Why models numbers vs names?

[springer]

Originally Posted by WhatTheDeuce

Sub Date = 1680, 16800, 168000, 16610, 16613, 16618, 16610LV, 116610, 116613, 116618, 116610LV. (Probably missed a few )

I think the numbers are easier. :)

...

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

So yeah there's a reason for the numbers.....NERDS!

Nerds are now cool.

They're called hipsters now, but they never admit it.

[w-v-m]

Rolex Model Reference Number Chart


Authenticity is a primary concern for Rolex and its customers, and knowing the model reference number of one’s Rolex timepiece — and what it means — is one of the best ways to protect oneself against the counterfeit industry. The Model Reference Number or the Case Reference Number is a unique string of numbers engraved on every Rolex watch model ever produced, found between the lugs at the 12 o’clock position, as well as the inside of the caseback. It is also printed on the official certificate that comes with the purchase of the Rolex watch.

Initially, Model Reference Numbers were 4-digit strings. It became a 5-digit string during the 1980s up to the year 2000, after which, the number “1″ was added at the beginning of the string and in some models, a letter replaced the last digit, making the newer Model Reference Numbers 6-digit strings. Some of the more popular Model Reference Numbers on several Rolex models are listed below:

Rolex Air-King (Date): 5700, 5701

Rolex Air-King: 1002, 1400, 1401, 4365, 4925, 5502, 5520, 6500, 6552, 7784, 14000, 14000M, 14010, 14010M

Rolex Big Bubbleback: 4467, 6031, 6074, 6075

Rolex Bubbleback: 1852, 1858, 1873, 2240, 2490, 2764, 2765, 2784, 2945, 3009, 3019, 3065, 3130, 3131, 3132, 3133, 3134, 3135, 3347, 3348, 3353, 3358, 3372, 3458, 3548, 3549, 3595, 3598, 3599, 3696, 3725, 3767, 3795, 3796, 3801, 3940, 3951, 4392, 4777, 4919, 4939, 4961, 5001, 5002, 5003, 5006, 5007, 5009, 5010, 5011, 5013, 5015, 5026, 5028, 5045, 5048, 5050, 5051, 5052, 5055, 5087, 5105, 5173, 5488, 6006, 6007, 6011, 6015, 6016, 6048, 6052, 6064, 6065, 6076, 6087, 6106, 6428, 8050, 8052

Rolex Chronograph Moon Phase: 6062, 8171, 8237

Rolex Chronograph: 1074, 1223, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2057, 2226, 2303, 2507, 2508, 2705, 2737, 2811, 2917, 2918, 2920, 3036, 3055, 3082, 3085, 3181, 3233, 3330, 3333, 3335, 3346, 3462, 3481, 3484, 3525, 3529, 3635, 3642, 3668, 3695, 3735, 3827, 3834, 3835, 3997, 4048, 4062, 4099, 4100, 4113, 4311, 4313, 4332, 4352, 4500, 4537, 4767, 4768, 5034, 5036, 6032, 6034, 6036, 6232, 6234, 6236, 6238, 6270, 7131, 7132, 7159, 7169, 8180, 8206, 9162

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona: 1650, 1651, 1652, 1656, 1658, 1659, 6239, 6240, 6241, 6239, 6240, 6241, 6262, 6263, 6264, 6265, 6240, 6241, 16518, 16519, 16520, 16523, 16528, 116509, 116518, 116519, 116520, 116523, 116528, 116589, 116598, 116599

Rolex Datejust (Mid-Size): 6824, 6827, 68240, 68243, 68248, 68273, 68274, 68278, 77080, 77014, 77438, 77518, 78240, 78243, 78246, 78248, 78266, 78273, 78274, 78278, 78279, 78286, 78288, 81158, 81208, 81209, 81308, 81338, 81339, 178158, 178159, 178238, 178239, 178245, 178246, 178248, 178269, 178275, 178278, 178279, 178286, 178288

Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph (Thunderbird): 1625, 6202, 6309, 6609, 16253

Rolex Datejust: 1600, 1601, 1602, 1603, 1604, 1605, 1607, 1610, 1611, 1620, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1626, 1630, 5030, 5031, 6104, 6105, 6155, 6251, 6516, 6517, 6602, 6604, 6605, 6624, 6627, 6800, 6815, 6823, 6824, 6825, 6826, 6827, 6828, 6829, 6830, 6831, 6832, 6833, 6835, 6839, 6900, 6901, 6902, 6903, 6905, 6906, 6907, 6908, 6909, 6910, 6911, 6912, 6913, 6914, 6915, 6916, 6917, 6918, 6919, 6923, 6925, 6926, 6927, 6928, 7815, 7823, 7824, 7825, 7826, 7827, 7828, 7906, 7907, 7908, 7912, 7913, 7915, 7916, 7917, 7918, 7919, 7923, 7924, 7925, 7926, 7927, 7928, 8030, 8031, 8032, 8035, 8065, 8066, 8067, 16000, 16003, 16008, 16009, 16013, 16014, 16018, 16019, 16030, 16058, 16078, 16200, 16203, 16220, 16233, 16234, 16238, 16248, 16250, 16258, 16263, 16264, 68158, 68159, 68240, 68243, 68248, 68258, 68273, 68274, 68278, 68279, 68288, 68289, 69008, 69008A, 69018, 69018A, 69038R, 69038S, 69068, 69068A, 69069, 69069A, 69078, 69078A, 69079, 69079A, 69088, 69088A, 69089, 69089A, 69098, 69108, 69108A, 69118A, 69128, 69128A, 69136, 69138, 69138A, 69139, 69139A, 69148, 69148A, 69158, 69159, 69163, 69163A, 69166, 69168, 69168A, 69169, 69169A, 69173, 69173A,69174, 69174A, 69178, 69178A, 69179, 69179A, 69188, 69198E, 69198R, 69198S, 69258, 69268, 69278, 69279, 69279A, 69288, 79068, 79078, 79079, 79088, 79089, 79126, 79136, 79138, 79158, 79159, 79163, 79166, 79168, 79173, 79174, 79178, 79179, 79238, 79288, 80298, 80299, 80309, 80318, 80319, 80328, 80329, 80359, 116138, 116139, 116203, 116208, 116233, 116238, 179136, 179138, 179158, 179159, 179165, 179166, 179168, 179173, 179175, 179178, 179179, 179239, 179298, 179368, 179459

Rolex Day Date President: 1800, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1820, 1823, 1824, 1829, 1830, 1831, 1833, 1834, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 6511, 6611, 6612, 6613, 18000, 18026, 18028, 18029, 18038, 18039, 18046, 18048, 18049, 18078, 18079, 18178, 18206, 18206B, 18208, 18238, 18239, 18248, 18249, 18308, 18346, 18348, 18349, 18368, 18369, 18388, 18389, 18946, 18948, 18956, 18958, 118205, 118206, 118208, 118209, 118235, 118238, 118239, 118296, 118338, 118339, 118346, 118348, 118366, 118398, 118399

Rolex Explorer Air-King: 5500, 5501, 5504, 5701

Rolex Explorer II: 1655, 1657, 16550, 16570

Rolex Explorer: 1016, 1427, 5506, 6098, 6150, 6298, 6299, 6350, 6610, 8044, 8045, 14270, 114270

