Hey OF,

I wanted to know what your go to chart for Rolex age is? Here's the one I've been using. It's a combination of a few I've used in the past along with some of my own knowledge. Just wanted to know if anyone here saw any glaring issues that might tighten up this chart.

Happy New Year!

Thomas

2020 - 2011 Random Serial Number

2010 G

2009 V

2008 M or V

2007 M or Z

2006 D or Z

2005 D

2005 - 2003 F

2002 Y

2001 K or Y

2000 K or P

1999 A

1998 - 1997 U

1996 T

1995 W

1994 - 1993 S

1992 C

1991 N - X

1990 E

1989 L

1988 R

1987 9M or R

1986 8,900,000

1985 8,500,000

1984 8,000,000

1983 7,400,000

1982 7,100,000

1981 6,500,000

1980 6,400,000

1979 5,700,000

1978 - 1977 5,000,000

1976 4,100,000

1975 3,800,000

1974 3,500,000

1973 3,200,000

1972 2,900,000

1971 2,600,000

1970 2,250,000

1969 1,900,000

1968 1,800,000

1967 1,500,000

1966 1,200,000

1965 1,100,000

1964 1,000,000

1963 830,000

1962 740,000

1961 640,000

1960 520,000

1959 400,000

1958 330,000

1957 225,000

1956 135,000

1955 95,000

1954 25,000

1953 850,000

1952 725,000

1951 700,000

1948 630,000

1947 540,000

1946 370,000

1945 300,000

1944 270,000

1943 230,000

1942 145,000

1941 105,000

1940 99,000

1939 72,000

1938 44,000

1937 41,000

1936 37,000

1935 34,000

1934 31,000

1933 - 1932 29,000

1930 23,000

1927 20,000

1926 1

 

Is this based on watches that have the original sales papers? Dates from case-back engravings? Something else? Unless there is some real data underlying it, I'm not sure that it's any more helpful than the lists on various dealer's sites or on rolexforums.

 

Inner lug engravings / Caseback engravings and Inner bezel engravings - Some dates verified with original warranty papers.

 

One can only hope at some stage that Rolex see the light and provide archive information..... Or at least that is what I have been saying to myself for the last 30 years......

 

I guess the only factual way to build a perfect list would be sourcing true NOS examples of each serial and verifying each by the paper.

 

What does NOS mean?

 

New old stock

 

I use that one:

https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-serial-numbers

It has the clasp codes too.

 

To be added, if the serial number starts with 44, it means the watch most likely has a service/replacement case and is not necessarily a watch from 1976.

 

Great addition - Thank you very much for the reminder

 

the original papers give the date of sale and not that of manufacture.
Sometimes there is a difference.

 

And more....

 

Depends on the papers...the COSC cert is when the movment was timed after it was produced and the warranty book is date of sale.

Compare those dates with the inside of the caseback.

I find the Bob’s list to be a little later then in reality, especially in the early 1970s.