How to Find the Rolex Serial Number
All Rolex watches are made with a unique number. The serial number of a Rolex is like a personal identification number, individual to a specific timepiece. This unique way to identify the timepiece is the Serial Number and the model.
Your watch’s serial number can give you great information about your Rolex timepiece which can be valuable to have.
In this article, we’ll share with you how to find the Rolex serial numbers, but also what this serial number means, and what you can do with it.
How to find Rolex serial number
Where can you find your Rolex serial number? The serial number on a Rolex can be found in several places. Where the serial number can be found depend on when your watch was manufactured.
On many Rolex watches, you’ll find the serial numbers between the lugs on the side of the case at the 6 o’clock side, behind the bracelet. This means that in order to identify your serial numbers, you need to remove your bracelet from the case.
Here, you’ll find a 4-8 digit number which has been engraved by Rolex on every watch. The numbers can be used to determine the production date of the watch.
From 2005 and onwards, however, Rolex also started to engrave the serial number of the watch on the inside rehaut of the watch, behind the crystal, and in front of the dial.
From 2008 and onwards, Rolex began to only engrave the numbers on the rehaut, and from 2010, this covers all models.
A new serial number system in 2010
In 2010, Rolex introduced a new serial number system for its watches.
This means that Rolex stopped following any sequential numbering system or order altogether, and now, Rolex engraves its watches with a randomized, and unique identifying letter and number. Before this, it was quite easy to estimate the age of a watch, as well as the year of production with the help of Rolex serial number databases.
However, with the new randomized serial number system, you can no longer do this since the serial numbers are random and mixed.
To identify the year of watches made before 2010, you need a list of Rolex serial numbers, and with the help of such, you can easily identify your own timepiece’s age.
The serial numbers of the watch are engraved with a machine, and by identifying the date of the watch makes it easier to determine the watch’s value.
If you want to check the serial and model of a watch made after 2010, the best idea is to go to an authorized dealer for help with identifying the model, serial number, and other information.
The reason why Rolex uses serial numbers
The main reason that Rolex uses serial numbers on their watches is to make it easier to distinguish counterfeit watches.
While it’s no guarantee, a serial number is yet another way to tell a real Rolex watch from a fake. The serial number is always an important way to authenticate your Rolex watch.
One of the biggest problems that Rolex faces and continues to face is the fact that it has huge popularity, and this popularity also means a huge demand for counterfeit watches.
In the 1960s especially, counterfeit watches started appearing on the market, taking advantage of the huge success that Rolex was seeing.
Rolex’s first move in order to battle this problem was to give serial numbers to their watches. Since then, every Rolex watch ever created came has a unique set of numbers engraved somewhere on it.
These numbers make it harder for counterfeiters to pull off their watches as the real deal, but furthermore, carry a great set of information and detailed information about every timepiece.
This number includes far more information than what many people believe. Yes, the serial number carries information about the year it was made, but also where it was made, and even the artisan making it.
The numbers on a Rolex are unique to each watch, and this means that two watches will never have the same numbers. The only exception is counterfeit watches which have identified the official serial numbers on genuine watches and then used that on their fake watches to make them seem more legit.
Rolex’s system with serial numbers together with all the paperwork and certificate made it extremely difficult for counterfeiters to make fake Rolex watches as close to the real deal as possible.
With this in mind, if you are going to buy a Rolex watch, it’s a good idea to take a look at the serial number of the watch and then verify those serial numbers using a Rolex serial number chart. When buying a Rolex watch, it’s important that you take a look at the numbers to ensure that the watch you are buying is correct to the year and model being sold by the seller.
Most Rolex watches are sold with paperwork and certificate. Have in mind that the wrong certificate can cause issues later on or affect the resale value when you sell it.
How to find the model of your Rolex
“Where can I find my model number on my Rolex?” is a common question we receive.
The model of your Rolex timepiece can be found on the paperwork that comes with your Rolex. Of course, if you don’t have your papers, it can be a little trickier. The model of your watch is represented by a number, and this is how you identify it:
The model number of the watch can be found at the 12 o’clock position. In order to find this, you have to remove the bracelet from the case.
Before you buy any pre-owned Rolex watch, it’s important that you verify these numbers with the original Rolex certificate or the Authenticity card with the watch from the seller.
Shall you have any questions regarding Rolex serial numbers, consult one of our watch experts here!
