Rolex has been engraving their watches with a unique number since the early 1020’s. You can use this number as a tool in order to identify the production year of your watch. This number can be located by removing the bracelet with a small screw driver or spring bar tool, and looking at the case of the watch between the lugs, just below the 6 o’clock end of the watch. It is a five to seven digit number.
The chart below can be used as a reference:
| ROLEX SERIAL NUMBER | PRODUCTION YEAR |
|---|---|
| 282632 | 1955 |
| 2689700 | 1956 |
| 3741300 | 1957 |
| 391528 | 1958 |
| 869868 | 1962 |
| 2163900 | 1967 |
| 2689700 | 1969 |
| 3215500 | 1971 |
| 4004200 | 1974 |
| 6434000 | 1980 |
| 7862000 | 1983 |
| 976000 | 1987 |
| R999999 | 1988 |
| L999999 | 1990 |
| E999999 | 1991 |
| X000001 | 1991 |
| N000001 | 1991 |
| C000001 | 1992 |
| 5000001 | 1993 |
| W000001 | 1995 |
| T000001 | 1995 |
| U000001 | 1997 |
| A000001 | 1999 |
| P000001 | 2000 |
| K000001 | 2001 |
| Y000001 | 2002 |
| F000001 | 2003 |
| D000001 | 2005 |
| Z000001 | 2006 |
| M000001 | 2007 |
| V000001 | 2008 |
| CLASP CODE: LT | 2009 |
| CLASP CODE: E6R, R5 | 2010 |
