SERIALNUMBERS/MANUALS

Many watch manufacturers, use a serial number system to keep track of when a timepiece was made and to mark its authenticity. If you own a watch, it's possible to find its year of production based on the serial number etched into it. Most of the wristwatches are possible to date if you take a look at the model numbers and serial numbers. But where can you find this kind of information?

In this little article we will help you to check the model number and serial numbers of some of the vintage watches that are most in demand.

Rolex Model numbers

For Rolex and Tudor watches, the model or reference number is located inside the case between the 12:00 hour lugs under the bracelet or strap. The lugs are the holed extensions on the case were the strap or bracelet can be attached with spring bars or fixed bars (used to be common for military watches). This 4-8 digit number is engraved by Rolex on every watch and it can be used to determine its production date.

The model number can indicate the model type, bezel, and material of your watch. For example, the reference number 16014 can be broken out into three section, which is 160 | 1| 4. The first, 160, indicates that this watch is a Datejust. The second, 1, indicates that the bezel is a finely engine turned bezel. The third, 4, indicates that the watch material is Stainless w/ 18k White Gold.

ROLEX TYPE
Submariner (no date)	55 & 140
Submariner	16, 166 & 168
Sea Dweller	16 & 166
GMT Master	16, 65, 167
GMT Master II	167, 1167
Day-Date (President)	65, 66, 18, 180, 182 & 183
Datejust	16 & 162
Daytona Manual Wind	62
Daytona Cosmograph	165, 1165
Explorer II	165
Oyster Perpetual	10, 140, 142
Airking	55 & 140
Date	15 & 150
OysterquartzDatejust	170
Oysterquartz Day-Date	190
Yachtmaster	166, 686 & 696
Midsize Oyster Perp DJ	68, 682
Ladies Oyster Perpetual	67, 671, 672
Ladies Date	65, 69, 691 & 692
Ladies Datejust	65, 69, 691 & 692

BEZEL
Polished	0
Finely Engine Turned	1
Engine Turned	2
Fluted	3
Hand-Crafted	4
Pyramid	5
Rotating Bezel	6

MATERIAL
Stainless	0
Yellow Gold Filled	1
White Gold Filled	2
Stainless & Yellow Gold	3
Stainless w/ 18k White Gold	4
Gold Shell	5
Platinum	6
14k Yellow Gold	7
18k Yellow Gold	8

Rolex serial numbers

The serial number for Rolex watches is located at the 6:00 hour lugs. This is a unique number to a specific watch and it can be used to date the watch. While there is no official list, the following chart is an approximation of Rolex dates by serial number.

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."

These sets of numbers, for example 28000 for the year 1926 or Z000001 for year 2006, are inscribed by machine on the side of the watch case between the lugs at 6 o’clock (see below). It is very helpful to know the official Rolex production date to help us determine its market value.

YEAR (Year of Production)	SERIAL NUMBER (Serial number of your Rolex)
2018	Random
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 bracelet clasp codes

Many Rolex watches have a clasp code located inside the clasp hinge of the bracelet. This code is based on the month and year the clasp was manufactured. After inspecting the clasp you will see 1 or 2 letters followed by a number. The letter corresponds with a year and the number signifies a month. For instance, per the table below, we see that a bracelet stamped G4 was manufactured in April 1982. A service replacement” bracelet would have an additional “S” stamped along with the year.

BRACELET CODE	YEAR
A or VA	1976
B or VB	1977
C or VC	1978
D or VD	1979
E or VE	1980
F or VF	1981
G	1982
H	1983
I	1984
J	1985
K	1986
L	1987
M	1988
N	1989
O	1990
P	1991
Q	1992
R	1993
S	1994
T or W	1995
V	1996
Z	1997
U	1998
X	1999
AB	2000
DE	2001
DT	2002
AD	2003
CL	2004
MA	2005
OP	2006
EO	2007
PJ	2008
LT	2009
RS	2010
RANDOM	201+

Country codes

The table below lists all of the 3 digit country codes for Rolex watches. This country code can be found in the upper left hand corner on the Rolex Guaranty Certificate. There is no country code for the USA and most watches older than 1980 will not have a country code.

