WATCHES of BEVERLEY
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WATCHES of BEVERLEY
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For a deeper dive into your Rolex’s history, you might want to explore its provenance. If you have any original paperwork, receipts, or boxes that came with the watch, they can provide valuable insights into its past.
Additionally, contacting Rolex’s archives department could provide historical records if your watch is particularly old or rare. Ultimately, this journey of discovery can not only enhance your appreciation for your Rolex timepiece but also contribute to its long-term value as a cherished piece of horological history.
To locate the serial numbers on a Rolex watch, follow these steps carefully. Firstly, ensure you have a clean, well-lit workspace and remove the watch from your wrist.
Turn the watch over so that the case back is facing you. On most Rolex models, the serial number can be found engraved between the lugs at the 6 o’clock position on the watch’s case. You may need a magnifying glass or a jeweller’s loupe to see it clearly, as the numbers are typically quite small.
Additionally, Rolex watches often have a model number engraved between the lugs at the 12 o’clock position. Keep in mind that vintage Rolex watches or older models might have different locations for these numbers, such as on the case back itself or inside the case, so consult the manufacturer’s instructions or seek professional assistance if needed.
While there is no “Official” Rolex Serial numbers database list from the Rolex Factory that shows dates of production, this chart below lists all the serial numbers gathered by proven authorities over the years. See the list below by production year to learn the year your watch was made. If you decide to sell a Rolex, check out our official price list before doing so. We’ve also added a serial numbers look-up table for Tudor watches below. These charts will be frequently updated to reflect any changes in the numbering system for future years. For more information on how these numbers work, click here – Wikipedia
The Rolex serial numbers are found between the lugs on the side of the case at the 6 o’clock side, behind the bracelet.
This 4-8 digit number is engraved by Rolex on every watch and it can be used to determine its production date.
| Serial Number | Year |
|---|---|
| RANDOM From This Point | 2011 |
| G | 2010 |
| V | 2009 |
| M or V | 2008 |
| M or Z | 2007 |
| D or Z | 2006 |
| D | 2005 |
| F | 2005 |
| F | 2004 |
| Y | 2002 |
| K or Y | 2001 |
| K,000,001 | 2000 |
| P,000,001 | 2000 |
| A,000,001 | 1999 |
| U,932,144 | 1998 |
| U,000,001 | 1997 |
| T,000,001 | 1996 |
| W,000,001 | 1995 |
| S,860,880 | 1994 |
| S,000,001 | 1993 |
| C,000,001 | 1992 |
| N,000,001 | 1991 |
| X,000,001 | 1991 |
| E,000,001 | 1990 |
| L,980,000 | 1989 |
| R,598,200 | 1988 |
| R,000,001 | 1987 |
| 9,400,000 | 1987 |
| 8,900,000 | 1986 |
| 8,614,000 | 1985 |
| 8,070,022 | 1984 |
| 7,400,000 | 1983 |
| 7,100,000 | 1982 |
| 6,520,870 | 1981 |
| 6,434,000 | 1980 |
| 5,737,030 | 1979 |
| 5,000,000 | 1978 |
| 5,008,000 | 1977 |
| 4,115,299 | 1976 |
| 3,862,196 | 1975 |
| 3,567,927 | 1974 |
| 3,200,268 | 1973 |
| 2,890,459 | 1972 |
| 2,589,295 | 1971 |
| 2,241,882 | 1970 |
| 1,900,000 | 1969 |
| 1,752,000 | 1968 |
| 1,538,435 | 1967 |
| 1,200,000 | 1966 |
| 1,100,000 | 1965 |
| 1,008,889 | 1964 |
| 824,000 | 1963 |
| 744,000 | 1962 |
| 643,153 | 1961 |
| 516,000 | 1960 |
| 399,453 | 1959 |
| 328,000 | 1958 |
| 224,000 | 1957 |
| 133,061 | 1956 |
| 97,000 | 1955 |
| 23,000 | 1954 |
| 855,726 | 1953 |
| 726,639 | 1952 |
| 709,249 | 1951 |
| 1950 | |
| 1949 | |
| 628,840 | 1948 |
| 529,163 | 1947 |
| 367,946 | 1946 |
| 302,459 | 1945 |
| 269,561 | 1944 |
| 230,878 | 1943 |
| 143,509 | 1942 |
| 106,047 | 1941 |
| 99,775 | 1940 |
| 71,224 | 1939 |
| 43,739 | 1938 |
| 40,920 | 1937 |
| 36,856 | 1936 |
| 34,336 | 1935 |
| 30,823 | 1934 |
| 29,562 | 1933 |
| 29,132 | 1932 |
| 1931 | |
| 23,186 | 1930 |
| 1929 | |
| 23,969 | 1928 |
| 20,190 | 1927 |
| 00,001 | 1926 |
Rolex engraves or assigns a 4-6 digit model number to every watch type it produces.
