GMT Forum

Rolex stamped inner case back dates in their watches through 1972. Below is a serial number chart with their corresponding case back date stamps taken from various watches that I have observed through the years.

The last two numerals stamped on a case back indicate the year for the case back and the Roman numerals preceding it are the quarter for that year. The year stampings would look like this.... 58...60...69...72 etc. -- except for 1958 which was written completely with all four numerals. The Roman numerals preceding the year stamp indicates the quarter for that year. Example.... II 59 would be the second quarter of 1959, III 1958 would be the third quarter of 1958, 1 70 would be the first quarter of 1970 etc. etc.


CASE BACK NUMBERS
(UPDATED 8/19/18)

112XXX, case back dated IV 55
223XXX, case back dated I 57
306XXX, case back dated III 57 (Sub 6536)
307XXX, case back dated III 57 (6538)
349XXX, case back dated I 1958
355XXX, case back dated II 1958 (GMT 6542)
360XXX, case back dated II 1958 (Sub 5508)
381XXX, case back dated II 1958
381XXX, case back dated I 1958 (Sub 5510)
397XXX, case back dated III 1958 (GMT 6542)
398XXX, case back dated II 1958 (GMT 6542)
398XXX, case back dated III 1958(GMT)6542)
399XXX, case back dated I 59 (SUB 6536)
400XXX, case back dated III 1958 (SUB 5508)
427XXX, case back dated IV 1958 (GMT 6542)
488XXX, case back dated III 1958(Sub 5508)
489XXX, case back dated III 59
490XXX, case back dated III 59
503XXX, case back dated I 60 (GMT)
547XXX, case back dated II 60
577XXX, case back dated II 60
596XXX, case back dated IV 60
624XXX, case back dated IV 60 (Gilt GMT)
661XXX, case back dated I 61 (Sub 5512 4-liner)
6959XX, case back dated II 61 (GMT 1675)
745XXX, case back dated II 62
87XXXX, case back dated IV 62 (Sub 5512)
87XXXX, case back dated I 63
876XXX, case back dated I 63 (GMT 1675)
87XXXX, case back dated IV 63 (Gilt GMT)
989XXX, case back dated III 63 (Sub 5513)
990XXX, case back dated III 63
997XXX, case back dated III 63
10XXXXX, case back dates III 64
10XXXXX, case back dated III 63 (Sub 5513 w/5512 case back)
10XXXXX, case back dated IV 63
104XXXX, case back dated IV 63
112XXXX, case back dated IV 64
11XXXXX, case back dated IV 64 (Gilt GMT 1675)
116XXXX, case back dated I 65
120XXXX, case back dated I 65 5513 Submariner
127XXXX, case back dated IV 64
1299XXX, case back dated II 65 (GMT 1675)
13XXXXX, case back dated IV 65
13XXXXX, case back dated II 65 (gilt GMT)
133XXXX, case back dated I 66
134XXXX, case back dated III 66
137XXXX, case back dated I 66
140XXXX, case back dated II 66 (gilt GMT)
14XXXXX, case back dated II 66
142XXXX, case back dated IV 65 (Gilt GMT sold 9/67)
15XXXXX, case back dated III 66 (Sub 5513)
15XXXXX, case back dated VI 66 (model 1016, 6th qtr)
15XXXXX, case back dated VI 66 (model 6466, 6th qtr)
16XXXXX, case back dated II 67 (GMT, Mark I dial)
160XXXX, case back dated II 67
163XXXX, case back dated II 67 (one owner GMT full set)
164XXXX, case back dated II 67
168XXXX, case back dated II 67
170XXXX, case back dated II 67
17XXXXX, case back dated II 67
17XXXXX, case back dated IV 67
171XXXX, case back dated IV 67
177XXXX, case back dated IV 67 (Sub 5513)
179XXXX, case back dated II 67 (GMT 1675)
180XXXX, case back dated I 68
18XXXXX, case back dated I 68 (GMT 1675)
182XXXX, case back dated II 67
182XXXX, case back dated IV 67
18XXXXX, case back dated IV 67
18XXXXX, case back dated IV 67
183XXXX, case back dated I 68
185XXXX, case back dated IV 67
1852XXX, case back dated I 68
188XXXX, case back dated I 68
18XXXXX, case back dated I 68
18XXXXX, case back dated III 68
