Rolex serial number lookup
Enter your serial number. The result updates as you type.
Older serials give an estimate. Modern random serials don’t reveal a year. A serial alone cannot confirm authenticity.
A simple guide to Rolex numbers
A Rolex serial identifies one watch. Its reference identifies the model. Older serials can suggest when a case was made; modern random serials cannot. The charts give estimates, not proof of authenticity.
Where to find the number
On older Oyster cases, look between the lugs at six o’clock; the reference is usually at twelve. From the mid-2000s, the serial gradually moved to the rehaut: the ring beneath the crystal. The timing varied by model. Ask a watchmaker to read hidden markings rather than removing a bracelet or opening the case yourself.
Letter-prefix production chart
Rolex introduced one letter followed by six digits in 1987. Find the first letter below. The periods overlap, and a watch may have been sold later. An eight-character number belongs to a different format.
| Serial prefix | Approximate period |
|---|---|
| G | 2010–2012 |
| V | 2008–2010 |
| M | 2007–2009 |
| Z | 2006–2008 |
| D | 2005–2006 |
| F | 2003–2005 |
| Y | 2001–2003 |
| K | 2000–2002 |
| P | 2000–2001 |
| A | 1998–2000 |
| U | 1997–1999 |
| T | 1996–1997 |
| W | 1995–1996 |
| S | 1993–1995 |
| C | 1992–1993 |
| N | 1991–1993 |
| X | 1991–1993 |
| E | 1990–1991 |
| L | 1988–1990 |
| R | 1987–1989 |
Show older seriesShow fewer series
The remaining series are shown in the table above.
Earlier numeric serials
Earlier serials used numbers only. These broad ranges avoid disputed single-year dates. Below one million, numbers can repeat across the 1950s reset. Compare the reference, dial, movement and any date marks inside the back; the lookup cannot choose between those eras.
| Serial range | Approximate period |
|---|---|
| 9,000,000–9,999,999 | 1986–1988 |
| 8,000,000–8,999,999 | 1984–1987 |
| 7,000,000–7,999,999 | 1981–1984 |
| 6,000,000–6,999,999 | 1979–1982 |
| 5,000,000–5,999,999 | 1977–1980 |
| 4,000,000–4,999,999 | 1975–1978 |
| 3,000,000–3,999,999 | 1972–1976 |
| 2,000,000–2,999,999 | 1969–1973 |
| 1,000,000–1,999,999 | 1964–1970 |
Show older seriesShow fewer series
The remaining series are shown in the table above.
Random serials, papers and authenticity
Around 2010, Rolex began using random eight-character serials. They cannot reveal a year. The original dated guarantee records the retail sale, not necessarily manufacture. Service and Certified Pre-Owned cards record later events. Numbers can be copied, so assess the watch, its parts and its documents together.
A few common questions
Can I find the year of a modern Rolex from its serial?
An eight-character random serial does not reveal a year. Use the original dated guarantee to establish the retail sale date and supporting records for the watch’s history. A sale date is not a confirmed production date.
Does a matching serial prove a Rolex is genuine?
No. Serial numbers and papers can be copied. The case, movement, dial, parts and documents need to be examined together; this lookup does not authenticate a watch.
Is the reference number the same as the serial?
No. A reference identifies a model or configuration, such as 126610LN. A serial identifies an individual watch. Enter the serial in this tool; a model reference cannot establish an individual production date.
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