The chart below is provided for determining the APPROXIMATE age of your watch. The bracelet MUST be removed to view the serial and model number which are between the lugs at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock. There is not a serial number inside the case. Match the serial number with the date. Watches were not necessarily sold in the exact order of manufactured date. Several serial number series are made simultaneously by Rolex. Use the example below as a guide only..
Please make not of this important fact:Upon contacting Rolex Sales department in New York City, New York, ( Published telephone (#212-758-7700) or (#212-867-5309) about Rolex watch production dates ( a suggestion of a local buyer). I was told and I quote: "the letter designations are not firm indicators of a watch's manufacturing date, as some lettering codes were used concurrently. Since more Submariners & Datejusts are manufactured than Oyster Perpetual Date and non date watches, the cases & lettering codes are used more quickly for the two former models than for the latter. Only Rolex in Switzerland keeps a record of the exact date on which any watch was actually produced."
4, 5, or 6 digit Model # located at 12 o'clock between the lugs
16233
R705216
7 digit Serial # located at 6 o'clock between the lugsIn 1953, Rolex serial numbers approached 999,999. They started over again and the serial numbers again started with 100,001. Rolex also engraved the inside of the case backs with Roman numerals to make a distinction from the earlier series (re: I, II, III, IV ). Again in the 1960's the serial numbers reached 999,999 and Rolex initiated a 7 digit serial number.
