Rolex Serial and Model Numbers

Rolex has been engraving their watches with unique serial numbers since the 1920s, to document the production year of each timepiece.

Knowing the serial number of your Rolex watch is important for several reasons. First is that it will help you determine the production age of your watch. A watch’s age, along with other factors such as its condition, will help establish the true market value of the watch.

Serial and model numbers can also help you determine if a watch is genuine Rolex. Counterfeits often do not have the serial numbers engraved on them, and if they do, they often do not match the design.

HOW TO FIND THE SERIAL NUMBER ON YOUR ROLEX WATCH

The Rolex serial number can be found on the watch’s corresponding paperwork, such as on the warranty card. If you are buying a piece without papers, the serial number is also engraved on the watch.

Older Rolex watches have the serial number engraved on the exterior of the case, in between the lugs on the 6 o’clock side. This requires you to remove the bracelet to check the serial number.

In 2005, Rolex started engraving the serial number on the inside metal ring (also called the “rehaut” or French for flange) between the dial and the crystal, near the 6 o’clock numeral. By 2008, Rolex stopped engraving the serial number on the case exterior and now only keeps it on the rehaut.

LOCATION OF THE ROLEX SERIAL NUMBER

• Before 2005 – engraved on the exterior, between lugs on the 6 o’clock side
• 2005 to 2008 – engraved between lugs and on the rehaut (both 6 o’clock side)
• 2008 onwards – etched on the rehaut only (6 o’clock side)

The table below shows the serial numbers of Rolex and their corresponding production years.

HOW TO FIND THE MODEL OR REFERENCE NUMBER ON YOUR ROLEX WATCH

The Rolex model or reference number can be found engraved on the exterior of the watch, in between the lugs on the 12 o’clock side. As with the serial number, the bracelet needs to be detached from the case to be able to check the model number.

Rolex follows a reference number system that indicates the model type, bezel, and material of the watch.

For example, a popular reference is the Rolex Kermit 16610LV. This number can be broken down further: 166 | 1 | 0 LV. The numbers 166 indicate that it is a Rolex Submariner, 1 tells us that it has a rotating bezel, and 0 means it is made of stainless steel. The letters LV stand for lunette vert or French for green bezel.

The tables below show the codes for each model, bezel, and material type:

HOW TO FIND THE PRODUCTION AGE OF YOUR ROLEX BRACELET OR CLASP

Rolex watches also have a code engraved on the clasp hinge. These codes are composed of 1 or 2 letters followed by a number, with the letter corresponding to the year of production, while the number signifies a month.

We should note that after 2010, Rolex started to use random numbers. Moreover, if you see a clasp with an S, it means that it is a service replacement clasp.