examples do not define the start or end of a reference's production.

Reference Case number Material / configuration Hallmark / dating Source
971 70,064 sterling silver Glasgow import hallmark dated 1928 by Antiquorum Antiquorum New York, March 2010, lot 401
971 70,668 sterling silver Glasgow 1929 Bonhams London 2018 lot 37
971 71,883 sterling silver c.1929–1930 Sotheby's 2019
971 011,651 steel + Beyer-signed dial c.1928 Phillips Geneva X CH080319/17
971 6,013 platinum, Cal. 300 7½′′′ 18-jewel c.1935 Phillips Geneva V/X/XIV
971 6,047 platinum 1935 Phillips 2015 Watch Auction One lot 210
971 6,077 platinum c.1930 Antiquorum 2013
971 1,472 Eaton 1/4 Century Club dial; catalogue descriptions of the metals differ presentation inscription 1907–1932 Monaco Legend, July 2019, lot 156
971 60,206 9K two-colour gold c.1934 Antiquorum 2020 lot 235
971 65,196 18K striped two-colour gold (971A) c.1930 Antiquorum 2015 lot 275
971 65,377 18K striped two-colour gold (971A) c.1932 Antiquorum 2006 lot 316
971 68,305 9K two-colour gold (971A) c.1932 Bonhams NY 2017 lot 133
971 68,591 18K striped two-colour gold (971A) c.1938 Bonhams HK 2023 lot 644
1490 13,009 18K yellow gold Glasgow 1933 Phillips NY 2023 NY080223/92
1490 17,365 steel + pink gold Cal. T.S. 300 Ultra Prima, 1935 Antiquorum May 2006 Mondani lot 46
1490 38,525 steel + Bucherer-signed dial c.1937 Sotheby's Watches Online July 2019 lot 13
1490 58,115 18K (group lot with 1862) c.1930 Christie's Geneva 1395 lot 307
1490 73,910 steel c.1936 Bonhams Nov 2023 lot 50
1862 1,608 9K Glasgow 1934 Antiquorum 249-98
1862 16,237 9K Glasgow + Cal. 527 Glasgow 1934 Christie's online lot 31 (sale 13523)
1862 16,663 18K (group lot with 1490) c.1938 Christie's Geneva 1395 lot 307
1862 280,124 18K yellow (1862A variant) c.1930 Sotheby's NY 2018 n09911 lot 53
1491 not given 18K yellow gold jump-hour Brancard Glasgow Import mark 1930 Bonhams sale 29152 lot 23
1491 1,578 9K white gold, Bucherer-retailed invoice dated 1945 Antiquorum, March 2008, lot 692
1491 F220 two-colour 18K gold, jumping-hour display c.1930 Bonhams, sale 29152, lot 6
1527 189 18K white + yellow gold stepped Railway, bamboo-style bracelet dated 1931 Antiquorum May 2006 Mondani lot 108/33
1527 6,920 white and pink gold; catalogued as 1527 M c.1930s Drouot, lot 182
1527 6936 18K white + pink stepped Glasgow 1931 EveryWatch lot 378
1527 not given steel + gold-filled stepped Railway 1940s Bonhams NY 2006 sale 15217 lot 9
3361 899,568 18K yellow gold Aerodynamic dated 1952 (Mondani Collection) Antiquorum, May 2006, lot 210
3361 899,677 18K pink gold Aerodynamic with monogrammed escutcheon dated 1952 Antiquorum, May 2006, lot 209
3362 62,482 14K pink gold c.1935, as dated by Antiquorum Antiquorum, May 2015, sale 291, lot 109
3937 64,190 14K yellow gold Rams Horn 1938 Bonhams 2023 lot 50
3937 not given 14K yellow gold, Eaton 1/4 Century Club Garbett presentation inscription 1926–1951 Sotheby's NY 2020 lot 73
6222 (Eaton presentation) not given automatic Oyster presentation inscription 1929–1954 Antiquorum Hong Kong 2005, sale 86, lot 19

These examples use several case-number ranges across different materials and references. A high number does not establish a later production date across the whole Prince family. Antiquorum dates the two 3361 cases numbered 899,568 and 899,677 to 1952; the presentation dates on Eaton watches record later events in their ownership. None of these observations establishes a family-wide production endpoint.

Caseback engraving conventions

Keep case and reference stamps separate from personal inscriptions. An engraved name or service anniversary records a presentation or ownership claim. It cannot establish the date of the case, and hand engraving alone does not establish a replacement. Monaco Legend's 971, case 1,472, bears an Eaton service inscription ending in 1932.

