Rolex Serial Numbers And Production Dates – Sell Rolex Boca Raton

sell rolex boca raton

Sell Rolex Boca Raton

Rolex has been producing watches since the early 1900’s.  Many of their old watches along with more recent models are still in use today.  There is a huge market for buying and selling pre-owned Rolex watches.  But one question that always comes up is, “how old is my Rolex?”.  Many times the age can effect the value of a Rolex watch.  Especially if you are trying to Sell Rolex Boca Raton.

sell rolex boca raton
Engraved in the case between the case and the bracelet is where you can find the serial number of a Rolex older than 2003

There is no exact formula to find out how old your Rolex watch is, but there are guidelines and rough estimates.  For example, the consensus in the watch community is that Rolex watch with a serial number that starts with Z and is followed by 6 numbers was produced around 2006.  This is based on collecting data from known watches that were purchased around 2006 and seeing what serial number they had.  But notice how I said around 2006.  It is not known for sure when exactly a Rolex watch was made.  But one can assume it was 2006 or newer if it has a Z serial.

Somewhere around 1927 is how far we can estimate a Rolex’s age.  The first recorded serial numbers started in the 20000 range.  In 1928 it went to 22500 and so on.  It wasn’t until 1941 that Rolex serial numbers started to have six digits rather than five.  But then, in 1953-1957 when the numbers were approaching one million, Rolex went back to 10000 to 350000!  This made it super confusing for collectors to date their watches.  But based on the model of watch you are looking at it should be reasonable to know if your 25000 serial number is one from the 50’s or the 20’s.  In 1958 the serial numbers went to 350000 and so on.  It went on this way until the serial numbers were approaching 10 million in 1987.  Before they could get there, Rolex adopted the letter prefix system.  So instead of 10 million, in 1987 Rolex serial numbers started with an R followed by six digits.  Then in 1989 it changed to an L.  And until 2010, the letter prefix would change around once a year or so until they reached G.  After 2010 Rolex has adopted a “random” serial number where there is no rhyme or reason, making it impossible to date a Rolex.  All we know now is that any Rolex with a random serial is 2010 or newer.  It could be a mix and match of letters and numbers like 7D89Q5T.  Collectors have been trying to understand the new method but have not been able to solve it so far.

Below is a reference chart for you to get an idea as to when your watch was produced.  But remember that it is NOT an exact science.  It is only a guide.  For example, is possible that your R serial Rolex was made in 1988, not 1987.  But you get the idea.  Below is the chart.

Serial Number Date
20000 1927
22500 1928
25000 1929
26500 1930
28000 1931
28500 1932
29000 1933
32000 1934
35000 1935
37000 1936
40000 1937
55000 1938
71000 1939
90000 1940
106000 1941
150000 1942
230000 1943
270000 1944
302000 1945
400000 1946
529000 1947
570000 1948
600000 1949
650000 1950
700000 1951
800000 1952
900000 1953
10000 – 300000 (Rolex goes back to 10000) 1953-1957
350000 1958
400000 1959
550000 1960
700000 1961
800000 1962
900000 1963
1000000 1964
1200000 1965
1400000 1966
1600000 1967
1850000 1968
2300000 1969
2500000 1970
2900000 1971
3300000 1972
3750000 1973
3900000 1974
4250000 1975
4500000 1976
5000000 1977
5400000 1978
5950000 1979
6400000 1980
7000000 1981
7350000 1982
7750000 1983
8100000 1984
8600000 1985
9000000 1986
9500000 1987
R000001 1987
L000001 1989
E000001 1990
X000001 1991
N000001 1991
C000001 1992
S000001 1993
W000001 1994
T000001 1996
U000001 1997
A000001 1998
P000001 2000
K000001 2001
Y000001 2002
F000001 (Started engraving the serial inside the bezel) 2003
D000001 2005
Z000001 2006
M000001 2007
V000001 2008
G000001 2010
Random Letters 2010-Present

 by, Seth Marcus at Boca Raton Pawn

 

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