This number can be found engraved between the lugs on the side of the case above 12 o’clock.
The model number can indicate the model type, bezel, and material of your watch. For example, the reference number 16234 can be broken out into three section, which is 162 | 3 | 4.
The first, 162, indicates that this watch is a Datejust.
The second, 3, indicates that the bezel is fluted.
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 |
| Oysterquartz Datejust | 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 |
| Material | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Bezel | |
|---|---|
| Polished | 0 |
| Engine Turned | 1 |
| Engine Turned | 2 |
| Fluted | 3 |
| Hand-Crafted | 4 |
| Pyramid | 5 |
| Rotating Bezel | 6 |
Many Rolex watches have a clasp code located inside the clasp hinge. 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+ |
Some of the older papers issued in the United States have red letters stamped on the certificate. These red letters signifies when the watch was shipped from Rolex USA to an Authorized Dealer.
| R | O | L | E | X | W | A | T | C | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
For example, L RCCT would be 3 1998 or March 19, 1998.
The upgrade to the sapphire crystal occurred on the following years. This data was originally compiled from Professor Rolex Matthias.
| Model | Stainless | Rolessor | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz Beta 21 Ref 5100 | 1970 | |||
| Perpetual Ref. 1530, 1630, 1831 | 1975 | 1975 | 1975 | |
| Oysterquartz | 1978 | 1978 | 1978 | |
| Air-King | 1991 | |||
| Perpetual | 1991 | 1991 | ||
| Date | 1989 | 1989 | 1989 | |
| DateJust | 1989 | 1989 | 1978 | |
| Turn - O- Graph | New Plexi Ref 16250 | 1989 | 1989 | |
| Day - Date | 1978 | 1978 | ||
| Submariner 14060 | 1990 | |||
| Submariner Date | 1981 | 1984 Ref. 16803 | 1981 | |
| Sea-Dweller | 1981 | |||
| GMT Master | 1989 | New Plexi Ref 1675/3, 16753 | 1981 | |
| GMT Master II | 1984 | 1989 | 1989 | |
| Explorer | 1990 | |||
| Explorer II | 1984 | |||
| Cosmograph Daytona | 1988 | 1988 | 1988 |
We offer worldwide delivery on all of our watches.
If ordering from the UK or Europe before 1 PM, your watch will be sent the same working day.
The courier will depend on the value of the watch, with all watches delivered the next working day.
If ordering from outside Europe, delivery will depend on choice of courier and destination.
Please note, that prices are quoted gross of VAT (unless expressly stated otherwise) and that preowned goods (in the United Kingdom) are subject to a marginal rate of VAT, which can not be reclaimed. For further information, please see here.
You can cancel your order without giving any reason, within 14 days from the day the watch has been delivered to you.
All of our pre-owned watches have undergone thorough mechanical inspections, including being ultrasonically cleaned, serviced and resealed if appropriate and tested for at least four days, to ensure they meet our highest timekeeping standards.
Our pre-owned and vintage watches, unless stated otherwise, are covered by a full or a limited twenty-four month warranty.
For example, due to their age, some vintage watches should not be subjected to the same conditions as when they were new. Please see our Terms & Conditions for further information.
All of our new watches are covered by the warranty from the original manufacturer.
Please contact us if you require further details.