Rolex GMT-Master II: 1671, 1676, 16710, 16713, 16718, 16760,

Rolex GMT-Master: 1670, 1675, 6542, 16700, 16750, 16753, 16758

Rolex Master Day Date: 1894, 1895

Rolex Milgauss: 1019, 6541

Rolex Oyster (Manual-Wind): 1069, 1070, 1147, 1237, 1387, 1573, 1880, 1921, 1925, 1936, 2005, 2081, 2136, 2280, 2318, 2319, 2331, 2416, 2420, 2496, 2518, 2574, 2593, 2595, 2701, 2849, 2891, 2942, 2949, 2984, 3059, 3078, 3096, 3116, 3121, 3136, 3139, 3140, 3270, 3351, 3359, 3492, 3511, 3540, 3640, 3646, 3765, 3868, 3882, 3978, 4052, 4068, 4070, 4119, 4125, 4127, 4181, 4219, 4220, 4222, 4271, 4330, 4361, 4365, 4437, 4444, 4448, 4461, 4476, 4483, 4499, 4547, 4556, 4626, 4647, 5000, 5004, 5020, 5025, 5056, 6020, 6021, 6022, 6044, 6066, 6144, 6244, 6246, 6266, 6363, 6418, 6420, 6421, 6422, 6423, 6424, 6425, 6426, 6427, 6429, 6430, 6431, 6432, 6444, 6466, 6480, 6494, 6664, 6694, 7535A, 8011, 8012, 8015, 8023, 8027, 8389, 9659

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date: 1102, 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503, 1503g, 1504, 1505, 1506, 1507, 1508, 1509, 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513, 1514, 1520, 1521, 1522, 1523, 1530, 1550, 6530, 6534, 6535, 6537, 1500, 1501, 1503, 1505, 1550, 1560, 1603, 1625, 5075, 6547, 6625, 6627, 6740, 6924, 6944, 7576A, 7600A, 7606, 7916, 7919, 7924, 7972, 15000, 15003, 15007, 15008, 15010, 15017, 15018, 15037, 15038, 15053, 15148, 15200, 15203, 15210, 15223, 15238, 15505, 69160A, 69190A, 69240

Rolex Oyster Perpetual: 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1022, 1023, 1024, 1025, 1026, 1027, 1028, 1029, 1030, 1031, 1035, 1036, 1038, 1039, 1420, 1423, 3172, 3202, 3272, 3323, 3352, 3370, 3483, 3490, 3495, 3496, 3497, 3505, 3536, 3538, 3593, 3594, 3596, 3597, 3627, 3639, 3645, 3685, 3686, 3708, 3724, 3772, 3778, 3785, 3869, 3885, 3886, 3887, 3888, 3926, 3938, 3967, 4013, 4021, 4024, 4025, 4027, 4055, 4130, 4134, 4163, 4164, 4165, 4166, 4167, 4168, 4171, 4172, 4185, 4186, 4187, 4190, 4203, 4214, 4242, 4255, 4302, 4306, 4337, 4350, 4362, 4408, 4436, 4449, 4480, 4486, 4487, 4528, 4534, 4672, 4686, 4804, 4846, 4857, 4937, 5023, 5065, 5080, 5552, 6018, 6023, 6050, 6082, 6084, 6085, 6088, 6092, 6099, 6100, 6101, 6102, 6103, 6107, 6119, 6284, 6285, 6286, 6290, 6301, 6303, 6332, 6334, 6502, 6503, 6504, 6507, 6508, 6509, 6532, 6539, 6540, 6543, 6544, 6545, 6546, 6548, 6549, 6551, 6552, 6553, 6554, 6558, 6559, 6560, 6564, 6565, 6566, 6567, 6569, 6580, 6583, 6584, 6585, 6586, 6587, 6590, 6592, 6594, 6598, 6599, 6614, 6618, 6619, 6621, 6623, 6634, 6706, 6707, 6710, 6711, 6712, 6713, 6715, 6717, 6718, 6719, 6720, 6721, 6723, 6724, 6744, 6745, 6747, 6748, 6749, 6751, 6753, 6754, 6757, 6771, 7575A, 7603, 7605, 7608, 7609, 7614, 7618, 7619, 7623, 7624, 7701, 7708, 7748, 7751, 7806, 7807, 7811, 9210, 9211, 9220, 9221, 14203, 14208, 14233, 14238, 67180, 67183, 67187, 67188, 67193, 67194, 67197, 67198, 67230, 67243, 67480, 67483, 67488, 67513, 67514, 67518

Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust: 17000, 17013, 17014

Rolex Oysterquartz Day Date: 19018, 19019, 19028, 19038, 19048, 19049, 19058, 19068, 19078, 19148, 19168

Rolex Prince (¼ Century): 1490, 3937

Rolex Prince (Railway): 1862

Rolex Prince (Sporting): 1564, 1599, 1871

Rolex Prince: 1343, 1541, 1768, 1855, 2730, 2771, 2996, 3361, 4402

Rolex Sea-Dweller (Deepsea): 1660, 1665, 1666, 16600, 16650, 16660

Rolex Submariner Date: 1661, 1680, 16610, 16613, 16618, 16800, 16803, 16808

Rolex Submariner: 1406, 5508, 5510, 5512, 5513, 5514, 6200, 6204, 6205, 6536, 6538, 14060

Rolex Tru-Beat: 1020, 6556

Rolex Yacht-Master: 16622, 16628, 68623, 68628, 168622, 168623, 168628, 169623, 169628

[w-v-m]

Air-King: 14010M, 14000M, 114234, 114210, 114200, 14010, 14000, 7784, 6552, 6500, 5701, 5700, 5520, 5506, 5501, 5500, 4925, 4365, 1009

Cellini: 6693, 6692, 6673, 6628, 6623, 6621, 6110, 5330, 5241, 5116, 4243, 4233, 4223, 4113, 4112

Date: 115234, 115210, 115200, 15505, 15238, 15233, 15223, 15210, 15203, 15200, 15053, 15038, 15037, 15010, 15000, 6627, 6605, 6534, 6518, 6335, 6075, 5075, 1625, 1603, 1570, 1560, 1550, 1505, 1503, 1501, 1500

Datejust: 166201, 116244, 116243, 116238, 116234, 116233, 116231, 116208, 116203, 116201, 116200, 116199, 116189, 116188, 116139, 116138, 17014, 17013, 17000, 16364, 16250, 16248, 16238, 16234, 16233, 16220, 16203, 16200, 16078, 16030, 16018, 16014, 16013, 16000, 6827, 6605, 6604, 6518, 6305, 1630, 1607, 1603, 1601, 1600

Datejust Mid-Size: 178383, 178313, 178288, 178286, 178279, 178278, 178275, 178274, 178273, 178269, 178248, 178246, 178245, 178243, 178240, 178239, 178238, 178159, 178158, 81339, 81338, 81308, 81209, 81208, 81158, 78288, 78286, 78279, 78278, 78274, 78273, 78266, 78248, 78246, 78243, 78240, 77438, 77080, 77014, 68278, 68274, 68273, 68248, 68243, 68240, 17824, 7518, 6824

Datejust OysterQuartz: 17014, 17013, 17000

Datejust Turn-O-Graph (Thunderbird): 116264, 116263, 116261, 16268, 16264, 16263, 16253, 6309, 1625

Day-Date (aka President): 118399, 118398, 118388, 118366, 118348, 118346, 118339, 118338, 118296, 118239, 118238, 118235, 118209, 118208, 118206, 118205, 19018, 18958, 18956, 18948, 18946, 18346, 18308, 18248, 18239, 18238, 18078, 18048, 18039, 18038, 18026, 6611, 6511, 1807, 1804, 1803

Day-Date Oysterquartz : 19019, 19018

Daytona (Cosmograph): 116599, 116598, 116589, 116528, 116523, 116520, 116519, 116518, 116515, 116509, 116505, 16528, 16523, 16520, 16519, 16518, 16515, 6265, 6264, 6263, 6262, 6241, 6240, 6239

Explorer: 114270, 14270, 6610, 6350, 6298, 6150, 6098, 5504, 1038, 1016

Explorer II: 216570, 16570, 16550, 1655

GMT-Master: 16758, 16753, 16750, 16713, 16700, 6542, 1675

GMT-Master II: 116758, 116718, 116713, 116710, 16760, 16718, 16710, 16170

Ladies Date: 79240, 79240, 79190, 79160, 69240, 69190, 69174, 69173, 69163, 69160, 6919, 6917, 6916, 6519, 6517, 6516