Submariner, Explorer and GMT dating examples

The following table compares catalogue dates with case numbers on selected Submariner, Explorer and GMT watches. Dates without an identified hallmark, stamp or document are the named source's estimates. A cluster of nearby numbers does not establish a production total or guarantee dating to within a year or two.

Reference Case number Catalogue configuration Date or dated mark reported by source Source
6204 (Submariner) 949,136 honeycomb dial 1953 Phillips Geneva XII 2020 lot 177
6204 988,613 gilt, US Navy provenance c.1953–54 Sotheby's 2018 lot 250
6204 988,773 Sub-Aqua, end-link 65 1954 Phillips Geneva Watch Auction TWO 2015 lot 292
6204 988,923 pencil hands, gilt c.1954, clasp 2.53 Phillips NY Watch Auction 2021 lot 79
6204 988,929 Sub-Aqua tropical 1954 Antiquorum Geneva 2013 lot 577
6204 42,439 Sub-Aqua dial; catalogued as a prototype 1954 Monaco Legend 2019 lot 69
6205 (Submariner) 21,354 pencil hands, no-Submariner dial, riveted Oyster end-link 65 c.1954, Series 1 Phillips Game Changers NY 2019 lot 54
6205 21,442 Mercedes hands, gilt gloss, stretch riveted bracelet c.1954–55 Sotheby's Fine Watches 2022 lot 13
6205 21,644 re-lumed reprinted no-Submariner dial 1954–55 Antiquorum Geneva 2025 lot 377-180
6205 85,972 Mercedes, gilt no depth (Series 2) 1955 Sotheby's Important Watches NY 2019 lot 178
6205 86,033 Atelier de Restauration 2023 restoration 1955 Sotheby's Important Watches II 2025 lot 336
6200 (Submariner) 320,xxx–322,xxx Big Crown 8mm Brevet, A296, Explorer or red depth 1954–56 Nicholas Foulkes, Oyster Perpetual Submariner (Wallpaper / ACC Art Books, 2024)
6536/1 (Submariner) 112,256 caseback stamped "4 55", Jubilee bracelet stamped 1960 1955 Sotheby's 2021 lot 35
6536/1 112,341 Red Depth, IV.55 caseback 1955 Bonhams Dec 2021 lot 36
6536/1 155,502 caseback stamped II.56, on 7206 rivet bracelet 1956 Phillips Geneva V 2017 lot 102
6536/1 229,640 I.57 caseback 1957 Sotheby's 2018 lot 215
6536 (parent) 306,706 gloss black gilt, red triangle bezel March 1957 Bonhams London 2012 lot 116
6536/1 306,989 III.57 caseback, no-hash red triangle, glossy gilt 1957 Sotheby's NY 2018 lot 252
6536 399,228 brown tropical dial c.1959 Sotheby's London 2019 lot 121
6538 (Submariner) 140,300–140,500 (Series 1) case-number band proposed by Blackbird c.1956 Blackbird Biebuyck (2019)
6538 158,100–158,400 (Series 2) four-line OCC dial concentration c.1957–58 Blackbird Biebuyck (2019)
6538 307,100–307,600 (Series 3) two-line gilt 1958 Blackbird Biebuyck (2019)
6538 426,000–449,300 (Series 4) fourth group in Blackbird's classification late 1958 / 1959 Blackbird; Sotheby's Olmsted 2024 lot 170 case 449,004
5510 (Submariner big crown) 362,153 Explorer dial, fixed bars; attributed to Royal Australian Navy use 1958 Sotheby's Important Watches 2023 lot 107
5510 362,187 reprinted Explorer dial; attributed to Royal Australian Navy use 1958 Antiquorum Monaco 2018 lot 314-248
5510 362,252 privately purchased watch used by a Royal Navy diver; later 93150/580 bracelet Bonhams dates manufacture and purchase to 1958; caseback 1.1958 Bonhams, June 2009, lot 140
5508 (Submariner small crown) 361,650 black gilt, red triangle insert 1958 Phillips Geneva NINE 2019 lot 213
5508 400,505 tropical dial, 1960 papers 1958 Sotheby's Fine Watches 2023 lot 40
5508 489,831 black dial 1959 Sotheby's Watches Online 2020
5508 490,575 faded bezel insert, rivet bracelet '63 1958 Antiquorum Geneva 2020 lot 333-422
5508 762,896 exclamation gilt, II.62 caseback, 7206/64 bracelet 1962 Phillips Hong Kong SPORTS 2019 lot 881
5508 764,524 exclamation, 6636 clasp 4/64 1962 Phillips Geneva XV 2022 lot 160
