Rolex Reference Numbers Explained | SwissWatchExpo - YouTube

From SwissWatchExpo… 

Spotlight on: Rolex reference  numbers, and how to decode them.

To most people, a watch’s reference number may  just be a random set of letters and numbers.

In the case of Rolex, however, there are  many things a reference number can signify:  

a watch’s craftsmanship, authenticity,  and even its cult status.

The Rolex reference number  actually provides information,  

not only about the watch model, but about its  material, appearance, and production period.

If you’re a Rolex fan or a budding collector,  you’d definitely want to know more about your  

timepieces. Here’s a simplified guide to  understanding Rolex reference numbers.

If you look back on the history of Rolex,  

you’d notice that their reference  numbers have become longer over time.

They began by using four-digit reference numbers,  

then transitioned to five-digit  numbers in the mid-1970s.  

In the 2000s, these became the six-digit  reference numbers that are being used today.

In recent years, Rolex also started  adding the number 1 or 2 in front of  

an already existing reference number,  to indicate that it’s a newer model.

Take the case of the Rolex  Explorer Two for example:  

the reference 1-6-5-70, was  replaced by the 2-1-6-5-70.

So what exactly does a Rolex reference number  tell us? Decoding it is surprisingly simple!

The first two to four digits  tells us the watch model.  

By model, we mean the family of watches it belongs  to, such as the Datejust, GMT-Master and the like.

Each model type has a designated set of numbers.  

As this is a very long list, we’re showing  the most recent traditional model types.

Again, in the case of the Rolex Explorer  Two Orange Hand, the reference number is 

2-1-6-5-70. 1-6-5 stands for its model type,  

which is Explorer Two, while 2  indicates that it is a newer model.

What then do its last two numbers, 7 and 0, mean?

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If the reference number is  five to six digits long,  

the second to the last number  describes the bezel type.

They are classified as follows.

Then we get to the last number. The last or sixth  

digit in the reference number tells you  what type of metal the watch is made of.

A six digit reference number  ending in 1, for example,  

means the watch is made of a  blend of steel and Everose gold.

Finally, as you might have observed, modern  references also come with letters affixed to them.  

There’s the popular Rolex Kermit and Rolex Hulk  for example, which both come with a suffix LV.

These letters are abbreviations for French colors,  

gems, and other watch elements. As a Geneva-based  company, French is Rolex’s official language.

Here are the most commonly used French  terms in Rolex reference numbers:

In the case of the Rolex Kermit, LV  stands for Lunette Vert or Green Bezel;  

while in the case of the Rolex Pepsi, BLRO  stands for Bleu Rouge or Blue and Red.

The Milgauss, famous for its green  sapphire crystal, has the suffix GV,  

for Glass Vert or Green Window.

With this simplified guide, we hope that Rolex  reference numbers make a little more sense to you.  

You’ll be reading them like a novel in no time!

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