ROLEX SERIAL NUMBERS LIST
All Rolex watches are given a unique serial number of 4-8 digits, this can help to identify what year the watch was made. The serial number is engraved onto the watch and can be used as an additional security measure and helps to authenticate that the watch is indeed a genuine watch rather than a copy or counterfeit watch. If your watch comes with the Rolex papers (or warranty cards) then you should be able to match this serial number up to that on the papers, which will help to authenticate the watch.
Very early Rolex serial numbers were all numbers, usually in order. Then in 1987 Rolex introduced serial numbers that started with a letter, the first letter that they chose was R 000000 and then it continued, following on from this they chose to use L, E and X to spell out Rolex (they chose not to use an O as it looked to similar to a 0 and could be easily confused). From then onwards the letters were a little random before 2010 when Rolex used a totally random serial number. This made it more difficult to copy the serial number and also impossible to use the serial number to date the watch.
How do you find the serial number?
There are 2 places on the watch where Rolex have placed the serial number. The first one, for watches produced before 2008 (although there is a cross over period of around 3 years) is to look for the serial number on the side of the case between the lugs at the 6 o’clock side of the watch. To do this you have to carefully remove the bracelet and look on the side of the case.
However for watches made from 2005 (give or take due to the cross over period until 2008) it is much simpler as the serial number is engraved on the inside flange which is the inside of the bezel between the dial and the crystal of the watch, at the 6 o’clock side. This can be seen if look for carefully without taking any part of the watch apart.
Do counterfeit Rolexes have a serial number?
If a watch does not have a serial number then it is not a genuine Rolex. However some fake Rolex watches do have serial numbers on them but this is an extremely difficult and costly process to copy, especially on newer watches where it is engraved on the inside flange. With most counterfeit Rolex watches fraudsters will tend to acid-etch the serial number onto the watch rather than engrave it, this makes the serial number look of poor quality or very faint.
Having said that some imitation watches are made to a very high standard and that makes them difficult to tell apart from the real watch, and will then require a much closer and intricate look at the watch. If you are not sure if a Rolex is genuine or not, take it to a trusted jewellers who will appraise the watch for you.
If you are not confident in finding the serial number or you require some assistance with your watch, this then please bring it into your local Timepiece Watch Repairs Store, where your friendly watch technician will be happy to assist you.
Please use the below list to help in matching up your Rolex Serial Numbers by date, you can find out the year of manufacture from the Rolex Serial Numbers below. Please note that there is no official source for the information so it may not be completely accurate, use only as a guide.
Rolex serial numbers
| Estimated Production Year(s) | Serial Number |
|---|---|
| 2010 - Present | G / Random Characters |
| Dec 2008 - 2010 | V 000,001 |
| Jan 2008 - Nov 2008 | M 000,001 |
| July 2006 - Dec 2007 | Z 000,001 |
| Jan 2005 - July 2006 | D 000,001 |
| Jan 2004 | F 000,001 |
| Sept 2002 | Y 000,001 |
| August 2001 | K 000,001 |
| April 2000 | P 000,004 |
| 1998 - 1999 | A 000,002 |
| 1997 - 1998 | U 000,001 |
| 1996 - 1998 | T 000,001 |
| 1995 - 1998 | W 000,001 |
| 1993 3/4 | S 000,001 |
| 1992 1/4 | C 000,001 |
| 1991 3/4 | N 000,001 |
| 1991 1/2 | X 000,001 |
| 1991 1/4 | E 999,999 |
| 1990 1/2 | E 000,001 |
| 1990 | L 999,999 |
| 1989 | L 000,001 |
| 1988 | R 999,999 |
| 1987 1/2 | R 000,000 |
| 1987 1/2 | 9,999,999 |
| 1987 | 9,760,000 |
| 1986 | 9,300,000 |
| 1985 | 8,814,000 |
| 1984 | 8,388,000 |
| 1983 | 7,860,000 |
| 1982 | 7,366,000 |
| 1981 | 6,910,000 |
| 1980 | 6,430,000 |
| 1979 | 5,959,000 |
| 1978 | 5,481,000 |
| 1977 | 5,005,000 |
| 1976 | 4,535,000 |
| 1975 | 4,265,000 |
| 1974 | 4,000,000 |
| 1973 | 3,741,000 |
| 1972 | 3,478,000 |
| 1971 | 3,215,000 |
| 1970 | 2,952,000 |
| 1969 | 2,689,000 |
| 1968 | 2,426,000 |
| 1967 | 2,164,000 |
| 1966 | 1,870,000 |
| 1965 | 1,791,000 |
| 1964 | 1,713,000 |
| 1963 | 1,635,000 |
| 1962 | 1,557,000 |
| 1961 | 1,485,000 |
| 1960 | 1,401,000 |
| 1959 | 1,323,000 |
| 1958 | 1,245,000 |
| 1957 | 1,167,000 |
| 1956 | 1,095,000 |
| 1955 | 1,010,000 |
| 1954 | 935,000 |
| 1953 | 869,000 |
| 1952 | 804,000 |
| 1951 | 735,000 |
| 1950 | 372,000 |
| 1949 | 608,000 |
| 1948 | 543,000 |
| 1947 | 478,000 |
| 1946 | 413,000 |
| 1945 | 348,000 |
| 1944 | 284,000 |
| 1943 | 253,000 |
| 1942 | 224,000 |
| 1941 | 194,000 |
| 1940 | 165,000 |
| 1939 | 136,000 |
| 1938 | 118,000 |
| 1937 | 98,000 |
| 1936 | 82,000 |
| 1935 | 62,000 |
| 1934 | 55,000 |
| 1933 | 49,000 |
| 1932 | 43,000 |
| 1931 | 40,000 |
| 1930 | 38,000 |
| 1929 | 35,000 |
| 1928 | 33,000 |
| 1927 | 30,000 |
| 1926 | 28,000 |
| 1925 | 25,000 |