ODE	COUNTRY
010	Switzerland
012	Switzerland
013	Switzerland
014	Switzerland
015	Switzerland
021	Switzerland
025	Switzerland
026	Switzerland
033	Switzerland
045	Switzerland
100	Germany
110	France
113	France
120	Austria
121	Austria
123	Austria
126	Austria
128	Austria
130	Belgium / Luxemburg
133	Netherlands
134	Netherlands
135	Netherlands

CODE	COUNTRY
137	Netherlands
138	Netherlands
150	Spain
160	England
170	Italy
200	Greece
201	Malta
202	Turkey
208	Greece
213	Portugal
217	Portugal
226	Denmark
228	Denmark
233	Denmark
237	Iceland
265	Sweden
267	Sweden
270	Sweden
271	Sweden
283	Finnland
321	Czech Republic
400	Hong Kong
CODE	COUNTRY
413	Korea
430	Singapore / Brunai
431	Malaysia
440	Taiwan
500	India
505	Pakistan
527	Middle East
532	Saudi Arabia
536	Abu Dhabi
537	Dubai
538	Oman
542	Iran
548	Israel
680	South Afrika
700	Canada
710	USA
720	Mexico
741	Bahamas
742	Bermuda
752	Jamaica
758	Virgin Islands
761	Netherlands Antilles

CODE	COUNTRY
762	Aruba
765	Antigua
766	Saint Martin
767	Grand Cayman
768	Panama
770	Venezuela
780	Brazil
781	Chile
783	Peru
790	Argentina
810	Australia
818	Philippines
828	China
842	New Zealand
871	Hawaii
872	Alaska
873	Guam
888	Hong Kong
900	Japan
906	Natex Retail, German NATO Airbase

Omega serial numbers

Recent Omega watches usually carry their serial number somewhere on the back but they will be in extremely small laser-etched digits requiring a magnifier to read. Older Omega watches may only have the serial number on the inside of the watch, requiring a jeweler to open it for you.

The table below displays the serial numbers used in specific years up to 2008. It's important to remember that some of these number ranges ran over several years or for less than a year, so this data should be used as an approximation only.

A note on Omega watches produced after 2008: The table below has data for watches up to 2008. If you are looking to determine the date of a contemporary watch, it's best to contact Omega directly.
A note on Omega Speedmaster watches: This popular watch had its own serial number system for many years. You can find this information in the separate table beneath the first.

Where to find an Omega watch's serial number

Each and every Omega watch has a unique seven- or eight-digit serial number, which is etched into its case during production. The location of the number depends on the age of your timepiece, as the company has used several locations over the years.

If you have an Omega watch that was manufactured recently, there is a very good chance that you will find the serial number on the back of the watch. The exact spot can vary from model to model, but they're often on the reverse of the lugs (the parts where the strap is attached), or the back casing. Omega uses precision lasers to etch its serial numbers, so you may have to use a magnifier to read it.

For vintage Omega watches, the serial number was often engraved inside the casing or on the movement itself. If you plan to check an older model, we advise that you get a jeweller to open the case for you to avoid any potential damage to the watch's inner workings.

Omega Extract of the Archives

Omega also has a special service to date the production day of their vintage timepieces. They have created a service for watch enthusiasts who would like to know more about the production history of the Omega products made before 2000.

The Extract of the Archives is not a Certificate of Authenticity and does not guarantee the authenticity of a watch or its component parts. The Extract of the Archives contains detailed information from our archives which relates to your watch and how it left our facilities in Biel, as well as the exact production date of the watch. This service costs CHF 120.00 (VAT excl.) per extract, or the equivalent in local currency.