6098 (Pre-Explorer / Oyster Perpetual) 912,378 steel + Sesto Continente "Super Oyster" provenance, IV.52 caseback caseback IV.52; source dates the watch to 1952 Vailati 1953 letter to Rolex Archives (Perezcope)
6150 (Pre-Explorer) 931,134 H.S.10 CD Royal Navy with crow's foot c.1953 Sotheby's Fine Watches 2025 L25713
6150 944,811 H.S.10 CD, Burford matte-black Swiss T Precision printing, MOD broad-arrow February 1953 Bonhams 18849/181
6150 944,925 "Oyster Perpetual Precision" dial 1953 Antiquorum Geneva 2022 lot 349-152
6150 945,021 "KANGCHENJUNGA 1955 G.C BAND" caseback engraving 1953 case, 1955 expedition gift Phillips Geneva Watch Auction SIX 2017 lot 244
6150 945,096 A296 18j, Oyster expandable bracelet c.1953 Sotheby's 2022 / 2024 (same example reoffered)
6350 955,761 Sir Douglas Prior 1956 Royal Society Antarctic Expedition, Cal. 775 service replacement 1953 case Antiquorum Geneva 2018 lot 317-570
5513 (Submariner, no-date) 765,450 gloss black "exclamation" Explorer dial, cal. 1530; riveted Oyster 7206 / 80 end-links, clasp 4.62 c.1962 (I.62) Phillips Geneva EIGHT lot 23
5513 979,313 gilt / gloss underline Explorer dial; folded Oyster 9315 / 580 end-links c.1963 Phillips Geneva XIV lot 153
5513 991,837 underline double-Swiss gilt dial; Oyster 6636, clasp dated Q1 1964 1963 (III.63) Phillips Geneva THREE lot 106
5513 1,023,362 gloss Explorer (3-6-9) dial, Garrard guarantee 23 March 1965; Jubilee bracelet c.1964 Sotheby's Important Watches 2020 lot 377
5513 6,2XX,XXX Mark III "maxi" dial, cal. 1520; 93150 Oyster, service-replacement clasp S6 c.1979 Bonhams Watches and Wristwatches 2019 lot 103
5513 (COMEX) 2,833,552 helium escape valve; COMEX 24 1970 Antiquorum Geneva, November 2006, lot 323
5514 3,804,841 helium escape valve; dial without COMEX logo 1972 Antiquorum New York, 2009, sale 223, lot 373
5514 4,089,919 COMEX 377, matte black, 9315 bracelet, Henry Hudson letter 1975 Phillips NY Watch Auction SIX 2022 lot 153
5514 4,155,901 COMEX 446; caseback also engraved 68504-Ci, attributed to the Argentine Navy by Phillips 1974 Phillips Geneva TWO, 2015, lot 145
5514 5,230,258 COMEX 878, "Big Numbers" wrap-around caseback 1977 Antiquorum Monaco 2025 lot 383-172
5517 (MilSub, Royal Navy / Army) around 3,926,000 5513-only and 5513/5517 double-reference; issue years 77/79 1972–1975 Phillips New York 2019 lot 28 case 3,926,768; Phillips HK 2017 lot 807 case 3,926,923; Antiquorum Monaco 2022 lot 77 case 3,926,842
5517 around 5,339,000 5517-only between-lugs engraving, sword hands, full 60-min bezel; issue year 78 1977–1978 Phillips Geneva XIV 2021 lot 152 case 5,339,827; Sotheby's 2023 lot 3 case 5,339,705 issue 853/78
1680 (Submariner Date, Red Sub) 2,241,069 Mark II "tropical" meters-first dial, red Submariner text; Oyster 9315, clasp 3.71 c.1969 (III.69) Phillips WINNING ICONS lot 4
1680 2,421,653 Mark IV "tropical" Red Sub, feet-first "open 6s"; folded Oyster 9315, 280 end-links, clasp 4.70 c.1970 Phillips Geneva XIV lot 155
1680 2,631,521 Mark IV red dial, cream indexes; Oyster 7836, clasp 3-69 1970 (I.70) Phillips Geneva SEVEN lot 108
1680 3,184,430 single-red Submariner dial; 93150 Oyster, clasp CL9 c.1972 Bonhams London Fine Watches 2025 lot 18
1680 3,740,344 feet-first Red Sub dial, Tiffany & Co. retailer signature c.1974 Sotheby's Important Watches II 2024
1680 5,429,380 ref. 1680/8 18k yellow gold, blue sunray dial; gold Oyster, clasp 3.71 c.1978 Phillips Geneva SEVEN lot 238
1680 6,1XX,XXX Mark 1 "White Submariner" (closed 6s), white-text dial c.1979 Bonhams Hong Kong Watches 2022 lot 928
