Although Rolex claims they made this change to reduce the ability to create counterfeits, many collectors suspect that Rolex did this as a way to maintain balance of the market value and give less power to secondhand Rolex dealers to create value scales based on age of the watch.

It just means it’s a watch from after 2010 that Rolex began implementing this new serial number system with. These are also known as “random serials” or “scattered serials” and are not as bad as they sound. Starting about mid-way through 2010, Rolex started to “scramble” the serial numbers. If the execs at Rolex can see the serial number, they are able to track it back to the original AD and it can help them catch dealers that are selling Rolex watches to other sellers at less than their minimum advertised price. Rolex may have made this change to make it more difficult for gray market sellers to hide the serial numbers of the watches they’re selling. Watches with this serial number location have the Rolex Rolex Rolex engravings as well.

This style is often referred to as the “inner engraving” or “rehaut engraving”. You can find the serial number at the 6:00 position along the inner bezel under the crystal. Modern day Rolexes do not require the bracelet to be removed. The model number can be found between the 12:00 lugs. On some watches, the endlinks can put scratch marks into the case, cutting into the engraving. In the past, you would have to remove the bracelet to get the serial number from the watch. Older Rolex watches have the serial number engraved between the 6:00 lugs.

Can the serial number tell me if my Rolex is fake?.

What if the serial number on the watch doesn’t match the paperwork?.

Are random/scattered serial numbers bad?.

In this Rolex serial number guide, we will talk about: If there’s anything we missed, please add it to the comments below. More than just a list of production dates, we put together this guide to give a better understanding Rolex serial numbers, accompanied by a quick access chart to figuring out the year of your watch. We’re not sure why, but in a copy and paste industry (homage is the fancy term used in the watch community), we’re certain that most of the sites copy and paste the information they find online. Almost every watch site feels the need to post a Rolex serial number list. The series or first letter of the serial number on a Rolex timepiece can correspond to a certain year or period in which your watch was manufactured. Age plays a role in valuation, so it’s also a great place to start when estimating the value of your pre-owned Rolex watches. One way to find out the approximate age of your Rolex watch is via the serial number etched on the case.

Iwc watch serial number case number