Ladies Datejust: 197173, 179459, 179368, 179313, 179298, 179239, 179179, 179178, 179175, 179174, 179173, 179171, 179168, 179166, 179165, 179163, 179161, 179160, 179159, 179158, 179138, 179136, 80359, 80329, 80328, 80319, 80318, 80309, 80299, 80298, 79288, 79238, 79179, 79178, 79174, 79173, 79168, 79166, 79163, 79159, 79158, 79138, 79136, 79126, 79089, 79088, 79079, 79078, 79068, 69278, 69190, 69179, 69178, 69174, 69173, 69163, 69160, 69136, 6927, 6917, 6916, 6517

Ladies Oyster Perpetual: 761833, 176210, 176200, 79193, 77518, 76243, 76198, 76193, 76188, 76183, 76180, 76094, 76080, 76030, 67243, 67230, 67198, 67197, 67194, 67193, 67180, 6724, 6723, 6719, 6718

Masterpiece: 81318, 80359, 80328, 80319, 80318, 80309, 80299, 80298, 69299, 69298, 18948, 18946

Milgauss: 116400V, 116400, 6451, 1019

Oyster Perpetual: 14233M, 14208M, 14203M, 14238, 14208, 14203, 6634, 6623, 6605, 6590, 6584, 6582, 6580, 6569, 6567, 6565, 6564, 6556, 6552, 6551, 6549, 6548, 6546, 6532, 6518, 6284, 6202, 6177, 6103, 6085, 5500, 1565, 1501, 1500, 1038, 1030, 1025, 1024, 1023, 1018, 1014, 1010, 1008, 1007, 1006, 1005, 1004, 1003, 1002

Sea-Dweller: 116660, 16660, 16600, 1665

Submariner: 14060M, 114060, 14060, 6538, 6536, 6205, 6204, 6200, 5517, 5514, 5513, 5512, 5508

Submariner Date: 168000, 116619, 116618, 116613, 116610, 16808, 16803, 16800, 16618, 16613, 16610, 1680

Yacht-Master: 169628, 169623, 169622, 168628, 168623, 168622, 166233, 116689, 116688, 69628, 69623, 68628, 68623, 18622, 16628, 16623, 16622

[Rashid.bk]

^wow.........
you actually typed that? sheesh.
not possible.

[polarinda]

why rolex didn't name them 1 onwards? like 1,2,3,4 etc....

so I may be owning 6,16,22 for example.

why all the long numbers for each model?

[Camel]

Originally Posted by jolimont

because we are watch nerds, so says my wife

This is exactly why !

[Shelby-villian]

Originally Posted by polarinda

why rolex didn't name them 1 onwards? like 1,2,3,4 etc....

so I may be owning 6,16,22 for example.

why all the long numbers for each model?

That defeats the purpose of the system. :)

[Alpino]

Originally Posted by w-v-m

The Model Reference Number or the Case Reference Number is a unique string of numbers engraved on every Rolex watch model ever produced, found between the lugs at the 12 o’clock position, as well as the inside of the caseback.

Not anymore .

Originally Posted by polarinda

why rolex didn't name them 1 onwards? like 1,2,3,4 etc....

so I may be owning 6,16,22 for example.

why all the long numbers for each model?

Each part of the reference # have a particular meaning , with many exceptions like always with Rolex :

1xxxyz

xxx : model (162 DJ , 166 Sub , 167 GMT , 182 DD ... )
y : type of bezel ( Oyster : 0 doomed / 1 finely eng. turned / 2 eng. turned / 3 fluted ... --- Pro : 0 doomed / 1,6 rotating / 2,7 Fixed ...)
z : 0 SS / 1 SS+RG / 2 SS+Pt / 3 SS+YG / 4 SS+WG / 5 RG / 6 Pt / 7 YG 14k / 8 YG / 9 WG

[Bangel]

Originally Posted by Porsche

I have a Porsche 911

What are you on about?

