The serial numbers listed below should help you to determine the approximate age of your watch.
As Rolex does not issue any official information regarding serial numbers and the associated age of the watches, it is relatively difficult to determine the age of a Rolex watch. In addition, there are various lists on the market and these may differ from one another.
When comparing a serial number list, always check whether the source of information is disclosed and assess its reliability yourself.
“Heart of America Press” Mr. Roy Earhardt and from requests for individual watches and certificates sent in to Rolex. If you have any information about the production years 1931 / 1932 / 1949 and 1950, we would be pleased to receive an e-mail from you.
From the production year 1954, Rolex begins to count the serial numbers again from the beginning.
| Year | Serial number | year | Serial number | Year | Serial number |
| 1926 | xxxxx | 1953 | 793930 | 1980 | 6434000 |
| 1927 | 20190 | 1954 | 976195 | 1981 | 6594000 |
| 1928 | 23969 | 1955 | 30634 | 1982 | 7129351 |
| 1929 | 28290 | 1956 | 139400 | 1983 | 7862000 |
| 1930 | 29xxx | 1957 | 216821 | 1984 | 8338000 |
| 1931 | 29xxx | 1958 | 353343 | 1985 | 8814000 |
| 1932 | 29xxx | 1959 | 399000 | 1986 | 9290000 |
| 1933 | 29933 | 1960 | 511687 | 1987 | 9766000 |
| 1934 | 30823 | 1961 | 646900 | 1987 – 1988 | R |
| 1935 | 32336 | 1962 | 763663 | 1989 – 1990 | L |
| 1936 | 36856 | 1963 | 950000 | 1990 – 1991 | E |
| 1937 | 40920 | 1964 | 997436 | 1991 – 1992 | X/N from 10/1991 |
| 1938 | 43793 | 1965 | 1193000 | 1992 | C |
| 1939 | 71224 | 1966 | 1289727 | 1993 | S |
| 1940 | 99775 | 1967 | 1554000 | 1994 | S |
| 1941 | 106047 | 1968 | 1720977 | 1995 – 1996 | W |
| 1942 | 143509 | 1969 | 2060000 | 1996 – 1997 | T until 08/1997 |
| 1943 | 230878 | 1970 | 2504211 | 1997 | U as of 09/1997 |
| 1944 | 269561 | 1971 | 2728000 | 1998 | A |
| 1945 | 302459 | 1972 | 3050000 | 1999 | A |
| 1946 | 367946 | 1973 | 3523678 | 2000 | P |
| 1947 | 529163 | 1974 | 3761535 | 2001 | K |
| 1948 | 628840 | 1975 | 3886050 | 2002 | Y |
| 1949 | xxxxxx | 1976 | 4155863 | 2003 | F |
| 1950 | xxxxxx | 1977 | 5008000 | 2004 – 2005 | F |
| 1951 | 709249 | 1978 | 5238376 | 2005 – 2006 | D until 07/2006 |
| 1952 | 726639 | 1979 | 5952834 | 2006 – 2007 | Z from 08/2006 |
| 2007 – 2009 | M | ||||
| 2009 – | V from 09/2009 |
From model year 2010, the serial number begins with a “G”
For the new serial numbers, from around 2011, the production date can only be determined by Rolex.
The serial numbers consist of 8 letters and numbers.
The serial numbers of a replacement housing start with 4.4 million and 4.7 million.