The starting point for Omega’ Extract of the Archive is the serial number of your watch. The serial number can be found on the movement of your watch. With the modern watches, the serial number is also engraved on the caseback. Of course, you will also find the serial number on the warranty card that came with your watch. For vintage watches however, it isn’t always evident that the original papers are still there.

Omega serial number dates (excluding Speedmaster)

Serial number	First year made	Serial number	First year made
1,000,000 – 1,999,999	1894	43,000,000 – 43,999,999	1979
2,000,000 – 2,999,999	1902	44,000,000 – 44,999,999	1980
3,000,000 – 3,999,999	1906	45,000,000 – 45,999,999	1982
4,000,000 – 4,999,999	1910	46,000,000 – 46,999,999	1984
5,000,000 – 5,999,999	1915	47,000,000 – 47,999,999	1984
6,000,000 – 6,999,999	1923	48,000,000 – 48,999,999	1985
7,000,000 – 7,999,999	1920	49,000,000 – 49,999,999	1986
8,000,000 – 8,999,999	1934	50,000,000 – 50,999,999	1986
9,000,000 – 9,999,999	1939	51,000,000 – 51,999,999	1989
10,000,000 — 10,999,999	1944	53,000,000 – 53,999,999	1991
11,000,000 – 11,999,999	1947	54,000,000 – 54,999,999	1993
12,000,000 – 12,999,999	1950	55,000,000 – 55,999,999	1995
13,000,000 – 13,999,999	1952	56,000,000 – 56,999,999	1998
14,000,000 – 14,999,999	1954	57,000,000 – 57,999,999	1998
15,000,000 – 15,999,999	1956	58,000,000 – 58,999,999	1998
16,000,000 – 16,999,999	1958	59,000,000 – 59,999,999	1998
17,000,000 – 17,999,999	1959	60,000,000 – 60,999,999	1999
18,000,000 – 18,999,999	1961	61,000,000 – 61,999,999	2000
19,000,000 – 19,999,999	1962	62,000,000 – 62,999,999	2000
20,000,000 – 20,999,999	1963	63,000,000 – 63,999,999	2000
21,000,000 – 21,999,999	1964	64,000,000 – 64,999,999	2000
22,000,000 – 22,999,999	1965	65,000,000 – 65,999,999	2001
23,000,000 – 23,999,999	1966	66,000,000 – 66,999,999	2002
24,000,000 – 24,999,999	1966	67,000,000 – 67,999,999	2002
25,000,000 – 25,999,999	1967	68,000,000 – 68,999,999	2003
26,000,000 – 26,999,999	1968	69,000,000 – 69,999,999	2003
27,000,000 – 27,999,999	1968	70,000,000 – 70,999,999	2004
28,000,000 – 28,999,999	1969	71,000,000 – 71,999,999	2004
29,000,000 – 29,999,999	1969	72,000,000 – 72,999,999	2005
30,000,000 – 30,999,999	1969	73,000,000 – 73,999,999	2005
31,000,000 – 31,999,999	1969	74,000,000 – 74,999,999	2005
32,000,000 – 32,999,999	1970	75,000,000 – 75,999,999	2005
33,000,000 – 33,999,999	1971	76,000,000 – 76,999,999	2005
34,000,000 – 34,999,999	1972	77,000,000 – 77,999,999	2005
35,000,000 – 35,999,999	1972	78,000,000 – 78,999,999	2006
36,000,000 – 36,999,999	1973	79,000,000 – 79,999,999	2006
37,000,000 – 37,999,999	1973	80,000,000 – 80,999,999	2006
38,000,000 – 38,999,999	1974	81,000,000 – 81,999,999	2007
39,000,000 – 39,999,999	1975	82,000,000 – 82,999,999	2007
40,000,000 – 40,999,999	1977	83,000,000 – 83,999,999	2007
41,000,000 – 41,999,999	1978	84,000,000+	2008
42,000,000 – 42,999,999	1979

