Rolex Serial Numbers

[DanG]

Can some one help me understand Rolex Serial Numbers. I recently bought a 116622 Yacht Master. It has a serial number beginning with a 5. I have noticed that some for sale have a G serial number. Is there any difference between a random serial number and a G serial number watch? If not, why two different serial number methods?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by DanG

Can some one help me understand Rolex Serial Numbers. I recently bought a 116622 Yacht Master. It has a serial number beginning with a 5. I have noticed that some for sale have a G serial number. Is there any difference between a random serial number and a G serial number watch? If not, why two different serial number methods?

No difference whatsoever both G and the so called random are being produced at the same time they are just case serials nothing more,Rolex started the first letter plus 6 numbers in 1987.Now with all the millions of Rolex watches produced over the years till around 2010,Rolex then just ran out of single letter plus 6 numbers combinations.So around 2010 they started the random which has a extra digit now a mixture in total of 8 digits instead of 7.But all these serials are just a rough indication when the case was stamped this don't always mean when the watch was made, and over the many years several serials overlapped in the same time-frame.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by DanG

Can some one help me understand Rolex Serial Numbers. I recently bought a 116622 Yacht Master. It has a serial number beginning with a 5. I have noticed that some for sale have a G serial number. Is there any difference between a random serial number and a G serial number watch? If not, why two different serial number methods?

A serial number is unique to each watch... It's just a number, there isn't "two different serial number methods".

Rolex has not changed anything on a watch because of a serial number - there is no difference from one watch to another (within the same era) and you don't know when one was put together before another... It's just guesswork.

As Peter mentioned, they simply ran out of numbers and came up with a numbering system that will last for many, many more decades.. Not much different from States that have re-developed new unique license plates from the early simple numbers..

What it does mean is that new-comers who have been using Internet Charts as crutches to (usually incorrectly) "date" their watches will now have to actually learn about them and the subtle nuances from year to year..

[paranoid1]

I also have a quick question. I'm looking at a GMT master II TT...The serial # starts with a Z and then has 7 random numbers. 8 digits total. Dealer sayd this is from 2011/2012 and that 7 total digits (with a Z at the front) would mean a 2006.
I thought the random serial #s had more then one letter as a rule. I have a SS daytona with an 8 digit serial # with random #s and letters. 5 #s and 3 letters total. Please advise.

[DanG]

Thanks for the information.

[SohAIS]

not much left to say after what Peter & Larry said.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by paranoid1

I also have a quick question. I'm looking at a GMT master II TT...The serial # starts with a Z and then has 7 random numbers. 8 digits total. Dealer sayd this is from 2011/2012 and that 7 total digits (with a Z at the front) would mean a 2006.
I thought the random serial #s had more then one letter as a rule. I have a SS daytona with an 8 digit serial # with random #s and letters. 5 #s and 3 letters total. Please advise.

Random means exactly that - random.... No reason to think that some may be all letters or all number or any combination thereof... If there are a total of 8 digits, it is a random serial and post-2010....

[77T]

The Random number period will include all sorts of alphanumeric combinations to maximize the 8 position serial number. Over time you may see s/n's with more letters than numbers and even some with nothing but numbers perhaps.

What will be fun is if Rolex will stamp custom vanity s/n's like "paranoid" or "77T77T77"