Confused By Rolex Certificat

Looking here http://www.bernardwatch.com/Rolex-Serial-Numbers, or here http://www.watches.co.uk/watches/information/rolex-serial-numbers/, it seems a serial in the 900,000's would be about a '54

But this 1966 certificate is for watch no. 966,591.

Would there be that much delay between manufacture & sale, or am I missing something?

Just curious

They restarted the numbers in the mid/late fifties. Some sources show that they reached 900 000 to 1 000 000 again in 63-64. Other sources say it was later. This means that watch either were unsold a couple of years or that the serial and sale is spot on.
regards
JE
PS - I have no experience in certificates that old and therefore I have no notion/idea if it is authentic.

Ah, thanks much.

I've always used this one and it has always been correct:

It looks like 900,000 serial numbers were used in 1952 and then again in 1963. It's possible that your watch was produced in '63 but wasn't sold until '66. Sometimes they stamp the inside of the case back with the year.

...
1965 1,200,000
1964 1,100,000
1963 900,000
1962 764,000
1961 650,000
1960 520,000
1959 490,000
1958 426,000
1957 265,000
1956 212,000
1955 210,000
1954 950,000
1953 920,000
1952 900,000
1951 740,000
1950 700,000
1949 654,000
1948 572,000
1947 480,000
1946 425,000
1945 402,000
1944 288,000
1943 260,000
1942 206,000
1941 185,000
1940 57,000
1939 45,000
1938 28,000
1937 25,000
1936 20,000
1935 15,000
1934 10,000
1932 8,000
1931 7,000
1930 6,000
1929 5,000
1928 4,000
1927 3,000
1926 2,000

Hehehe... That was a serious thread bump. Over three years since OP asked.

re: rolex serial numbers
I've been seeing this question raised more and more on forums and chat rooms where people are looking for the most accurate database. Or even an official or certified authorized one. well the easy answer is there isn't one from Rolex. However, i am updating info here - this site just updated there chart/page ( as they continually do guess as information becomes more available ) and here is a snapshot:

The watch above was NOT manufactured in 1954. There are numerous verifications on this record. Like from here: https://www.hqmilton.com/timepieces...bmariner-5513-glossy-gilt-underline-dial-8336 see that the serial number is 984,xxx and the caseback is stamped BY ROLEX as 1963. proof positive.

re: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-serial-numbers > accurately shows this date as 1963.

Year Serial Number
(Year of Production) (Serial number of your Rolex)
2017 Random
2016 Random
2015 Random
2014 Random
2013 Random
2012 Random
2011 Random
2010 G
2009 V
2008 M OR V
2007 M OR Z
2006 D OR Z
2005 D
2005 F
2004 F
2003 F
2002 Y
2001 K OR Y
2000 K,000,001
2000 P,000,001
1999 A,000,001
1998 U,932,144
1997 U,000,001
1996 T,000,001
1995 W,000,001
1994 S,860,880
1993 S,000,001
1992 C,000,001
1991 N,000,001
1991 X,000,001
1990 E,000,001
1989 L,980,000
1988 R,598,200
1987 R,000,001
1987 9,400,000
1986 8,900,000
1985 8,614,000
1984 8,070,022
1983 7,400,000
1982 7,100,000
1981 6,520,870
1980 6,434,000
1979 5,737,030
1978 5,000,000
1977 5,008,000
1976 4,115,299
1975 3,862,196
1974 3,567,927
1973 3,200,268
1972 2,890,459
1971 2,589,295
1970 2,241,882
1969 1,900,000
1968 1,752,000
1967 1,538,435
1966 1,200,000
1965 1,100,000
1964 1,008,889
1963 824,000
1962 744,000
1961 643,153
1960 516,000
1959 399,453
1958 328,000
1957 224,000
1956 133,061
1955 97,000
1954 23,000
1953 855,726
1952 726,639
1951 709,249
1950
1949
1948 628,840
1947 529,163
1946 367,946
1945 302,459
1944 269,561
1943 230,878
1942 143,509
1941 106,047
1940 99,775
1939 71,224
1938 43,739
1937 40,920
1936 36,856
1935 34,336
1934 30,823
1933 29,562
1932 29,132
1931
1930 23,186
1929
1928 23,969
1927 20,190
1926 00,001

Rolex Serial Numbers with Production Dates
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. Beginning in 2005, the Company started to also engrave the serial number on the inside flange ( or “rehaut” as it’s called in French ) between the dial and the crystal. Starting in 2008, the Company began to only engrave the numbers on the rehaut. We provide this verified database chart for those folks looking for an answer to an often asked question, "where or how do i find the Rolex serial numbers on my watch".