1675 (GMT-Master, red-and-blue bezel) 1,004,133 underline + double-Swiss gilt dial, pointed crown guards, cal. 1560; bracelet 6636 / 80 end-links, clasp 3.64 c.1963 (IV.63) Phillips "Rolex Milestones" lot 810
1675 1,323,448 MK III late-gilt gloss dial (SWISS - T<25), cal. 1570; bracelet 7206 / 80 end-links, clasp 4.65 c.1965 (IV.65) Phillips Hong Kong Sessions Spring 2026 lot 8019
1675 1,686,416 matte black dial, steel red-and-blue bezel, cal. 1570 c.1967 Sotheby's Watches 2020 lot 76
1675 1,796,673 matte black "Fuchsia" insert, cal. 1570, movement D091203 with ROW marking; clasp 7-68 1967 (II.67) Phillips New York Watch Auction SEVEN lot 25
1675 5,468,961 18k yellow gold, black dial, President bracelet, cal. 1570 c.1978 Sotheby's Watches 2020 lot 77
16750 (GMT-Master, first quickset) 6,250,744 matte black dial, black bezel insert (spare red-and-blue bezel included), cal. 3075; 93150 Oyster, clasp VC c.1981 Bonhams Knightsbridge 2024 lot 95
16750 7,625,315 black dial, Omani police emblem, cal. 3075; 62510H Jubilee / 555 end-links, clasp G4 c.1983 Bonhams Fine Watches 2021 lot 68
16750 8,631,078 glossy dial with cracked lacquer, cal. 3075; 78360 Oyster / 580 end-links, clasp I6 c.1984 Phillips Hong Kong EIGHT lot 1180
16750 R672618 gloss black dial, R-prefix c.1988 Bonhams Hong Kong Watches 2019 lot 845
16760 (GMT-Master II) 8,463,283 red-and-black bezel, cal. 3085 27j c.1984 Sotheby's Important Watches HK 2021 lot 2004
16760 R275863 red-and-black bezel, mvt 1994435, 78790 service-replacement bracelet c.1988 Bonhams Knightsbridge 2023 lot 28031/167
16760 R434190 full set with Merksamer Jewelers guarantee, mvt 2102621 c.1988 Phillips Geneva Watch Auction X 2019 lot 149
16700 (GMT-Master) R-serial 1988 red-and-blue bezel, 78360 / RS11 clasp 1988 Bonhams 25956/4
16700 T254282 1996 red-and-blue bezel delivered Dec 1996, full set with Beyer receipt 1996 Antiquorum Geneva 2020 lot 329-88
16700 T848499 c.1996 red-and-blue bezel, with extra black bezel, cal. 3175 1996 Sotheby's Geneva Important Watches 2019 lot 10
16700 W752611 c.1995 red-and-blue bezel, faded bezel, tritium dial 1995 Sotheby's Fine Watches Online 2024 lot 417
16700 U443556 1997 Chuck Yeager / Real McCoy's No. 14/50, Bell X-1 1947 caseback 1997 Bonhams 25232/969
16700 U453541 c.1997 Chuck Yeager / Real McCoy's No. 21/50 1997 Phillips Hong Kong XI 2020 lot 862
16700 A245609 c.1999 Chuck Yeager / Real McCoy's 1999 Sotheby's Hong Kong 2019 lot 2023

Record an inside-caseback stamp exactly as it appears. Roman numerals I–IV are often read as quarters, but the Caseback date codes guide describes a VI 1966 stamp that does not fit that convention. A dated caseback is a component observation. Service replacements and exchanged backs can separate its date from the rest of the watch.

Comparing the components

An early serial range suggests a case date. Compare the bracelet reference, dial and movement separately. A clasp code dates the marked component, and a replacement clasp or bracelet does not change the case date.

A bracelet from the same period as the case may be period-correct without being original to that watch. Matching date estimates alone cannot establish original delivery.

Per-reference serial detail

The Daytona 16520 and individual manual-wind Daytona pages compare serials with dial and component changes. For long-running references such as the Air-King 5500, compare examples from the relevant period; one broad serial span cannot describe every configuration.

A different reference stamped inside the caseback needs comparison with documented examples of that model. Assess the fit and markings together before accepting the back as original or period-correct.

Sources

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