The Rolex reference encyclopedia
Rolexopedia is a reference guide to vintage and discontinued Rolex watches. Browse a family to compare generations, or open a reference number for its production history, movement, dial variants and case details.
A reference number can cover decades of changes. The articles distinguish documented variants and later replacements, with sources for further reading. The serial-number, movement and bracelet guides help compare the parts of an individual watch. About the project →
318wiki articles
12families
1,852image files
1920s onwardhistorical coverage
Browse by family
Big Crown models, the 5512 and 5513 dial changes, the Red Sub and the five-digit sapphire references.
Manual-wind Valjoux chronographs, the Paul Newman exotic dials, the Zenith automatics and the in-house 4130 generation.
From the Bakelite-bezel 6542 through the long 1675 run to the ceramic GMT-Master II.
The 6150 and 6350, the long-running 1016, and the later sapphire-crystal models.
The orange-hand 1655 Freccione, the transitional 16550 and the long-run 16570.
Single Red, Double Red and Great White 1665s, the Triple Six, later references and documented COMEX examples.
The President from the 1956 originals through the 1803 era, five-digit sapphire, Day-Date II and Oysterquartz.
The lightning-bolt seconds hand of the 6541, the 1019 and the green-crystal 116400GV.
Early hand-wound models, the long-running 5500 and the sapphire-crystal 14000 line.
The plain-dial Oyster: classic four-digit 1002 to 1018, five-digit and the last pre-refresh 116000 generation.
Rectangular Art-Deco chronometers: Classic 1343, Brancard 971, Railway and Tigre variants.
From the archive
Explorer
The 1016 is a 36mm Explorer with an acrylic crystal and a black 3-6-9 dial. Gilt and matte dials span its production run. The article compares their markings and explains how dial, movement and case details help identify a particular example.
Reference guides
Numeric and letter-prefix year ranges, hallmark dating for early watches, and the limits of randomized serials.
Rivet, folded and solid Oyster, Jubilee and President bracelets, end-link numbers and the clasp date-code key.
From the early manual-wind Oyster calibers through the 1500 and 3000 series to the Zenith and in-house chronographs.
Every reference, by era
Early single-button1920s–1930s
Early two-register1930s–1940s
Round Oyster chronographsfrom c.1950
Ceramic 116xxx2005–19
Ceramic 126xxx2018–present
Current2021–present
Vintage Freccione1971–1984
Transitional1985–1989
Modern 40mm1989–2010
Single Red to Great White1967–1983
Ceramic2008–2017
First automatic1953–57
Earlier referencesCatalogue dates conflict; no production span established
Square Perpetual1940s–1952 catalogue examples
Oysterdate Precision
Prince Imperial pocket watchc.1930–1945
Other vintage references
Manual-wind, small secondscatalogued 1929–1940s
Rectangular manual-windcatalogued circa 1930–1938
Oyster Speedkingcatalogued c.1952–1953
Chronometre Scientific1937 case marks; catalogued examples circa 1937
Cellini
Vintage dress watchCatalogued examples dated 1967–69
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