[capote]

Its like the matrix...when I read 16700 I get the mental picture of the last GMT in my head. Obsessive-Compulsive? Maybe

[porschejeff]

For us Watch Idiot Savants, numbers are easier!

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

^wow.........
you actually typed that? sheesh.
not possible.

Do you REALLY think so?

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by polarinda

why rolex didn't name them 1 onwards? like 1,2,3,4 etc....

so I may be owning 6,16,22 for example.

why all the long numbers for each model?

To be organized.

[WHEELS1]

Originally Posted by jolimont

because we are watch nerds, so says my wife

This..

[vigilantex69]

Anywhere know where you can post pictures of a watch to be identified?

[Fagin]

W-V-M
Thanks for a very helpful list of model numbers

[topjimmi]

yep, numbers are just easier

[Watchdog]

Interesting that the for sale posts do not just list the model number usually but the actual model and version are named.

[Watchdog]

Seems a bit elitist to me.

[xxthe_remedyxx]

Originally Posted by kingkongkelley

Interesting that the for sale posts do not just list the model number usually but the actual model and version are named.

Well if I was selling a watch I would want to advertise to a broader audience, not only WIS's... By specifying both the model name and number, I would think you would have a better chance of getting the watch sold.

Not elitist, just smart selling.

[thomaspp]

Numbers are cooler...

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Tri-Tip

Because the same model, such as a Submariner will have different numbers depending on the configuration and year of manufacture.

This!!!

[L8wrtr]

First Post from a new member illustrating the power of numbers:

Two months ago the only thing I knew about Rolex watches was that they were pretty damn fine time-pieces, not cheap, and that my father had one I've admired since I was a kid.

One month ago my father surprised me by handing me said Rolex and passing on one of the few 'heirlooms' in the family. Now at that moment I could have remained one of the co-workers referenced by a previous poster, "I have a Rolex" and left it at that, or, I could have stopped after the Google Search of Rolex images clearly indicated I have a 'Submariner' but seeing as I registered on this forum, it's safe to say that I'm already a nerd of some flavor, and now I'm a watch-nerd as well (albeit a learning one, but one none-the-less).

With the help of my good friend Mr. Google I quickly evolved beyond just owning a Rolex to knowing the history of the brand, and model of my particular watch.

Once I narrowed it down to the fact I had Submariner, the always helpful Mr. Wikipedia helped narrowed it down to likely being a 16610.. then more digging indicated oh, this is actually probably 16613.. but how do I know for sure, and how old is this actual watch? Mr. Google.. please reveal to me... Oh, there is both the model and serial hidden behind the bracelet? Oh... and I remove that how?

One YouTube video later I finally had all my answers.. not just a Submariner, not just a Two Tone 18K Gold and black, but a 16803, a model I hadn't even really considered.

And so the learning continues.

Do I have the greatest, most rarest Sub out there? Not by a longshot :) But the nerd in me now knows exactly what I do have, and the collector in me now wants more.

Viva los números!

You folks have a nice community here, I hope I can stay a decent part of it!

[Rolex Richie]

Relative newbie to the forum.
Still trying to learn the lingo.
Pepsi is a GMT with blue, red bezel, right ?

Struggling on a 'PO' ? Help please

[Thatguy]

Originally Posted by Rolex Richie

Relative newbie to the forum.
Still trying to learn the lingo.
Pepsi is a GMT with blue, red bezel, right ?

Struggling on a 'PO' ? Help please

Yes

Omega planet ocean

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by Rolex Richie

Relative newbie to the forum.
Still trying to learn the lingo.
Pepsi is a GMT with blue, red bezel, right ?

Struggling on a 'PO' ? Help please

Welcome to the finest forum on the net:). And Coke is black and red.