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Certified Pre-Owned Watch Program

Rolex Watch Company

Brief History: Rolex Watch Company

Including Serial Numbers, Production Dates and Calibers

Hans Wilsdorf

Hans Wilsdorf

The year was 1905 and the place was London, England. Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis founded "Wilsdorf & Davis" and began importing high-quality Swiss watch movements, produced by Hermann Aegler, and placing them in good-quality cases made by Dennison and others. These early watches were sold to jewelers who marketed them with their own names on the dial. The earliest known examples of Wilsdorf & Davis watches are signed "W&D" inside the case back. Contrary to popular belief, Wilsdorf was neither Swiss nor a watchmaker. Wilsdorf was a German national, and Davis was British.

The "Rolex" trademark was registered in 1908, and the firm opened an office in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the world's center for high-quality watchmaking. There is some debate as to the origins of the Rolex name. Wilsdorf was said to want an easily recognizable name that could be pronounced in any language and would fit easily on the dial of a watch. Some suggest that the name came from the French phrase horlogerie exquise, meaning "exquisite horology". J.P. Hess and James Dowling, in their book The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches, An Unauthorized History, clam that the name was just made up. "Rolex" was first registered as a company name on November 15, 1915. The Rolex name did not appear on the watch dial until 1926.

Rolex Moves to Geneva and Launches the "Oyster"

In 1919, the company's headquarters was moved to Geneva, Switzerland, because taxes and export duties in the United Kingdom were driving up costs. The company was first established in Geneva as the Rolex Watch Company. Subsequently, the name was changed to Montres Rolex, SA and finally just Rolex, SA.

One of the most important developments in the history of Rolex watches came when Wilsdorf purchased the patent for a revolutionary moisture-proof winding stem and crown from its inventors, George Peret and Paul Perregaux. The result of this acquisition was the development of the world's first truly waterproof case, which was given the name "Oyster" in 1926. In an effort to market the new Oyster watch, Wilsdorf hired a young London typist named Mercedes Glietz, the first woman to swim the English Channel. In 1927, prior to Glietz' second attempt to swim the Channel, Wilsdorf announced to the world that she would be wearing his water-proof Rolex Oyster watch and that she would emerge from the water and his watch would be running and on time, something which had never been previously accomplished. Though Miss Glietz did not complete this second crossing, which occurred under much more difficult conditions than her first swim, the watch performed beautifully. She and her Rolex Oyster made headlines around the world!

To this day, Rolex continues to form creative advertising partnerships with athletes and athletic events. They are the official timekeeper of the Wimbledon and Australian Open tennis tournaments, and the Americas Cup yacht races, just to name a few.

The Wilsdorf Foundation

After his wife died in 1944, Wilsdorf established the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation to which he left all of his Rolex shares, ensuring that a significant portion of the company's income would go to charity in perpetuity. Rolex is still owned by this private charitable trust which supports many children's charities (Mr. Wilsdorf was an orphan) and cutting-edge entrepreneurial endeavors (Mr. Wilsdorf held over 700 patents). No Rolex shares are traded on any public exchange.

Today, the Rolex brand is recognized throughout the world as a symbol of prestige and quality. Rolex is by far the single largest luxury watch brand, producing about 2000 watches per day, and is certainly one of the top watch brands in the world.

Rolex Innovations:

Rolex Watch

Rolex has made many important contributions to the field of horology. Some key innovations are:

  • The first truly waterproof watch. (Rolex Oyster, 1926)
  • The first "auto-rotor" self-winding watch. (1932)
  • The first wristwatch with an automatically changing date on the dial (Rolex Datejust, 1945)
  • The first wristwatch with an automatically changing day and date on the dial (Rolex Day-Date)
  • The first wristwatch case waterproof to 100m (330ft) (Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner, 1953)
  • The first wristwatch to show two time zones at once (Rolex GMT Master, 1954)
  • The first watch manufacturer to earn chronometer certification for a wristwatch

Rolex holds the record for the most certified chronometer movements in the category of wristwatches. Rolex also participated in the development of the original quartz watch movement. Although Rolex has made very few battery-powered quartz models, the company's engineers were instrumental in design and implementation of the technology during the early 1970s.

Rolex Repair:

We are currently not accepting modern Rolex watches for repair because Rolex does not supply spare parts or technical information to many qualified independent watchmakers. To learn more about Swiss watch manufacturers' restrictions on parts distribution.

Fake "Rolex" Watches:

The Rolex brand has been frequently copied, and you have no doubt seen email advertisements for imitation Rolex watches at deep-discount prices. Don't waste your money! These watches are cheap, poorly-made fakes that are not serviceable and will not perform like the genuine article. Counterfeiting products is illegal. We do not encourage or endorse the purchase of any counterfeit watch!

