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Here is a simple Rolex serial number list, like most you'll find on other websites. However, the difference in this list is that it includes variations attested to by one of the most knowledgable Rolex collectors in the world. You will also find a concise "Rolex Serial Numer List - Handy Quick Reference" for quickly estimating the date of production of any Rolex oyster watch.

RANGE YEAR VARIATIONS*
25000 1925 -
28000 1926 -
30430 1927 21691
32960 1928 23969
35390 1929 24747
37820 1930 28290
40250 1931 -
42680 1932 29312
45000 1933 29933
49000 1934 30823
63000 1935 35365
81000 1936 37596
99000 1937 40920
117000 1938 43739
135000 1939 71224
164600 1940 99775
194200 1941 106047
223800 1942 143509
253400 1943 230878
283000 1944 269561
348100 1945 302459
413200 1946 387216
478300 1947 529163
543400 1948 628840
608500 1949 ---
673600 1950 ---
738700 1951 710776
803800 1952 840396
868900 1953 ---
934000 1954 ---
1012000 1955 ---
1090000 1956 ---
1168000 1957 ---
1246000 1958 ---
1324000 1959 ---
1402000 1960 ---
1480000 1961 ---
1558000 1962 ---
1636000 1963 ---
1714000 1964 ---
1792000 1965 ---
1871000 1966 ---
2163900 1967 ---
2426800 1968 ---
2689700 1969 ---
2952600 1970 ---
3215500 1971 ---
3478400 1972 ---
3741300 1973 ---
4004200 1974 ---
4267100 1975 ---
4539000 1976 4538000
5006000 1977 5008000
5482000 1978 ---
5958000 1979 ---
6434000 1980 6424000
6910000 1981 ---
7386000 1982 7366000
7862000 1983 ---
8338000 1984 8388000
8814000 1985 8614000
9290000 1986 ---
9766000 1987 ---
R000001 1987 1/2 ---
R999999 1988 ---
L000001 1989 ---
L999999 1990 ---
E000001 1990 1/2 ---
E999999 1991 1/4 ---
X000001 1991 1/2 ---
N000001 1991 3/4 ---
C000001 1992 1/4 ---
S000001 1993 3/4 ---
W000001 1995 ---
T000001 1996 ---
U000001 1997 ---
A000001 1998 ---
A Series 1999 ---
P Series 2000 ---
K Series 2001 ---
K Series Thru 2Q - 2002 ---
Y Series Intro 2nd Quarter, 2002 ---
Y Series 1st Quarter, 2003 ---


Rolex Serial Number Notes
Completely accurate serial number to date of manufacture cross reference is impossible to obtain. However, this serial number list, with noted variations, is believed to be the most accurate available.

According to information on the WatchNet website, Rolex reached the production number of 999,999 in the early 1950's. Rather than going on to a seven digit system, they started over with serial numbers at 100,000. During this period, Rolex also stamped the inside caseback with production information. Look for the Roman numerals I, II, III, IV ( which denotes which quarter of the year the watch was produced) and a two-digit date code during the 1950's.
In the late '50's, Rolex again reached the 999,999 production serial. This time, they moved into the seven digit serial number system. When Rolex reached 9,999,999, they began using letters as the initial serial identifier. Initially, they used "R"," L", "E" & "X" (O was not used because it might be confused the number 0).
In 1991, Rolex began using other letters [CSWTU, etc]. Early in 1999, "A" became the initial serial identifier. The "A" series was still being used into the first part of 2000, as were "N" & "P".

According to James Dowling, coauthor of The Best of Times: Rolex Wristwatches, serial numbers with "S", "T", "W" and "U" run concurrently -- though some were introduced as early as 1993. In addition,"A" was introduced in late 1997, and ran concurrently with "W" and "U".

The "P" serial numbers were used during 2000 and into the early months of 2001. The "K" series was introduced in mid-2001 and was current as of the second quarter of 2002. During June, 2002, retailers started reporting receipt of Rolex oyster watches with an initial serial indicator of "Y". It was not known at publication time, if "Y" is running concurrent or consecutive with the "K" series serial identifier. The "Y" series continues into the first quarter of 2003.

One additional note of interest: Replacement cases FROM ROLEX will usually (if not always) have a 4,4xx,xxx serial number, no matter the model. This is a standard for Rolex Service Centers to immediately identify an authentic replacement case.


Here is the "Rolex Serial Numer List - Handy Quick Reference" for estimating date of manufacture for Rolex oyster watches from the 1950's through the first quarter of 2003:

Serial Range Date Range
673,600 - 1,401,999 1950's
1,402,000 - 2,689,699 1960's
2,689,700 - 5,957,999 1970's
5,958,000 - 9,999,999 1980 - 1987 1/2
R000001 - R999999
L000001- Lxxxxxxx
1987 1/2 - 1989
Lxxxxxx - L999999
E000001- Exxxxxx
1990
Exxxxxx - E999999
X Series^
N Series^
1991
Last of "N" Series^
C000001 - Cxxxxxx
1992
Cxxxxxx - C9999999
S000001 - Sxxxxxx
1993
Sxxxxxx - S9999999 1994
W Series 1995
W Series
T Series
1996
T Series
U Series
A Series (intro late 1997)
1997
U Series (possibly early 1998)
A Series
1998
A Series 1999
P Series 2000
P Series
K Series (intro mid-2001)
2001
K Series (through mid-2002) 2002
Y Series (intro mid-2002) 2002
Y Series 1Q - 2003

.

LEGEND:

* = Variations as noted are from James Dowling's website.

^ = The author does not believe X & N were used in sequence from X000001- X9999999 and N000001 - N999999. I am not sure of the true number ranges, but the fact that three different designators was used in 1991 indicates that at least "X" & "N" were not serialized as one through nine hundred ninty-nine thousand, nine hundred ninty-nine. If that were the case, it would show that Rolex made more than 3 million watches in 1991 -- which is not accurate.


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Bibliographical Data:

The Rolex Reference Guide
Copyright 1999-2003
by T. Charles Jarman

The Best of Times Rolex Wristwatches An Unauthorized History
Copyright 1996/1999
James M. Dowling & Jeffrey P. Hess, from The Best of Times Rolex Wristwatches
published by Schiffer Publishing Limited.