Free Tool
Rolex Serial Number Checker
Enter your Rolex serial number to check whether the format is valid and see its approximate production period.
Where to find your Rolex serial number
- Pre-2010 watches:engraved between the lugs at 6 o'clock, on the case itself. Remove the bracelet (or open the clasp and look closely) to see it.
- 2010–present watches: engraved on the rehaut — the inner flange between the dial and the crystal — readable at an angle with a loupe, without removing anything.
- On many models the serial is also printed on the warranty card and original box.
Enter your serial number
On pre-2010 watches, the serial is engraved between the lugs at 6 o'clock (remove the bracelet or look with the watch face down). On 2010+ watches it moved to the rehaut, the inner ring between the dial and crystal. Formats: A123456 (letter + digits, pre-2010) or A1B23C4D (random 8-character, 2010–present). Spaces and dashes are ignored.
A serial number alone does not prove authenticity.
Rolex does not maintain a public serial database, and high-quality fakes replicate engravings precisely. Always evaluate the movement sweep, Cyclops magnification, dial print, and bracelet alongside the serial number. Get a professional authentication →
Serial Number Reference
Rolex used a sequential letter-prefix system from 1959 until around 2010, when it switched to a fully random 8-character alphanumeric code that can no longer be used to date a watch.
| Format | Approx. Years |
|---|---|
| Numeric only | 1954–1959 |
| "R" prefix | 1959–1961 |
| "T" prefix | 1961–1965 |
| "A" prefix | 1966–1970 |
| "D" prefix | 1970–1971 |
| "N" prefix | 1971–1972 |
| "M" prefix | 1972–1977 |
| "L" prefix | 1977–1980 |
| "F" prefix | 1980–1982 |
| "W" prefix | 1982–1983 |
| "X" prefix | 1983–1985 |
| "V" prefix | 1985–1986 |
| "E" prefix | 1986–1987 |
| "K" prefix | 1987–1988 |
| "Y" prefix | 1988–1990 |
| "C" prefix | 1990–1991 |
| "S" prefix | 1991–1994 |
| "N"-series (2nd cycle) | 1994–1995 |
| "W"-series (2nd cycle) | 1995–1996 |
| "T"-series (2nd cycle) | 1996–1997 |
| "U" prefix | 1997–1998 |
| "P" prefix | 1998–1999 |
| "A"-series (2nd cycle) | 1999–2000 |
| "K"-series (2nd cycle) | 2000–2001 |
| "Y"-series (2nd cycle) | 2001 |
| "F"-series (2nd cycle) | 2002–2003 |
| "D"-series (2nd cycle) | 2003 |
| "Z" prefix | 2003–2004 |
| "M"-series (2nd cycle) | 2004–2005 |
| "G" prefix | 2005–2006 |
| "V"-series (2nd cycle) | 2007 |
| Random 8-character | 2010–present |
Serial doesn't match any range above?
Rolex retired the letter-prefix system around 2010 in favor of randomised serials specifically to prevent dating watches this way. If your watch is claimed to be 2010 or newer, an 8-character random code (not a letter+digits pattern) is expected — that's normal, not a red flag on its own.