SPONSORED ADVERTISEMENTS

Rolex Watch Company

Rolex Serial Numbers and Production Dates

Rolex serial numbers are located on the side of the watch case, between the lugs on the 6:00 end. It is usually necessary to release the bracelet in order to see the serial number. This should only be done by an experienced watchmaker to prevent scratching the case or bracelet. You should never purchase a Rolex watch if the serial number has been removed or tampered with.

Year S/N
1966 1871000
1966 1994956
1967 2163900
1968 2426800
1970 2555384
1969 2689700
1970 2952600
1971 3215500
1972 3478400
1973 3741300
1974 4004200
1975 4267100
1976 4538000
1977 5008000
1978 5482000
1979 5958000
Year S/N
1980 6434000
1981 6910000
1982 7386000
1983 7862000
1984 8338000
1985 8614000
1986 9290000
1987 9766000
1987 1/2 9999999
1987 1/2 R000001
1988 R999999
1989 L000001
1990 1/2 L999999
1990 1/2 E000001
1991 1/2 E999999
1991 1/2 X000001
Year S/N
Nov 1991 N000001
1992 1/4 C000001
1993 3/4 S000001
1995 - 1998 W000001
1996 - 1998 T000001
Aug 1997 U000001
Nov 1998 A000001
Apr 2000 P000001
Aug 2001 K000001
Sept 2002 Y000001
Jan 2004 F000001
Jan 05 - Jul 06 D000001
July 06 - Dec 07 Z000001
Jan 08 - Nov 08 M000001
Dec 08 - 2010 V000001
2010 - Present G

Rolex Watch

Calibers and Year Introduced

Caliber Model Year
3035 Date / Datejust / Submariner 1977
3085 GMT 1977
3055 Day-Date 1977
3075 GMT II / Explorer II

1981

3135 Date / Datejust / Submariner 1988
3175 GMT II / Explorer II 1988
3185 GMT 1988
3155 Day-Date 1988
3000 Non-Date 1990

 

The Official Rolex Serial Number Chart By Year

Year Serial
2016 random
2015 random
2014 random
2013 random
2012 random
2011 random
2010 G
2009 V
2008 M OR V
2007 M OR Z
2006 Z
2005 D
2004 F
2003 F
2002 Y
2001 K
2000 P
1999 A
1998 U
1997 U
1996 T
1995 W
1994 S
1993 S
1992 C
1991 E OR X OR N
1990 E
1989 L
1988 R
1987 9,300,000
1986 8,850,000
1985 8,600,000
1984 7,800,000
1983 7,620,000
1982 7,400,000
1981 6,630,000
1980 6,240,000
1979 5,850,000
1978 5,780,000
1977 5,300,000
1977 4,500,000
1976 4,250,000
1975 4,100,000
1974 3,600,000
1973 3,640,000
1972 3,380,000
1971 2,900,000
1970 2,730,000
1969 2,290,000
1968 1,760,000
1967 1,430,000
1966 1,380,000
1965 1,200,000
1964 1,100,000
1963    900,000
1962    764,000
1961    650,000
1960    520,000
1959    490,000
1958    426,000
1957    265,000
1956    212,000
1955    210,000
1954    950,000
1953    920,000
1952    900,000
1951    740,000
1950    700,000
1949    654,000
1948    572,000
1947    480,000
1946    425,000
1945    402,000
1944    288,000
1943    260,000
1942    206,000
1941    185,000
1940      57,000
1939      45,000
1938      28,000
1937      25,000
1936      20,000
1935      15,000
1934      10,000
1932        8,000
1931        7,000
1930        6,000
1929        5,000
1928        4,000
1927        3,000
1926        2,000

 

ROLEX MODEL NUMBERS

To identify Rolex Watch Model or Even Tudor Watch Model – First Locate the model or reference number, which is located inside the case lug side, this is located on the 12:00 hour dial side in between the lugs under the bracelet or strap.  Watch lugs are used with spring bars to hold the watch strap or bracelet. This 4–8-digit number is engraved by Rolex on every watch, and it can be used to determine its production date. Vintage Rolexes usually have 4 digits. This chart does not identify with with 4 digit numbers will since was not tracked that way for example 1957 Vintage Rolex Watch Reference 6694 Oysterdate Precision – 66 identifies as Day Date which this is not, use for 5 digits and more. Or when it applies.

The model number can indicate the model type, bezel, and material of your watch. For example, the reference number 16014 can be broken out into three sections, which are 160 | 1| 4. The first, 160, indicates that this watch is a Datejust. The second, 1, indicates that the bezel is a finely engine turned bezel. The third, 4, indicates that the watch material is Stainless w/ 18k White Gold.

