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Rolex Oyster case production dates
by Serial Numbers
Note: James M. Dowling notified me
that the dates in this table were incorrect. I have revised the list using the information
from his book "The Best Of Times; Rolex, an unauthorised history". Click here for details about the book.
In the mid 1950's, Rolex started to re-use case numbers,
which results in numbers issued twice. Fortunately they started stamping date codes in the
case backs, comprising of a Roman numeral indicating the quarter of the year in which the
watch was constructed, and a two digit year indication. For example, IV 69 would
indicate that the watch was constructed in the fourth quarter of 1969. More information
about dating Rolex watches can be found in Dowling's and Hess' book.
The case numbers listed below are the latest confirmed
production numbers for that year. Higher numbers for that year therefore may
exist.
| 21691 |
|
|
|
1927 |
| 23969 |
|
|
|
1928 |
| 24747 |
|
|
|
1928 |
| 28290 |
|
|
|
1930 |
| 29312 |
|
|
|
1932 |
| 29933 |
|
|
|
1933 |
| 30823 |
|
|
|
1934 |
| 35365 |
|
|
|
1935 |
| 37596 |
|
|
|
1936 |
| 40920 |
|
|
|
1937 |
| 43739 |
|
|
|
1938 |
| 71224 |
|
|
|
1939 |
| 99775 |
|
|
|
1940 |
| 106047 |
|
|
|
1941 |
| 143509 |
|
|
|
1942 |
| 230878 |
|
|
|
1943 |
| 269561 |
|
|
|
1944 |
| 302459 |
|
|
|
1945 |
| 387216 |
|
|
|
1946 |
| 529163 |
|
|
|
1947 |
| 628840 |
|
|
|
1948 |
| 710776 |
|
|
|
1951 |
| 840396 |
|
|
|
1952 |
| 929426 |
|
|
|
IV 53 |
| 930879 |
|
|
|
I 1953 |
| 937170 |
|
|
|
I 54 |
| 941699 |
|
|
|
I 1953 |
| 952892 |
|
|
|
1 1954 |
| 955466 |
|
|
|
IV 1953 |
| 964789 |
|
|
|
IV 1953 |
| 973697 |
|
|
|
1V 1953 |
| 973930 |
|
|
|
III 1953 |
| 116578 |
|
|
|
IV 1953 |
| 132562 |
|
|
|
III 1953 |
| 139400 |
|
|
|
I 1956 |
| 139477 |
|
|
|
I 1956 |
| 282632 |
|
|
|
III 1955 |
| 321884 |
|
|
|
IV 1957 |
| 360171 |
|
|
|
I 1958 |
| 383893 |
|
|
|
I 1958 |
| 385893 |
|
|
|
II 1958 |
| 412128 |
|
|
|
IV 1958 |
| 764754 |
|
|
|
I 1962 |
| 1182076 |
|
|
|
III 1964 |
| 1259699 |
|
|
|
II 1965 |
| 1871000 |
|
|
|
1966 |
| 1994956 |
|
|
|
III 1966 |
| 2163900 |
|
|
|
1967 |
| 2426800 |
|
|
|
1968 |
| 2689700 |
|
|
|
1969 |
| 2952600 |
|
|
|
1970 |
| 3215500 |
|
|
|
1971 |
| 3478400 |
|
|
|
1972 |
| 3741300 |
|
|
|
1973 |
| 4004200 |
|
|
|
1974 |
| 4267100 |
|
|
|
1975 |
| 4538000 |
|
|
|
1976 |
| 5008000 |
|
|
|
1977 |
| 5482000 |
|
|
|
1978 |
| 5958000 |
|
|
|
1979 |
| 6434000 |
|
|
|
1980 |
| 6910000 |
|
|
|
1981 |
| 7386000 |
|
|
|
1982 |
| 7862000 |
|
|
|
1983 |
| 8338000 |
|
|
|
1984 |
| 8614000 |
|
|
|
1985 |
| 9290000 |
|
|
|
1986 |
| 9766000 |
|
|
|
1987 |
| 9999999 |
|
|
|
1987 ½ |
| R00000 |
|
|
|
1987 ½ |
| R99999 |
|
|
|
1988 |
| L000000 |
|
|
|
1988 |
| L999999 |
|
|
|
1990½ |
| E000000 |
|
|
|
1990½ |
| E999999 |
|
|
|
1991½ |
| X000001 |
|
|
|
1991½ |
| N000001 |
|
|
|
Nov 1991 |
| C000001 |
|
|
|
1992 |
| S000001 |
|
|
|
1993 |
| W000001 |
|
|
|
1994/5 |
| T000001 |
|
|
|
1996 |
| U000001 |
|
|
|
August 1997 |
| A000001 |
|
|
|
November/December 1998 |
| Please note that Rolex are now using the prefixes W T U and A randomly assigning
numbers; therefore the exact date of production can only be ascertained by access to the
records kept at Rolex, Geneva. |
|
Copyright 1996/1999 James M. Dowling & Jeffrey P. Hess, from The
Best of Times Rolex Wristwatches, published by Schiffer Publishing Limited
|
