Rolex Information
This is last century information on Rolex.
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What Do The Numbers Mean...
Rolex model numbers prior to the year 2000 were either four or five digits. The first two or three describes the type of watch. The second from the last describes (some exceptions) the type of bezel and the last describes the material that the watch is made from.New models introduced in 2000 have a 1 preceding the old five digit model number.
Type of Watch...
| Oyster Perpetual - 10 & 140 | Airking - 55 & 140 |
| Oyster Perpetual Chronometer -142 | Oyster Perp Date Chronometer - 15 & 150 |
| Oyster Perp Date - 15 & 150 | Oyster Perp Datejust - 16 & 160 |
| Thunderbird Bezel DJ - 16 & 162 | Daytona Manual Wind - 62 |
| Daytona Cosmograph - 165 | Explorer - 165 |
| Sea Dweller - 16 & 166 | Submariner - 16, 166 & 168 |
| Submariner OP - 55 & 140 | GMT Master - 167 |
| Oysterquartz Datejust - 170 | Oyster PD - 18,180, 182 & 183 |
| Oyster PD (Older) - 65 & 66 | Oyster Quartz Date - 190 |
| Yacht Master - 166, 686 & 696 | Midsize Oyster Perp DJ - 682 |
| Lady Oyster Perpetual - 67 & 671 | Lady OP Date - 65, 69, 691 & 692 |
| Lady OP Datejust - 65, 69, 691 & 692 |
Type of Bezel...
| 0 Polished | 3 Fluted | 5 Pyramid |
| 1 Finely Engine Turned | 4 Hand-Crafted | 6 Rotating Bezel |
| 2 Engine Turned |
Type of Material...
| 0 Stainless | 4 Stainless/White Gold | 7 14k Yellow Gold |
| 1 Yellow Gold Filled | 5 Gold Shell | 8 18k Yellow Gold |
| 2 White Gold Filled | 6 Platinum | 9 18k White Gold |
| 3 Stainless & Yellow Gold |
Production Dates By Serial Number...
| 1926 - 28,000 | 1975 - 4,267,100 | 1987 - 9,766,000 |
| 1937 - 99,000 | 1976 - 4,539,000 | 1987 1/2 - 9,999,999 |
| 1943 - 253,400 | 1977 - 5,006,000 | 1987 1/2 - R000,000 |
| 1948 - 543,400 | 1978 - 5,482,000 | 1989 - L000,001 |
| 1955 * - 1,012,000 | 1979 - 5,958,000 | 1990 1/2 - E000,001 |
| 1962 - 1,558,000 | 1980 - 6,424,000 | 1991 3/4 - X000,001 |
| 1967 - 2,163,900 | 1981 - 6,910,000 | 1991 3/4 - N000,000 |
| 1970 - 2,952,600 | 1982 - 7,366,000 | 1992 1/4 - C000,001 |
| 1971 - 3,215,500 | 1983 - 7,862,000 | 1993 3/4 - S000,001 * |
| 1972 - 3,478,400 | 1984 - 8,388,000 | 1995 - W000,001 * |
| 1973 - 3,741,300 | 1985 - 8,814,000 | 1995 3/4 - T000,001 * |
| 1974 - 4,004,200 | 1986 - 9,290,000 | 1997 1/2 - U000,001 * |
In late 1998, Rolex began using the A
prefix...A000,001
In early 2000, Rolex began using the P
prefix...P000,001
In mid 2001, Rolex began using the K
prefix...K000,001
* When Rolex reached the 999,999 production serial in the early 1950's...they restarted the production serial at 100,000 rather than begin a 7 digit number at 1,000,000. During this period Rolex was also putting the date code on the inside of the case backs...so confusing production serials can sometimes have their production date determined. Look for the Roman number I, II, III or IV for the quarter & two arabic digits for the year.
In the late 1950's, Rolex again reached the 999,999 production serial & they started their 7 digit numeric numbering system at 1,000,000 for production serials, this continued until the 1990's until production serials reached 9,999,999.
Rather than begin an 8 digit production serial, Rolex instead began their serials with a letter prefix such as R, then L, E & X. (ROLEX without the O) N, C, & S came out during the early to mid 1990's, W, T & U a little later. The latest letter prefixes are all running concurrently...as Rolex wishes! Only Rolex knows the exact date that any watch was actually produced.
Confused...contact Rolex with the exact serial number of your watch...don't expect a reply with an answer!
Rolex USA catalogs and pricing -
1-212-758-7700
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