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 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!

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.

 

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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