Omega Speedmaster serial number dates

Serial number	Earliest year made	Serial number	Earliest year made
14,000,000 – 14,999,999	1957	32,000,000 – 32,999,999	1973
15,000,000 – 15,999,999	1958	33,000,000 – 33,999,999	1975
16,000,000 – 16,999,999	1958	34,000,000 – 34,999,999	1976
17,000,000 – 17,999,999	1960	35,000,000 – 35,999,999	1977
18,000,000 – 18,999,999	1961	36,000,000 – 36,999,999	1977
19,000,000 – 19,999,999	1962	37,000,000 – 37,999,999	1978
20,000,000 – 20,999,999	1963	38,000,000 – 38,999,999	1979
21,000,000 – 21,999,999	1963	39,000,000 – 39,999,999	1979
22,000,000 – 22,999,999	1964	40,000,000 – 40,999,999	1980
23,000,000 – 23,999,999	1966	41,000,000 – 41,999,999	1980
24,000,000 – 24,999,999	1967	42,000,000 – 42,999,999	1981
25,000,000 – 25,999,999	1967	43,000,000 – 43,999,999	1982
26,000,000 – 26,999,999	1968	44,000,000 – 44,999,999	1983
27,000,000 – 27,999,999	1969	45,000,000 – 45,999,999	1984
28,000,000 – 28,999,999	1970	46,000,000 – 46,999,999	1985
29,000,000 – 29,999,999	1970	47,000,000 – 47,999,999	1986
30,000,000 – 30,999,999	1970	48,000,000 – 48,999,999	1990
31,000,000 – 31,999,999	1972

For a more specific research on the production dates of Omega Speemaster In would like to forward you to http://www.moonwatchonly.com/omega-speedmaster-moonwatch/moonwatch-only-reviews/overview-of-the-speedmaster-moonwatch-production/

Breitling Serial Numbers from 1944-1978

YEAR	CHRONOGRAPH	NON -CHRONOGRAPH
1944	563659-568959	298262 - 313351
1945	568971-636507	313352 - 354254
1946	636508-692266	354255 - 406688
1947	703562-717737	406689 - 417234
1948	717784-728688	417235 - 448093
1949	728724-740210	448094 - 467655
1950	740405-769843	467656 - 498512
1951	769844-808456	498513 - 592542
1952	808457-817915	592543 - 646974
1953	817916-832126	646975 - 660248
1954	832127-844123	660249-690037
1955	844124-868778	690038 - 740339
1956	868779-889562	740340 - 861841
1957	889563-898029	861842 - 881067
1958	898830-910504	881068 - 890396
1959	910505-922163	890397 - 903387
1960	922164-933063	903388 - 917613
1961	933064-947803	917614 - 971814
1962	947804-963553	971815 - 995108
1963	963554-975997	995109 - 996458
1964	975998-1002734	996459 - 998198
1965	1002735-1060398	998199 - 1000198
1966	1060399-1122809	1000199 - 1002543
1967	1122810-1204581	1002544 - 1002743
1968	1204582-1262904	1002744 - 1002943
1969	1262905-1337825	-----
1970	1337826-1356899	1002944 - 1003103
1971	1356900-1382203	1003104 - 1003153
1972	1382204-1406566	1003154 - 1003213
1973	1406567-1426969	-----
1974	1426970-1433372	-----
1975	1433373-1439417	1003214 - 1003713
1976	1439418-1442922	1003714 - 1004083
1977	1442923-1448464	1004084 - 1004183
1978	1448465-1448473	-----

Audemars Piquet serial numbers

A Series	1972 to 1975
B Series -	1976 to 1979
C Series	1980 to 1986
D Series	1987 to 1994
E Series	1994 to 2000
F Series	2001 to 2007
G Series	2008 to 2010
H Series	2011 To ~2012
I Series	~2013 to ~2015
J Series	~2016 to...