19XXXXX, case back dated III 68
19XXXXX, case back dated III 68 (GMT)
1902XXX, case back dated III 69
194XXXX, case back dated III 68
19XXXXX, case back dated IV 68
19XXXXX, case back dated IV 68
194XXXX, case back dated IV 68
204XXXX, case back dated IV 68 (sold 3/70)
2043XXX, case back dated III 68 (GMT 1675)
206XXXX, case back dated IV 68
209XXXX, case back dated IV 67
211XXXX, case back dated IV 68 (GMT, sold 8/13/71)
213XXXX, case back dated IV 68
21XXXXX, case back dated II 69
218XXXX, case back dated I 69
21XXXXX, case back dated I 69 (Submariner 1680)
22XXXXX, case back dated II 69
231XXXX, case back dated III 69
2355XXX, case back dated III 69 (red Sub 1680)
23XXXXX, case back dated IV 70
24XXXXX, case back dated IV 69
24XXXXX, case back dated IV 69
24XXXXX, case back dated II 70
241XXXX, case back dated III 69 (red Sub)
241XXXX, case back dated I 70 (red Sub sold 7/71)
24XXXXX, case back dated I 70
242XXXX, case back dated II 70 (GMT Mark I dial)
244XXXX, case back dated II 70
247XXXX, case back dated II 70
25XXXXX, case back dated I 70
2556XXX, case back dated II 70
250XXXX, case back dated I 70
26XXXXX, case back dated III 70
267XXXX, case back dated I 70
27XXXXX, case back dated I 70 (Sub 1680, sold 8/26/72)
271XXXX, case back dated I 70
276XXXX, case back dated III 70 (GMT 1675)
2817XXX, case back dated I 70 (GMT 1675)
231XXXX, case back dated I 71
272XXXX, case back dated II 71 (Datejust 1603)
27XXXXX, case back dated II 71 (GMT)
281XXXX, case back dated II 71
28XXXXX, case back dated III 71 (1600 Datejust)
28XXXXX, case back dated IV 70 (red Sub sold 6/1974)
284XXXX, case back dated II 71 GMT 1675
286XXXX, case back dated II 70 (SS/14k GMT 1675)
28XXXXX, case back dated IV 70
2906XXX, case back dated II 71 GMT Mark II dial
29XXXXX, case back dated III 70 (Sub 5513)
292XXXX, case back dated IV 70 (Sub 1680)
29XXXXX, case back dated I 71
292XXXX, case back dated II 71
2961XXX, case back dated II 71 (GMT 1675/set)
297XXXX, case back dated II 71
29XXXXX, case back dated I 72 (Explorer)
304XXXX, case back dated II 72
307XXXX, case back dated III 71
30XXXXX, case back dated III 71
309XXXX, case back dated I 72
31XXXXX, case back dated II 71
315XXXX, case back dated II 71 (GMT 1675)
323XXXX, case back dated I 72
32XXXXX, case back dated II 72
3245XXX, case back dated II 72 (GMT/1675-SS)
3266XXX, case back dated II 72 (GMT Mark II)
330XXXX, case back dated IV 72 (Sub 1680)
33XXXXX, case back dated II 72
33XXXXX, case back dated III 72
33XXXXX, case back dated IV 72
3382XXX, case back dated II 72 (GMT)
34XXXXX, case back dated II 72 (GMT 1675)
35XXXXX, case back dated I 72
36XXXXX, no case back date
374XXXX, no case back date
380XXXX, no case back date
386XXXX, case back dated I 72
6167XXX, --------------- (1980 Sub 1680, VE clasp code)

CHART FOR ROLEX PRODUCTION YEARS BASED ON SERIAL NUMBERS
(The chart below is an approximation of production years)

Serial # ........................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 to 300000 .........1953 to 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

(After 9 million, Rolex began using Letters as the prefix to serial numbers)

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 .........................2002/2003
F000001 .........................2003/2004

At this time, Rolex began engraving the serial number inside the bezel as well as on the case)

D000001 .........................2005
Z000001 .........................2006
M000001 .........................2007
V000001 .........................2008
G000001 ....................Mid 2010

Random serial numbers (8 digits instead of 7) begin late 2010 to present