 

ROLEX TYPE:

Submariner (no date)

55 & 140

Submariner

16, 166 & 168

Sea Dweller

16 & 166

GMT Master

16, 65, 167

GMT Master II

167, 1167

Day-Date (President)

65, 66, 18, 180, 182 & 183

Datejust

16 & 162

Daytona Manual Wind

62

Daytona Cosmograph

165, 1165

Explorer II

165

Oyster Perpetual

10, 140, 142

Airking

55 & 140

Date

15 & 150

OysterquartzDatejust

170

Oysterquartz Day-Date

190

Yachtmaster

166, 686 & 696

Midsize Oyster Perp DJ

68, 682

Ladies Oyster Perpetual

67, 671, 672

Ladies Date

65, 69, 691 & 692

Ladies Datejust

65, 69, 691 & 692

 

ROLEX BEZEL TYPE:

Polished

0

Finely Engine Turned

1

Engine Turned

2

Fluted

3

Hand-Crafted

4

Pyramid

5

Rotating Bezel

6

 

ROLEX CASE MATERIAL TYPE:

Stainless

0

Yellow Gold Filled

1

White Gold Filled

2

Stainless & Yellow Gold

3

Stainless w/ 18k White Gold

4

Gold Shell

5

Platinum

6

14k Yellow Gold

7

18k Yellow Gold

8

 

Rolex bracelet clasp codes

Many Rolex watches have a clasp code located inside the clasp hinge of the bracelet. This code is based on the month and year the clasp was manufactured. After inspecting the clasp, you will see 1 or 2 letters followed by a number. The letter corresponds with a year and the number signifies a month. For instance, per the table below, we see that a bracelet stamped G4 was manufactured in April 1982. A service replacement” bracelet would have an additional “S” stamped along with the year.

 

BRACELET CODE

YEAR

A or VA

1976

B or VB

1977

C or VC

1978

D or VD

1979

E or VE

1980

F or VF

1981

G

1982

H

1983

I

1984

J

1985

K

1986

L

1987

M

1988

N

1989

O

1990

P

1991

Q

1992

R

1993

S

1994

T or W

1995

V

1996

Z

1997

U

1998

X

1999

AB

2000

DE

2001

DT

2002

AD

2003

CL

2004

MA

2005

OP

2006

EO

2007

PJ

2008

LT

2009

RS

2010

RANDOM

201+

 

ROLEX Country codes identifier 

The table below lists all of the 3-digit country codes for Rolex watches. This country code can be found in the upper left-hand corner on the Rolex Guaranty Certificate. There is no country code for the USA and most watches older than 1980 will not have a country code.

 

ODE

COUNTRY

010

Switzerland

012

Switzerland

013

Switzerland

014

Switzerland

015

Switzerland

021

Switzerland

025

Switzerland

026

Switzerland

033

Switzerland

045

Switzerland

100

Germany

110

France

113

France

120

Austria

121

Austria

123

Austria

126

Austria

128

Austria

130

Belgium / Luxemburg

133

Netherlands

134

Netherlands

135

Netherlands

 

CODE

COUNTRY

137

Netherlands

138

Netherlands

150

Spain

160

England

170

Italy

200

Greece

201

Malta

202

Turkey

208

Greece

213

Portugal

217

Portugal

226

Denmark

228

Denmark

233

Denmark

237

Iceland

265

Sweden

267

Sweden

270

Sweden

271

Sweden

283

Finnland

321

Czech Republic

400

Hong Kong

CODE

COUNTRY

413

Korea

430

Singapore / Brunai

431

Malaysia

440

Taiwan

500

India

505

Pakistan

527

Middle East

532

Saudi Arabia

536

Abu Dhabi

537

Dubai

538

Oman

542

Iran

548

Israel

680

South Afrika

700

Canada

710

USA

720

Mexico

741

Bahamas

742

Bermuda

752

Jamaica

758

Virgin Islands

761

Netherlands Antilles

 

CODE

COUNTRY

762

Aruba

765

Antigua

766

Saint Martin

767

Grand Cayman

768

Panama

770

Venezuela

780

Brazil

781

Chile

783

Peru

790

Argentina

810

Australia

818

Philippines

828

China

842

New Zealand

871

Hawaii

872

Alaska

873

Guam

888

Hong Kong

900

Japan

906

Natex Retail, German NATO Airbase

 

 

 

Experts Watches is not affiliated with Rolex, SA. The Rolex name and names of various Rolex watch models as shown here are trademarks of Rolex, SA. Information provided for educational purposes only and we make no warranty as to its accuracy or reliability.

  

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