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Model Number Features

Model Number Features

Rolex gives a specific identification number to correspond with each model, known as the Model Number or Case Reference Number. This special identification number provides a complete description of the features of the particular model of Rolex watch. This is true for both the 5-digit and the 6-digit Model Reference Numbers. This number can be found engraved between the lugs at the 12 o'clock position and inside the case back.

Features of the 5-Digit Model Number

Within a 5-digit model number, engraved on all Rolex watches manufactured between the mid 1980s and 2000, the first 3 digits describe the type of watch; the second to last digit indicates the type of the bezel, and the last digit indicates the type of the material used in making the watch (case and bezel). Let us further understand this with the help of an example: the Case Reference Number “16760” indicates a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II model featuring a rotating bezel. All these features of the watch can be identified by looking at the first three digits of the Model Number to ascertain the model type that these digits indicate. Similarly, in addition to the watch model, the charts below will also indicate the bezel style and material type of a given Rolex watch.

Let us have a look at the following three charts (not a comprehensive list) that will help us identify the features of a particular Rolex model by referring to the watch's model number:

Watch Type

Watch Type First Three Digits of a 5-digit Model Number
Air-King 100, 140, 141, 550, 552, 570
Oyster "Manual Wind" 106, 107, 114, 157, 208, 213, 231, 241, 242, 251, 257, 259, 270, 284, 289, 300, 309, 313, 327, 335, 347, 349, 364, 376, 388, 397, 406, 407, 412, 436, 446, 449, 462, 464, 500, 502, 505, 602, 604, 614, 624, 641, 642, 644, 648, 678, 801, 802
Oyster "Manual Wind"
(Mid-Size)		 123, 228, 259, 311, 312, 422, 444, 502, 602, 642, 643, 802
Oyster "Perpetual" 100, 101, 102, 103, 142, 306, 327, 335, 345, 368, 369, 371, 379, 387, 402, 436, 440, 468, 498, 501, 502, 505, 506, 555, 601, 602, 605, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 620, 621, 628, 629, 630, 633, 650, 651, 653, 655, 656, 658, 659, 661, 662, 663, 671, 672, 760, 761, 762, 805, 807, 808
Oyster "Perpetual"
(Mid-Size)		 427, 430, 485, 517, 634, 654, 655, 674, 675, 770, 774, 775
Datejust 160, 161, 162, 163, 446, 503, 603, 607, 610, 615, 630, 660
Datejust (Mid-Size) 662, 680, 681, 682, 781, 782, 806
Ladies' Datejust 625, 651, 690, 691, 692, 790, 791, 792, 802, 803
Day-Date President 180, 181, 182, 183, 651, 661
Cosmograph Daytona
"Manual Wind"		 623, 624, 626
Cosmograph Daytona "Perpetual" 165
Oysterquartz Datejust 170
Oysterquartz Day-Date 190
Explorer 101, 142, 550, 570, 615, 629, 635, 661, 804
Explorer II 165
Turn-O-Graph 620
Yacht-Master 166, 686, 696, 692, 693
Submariner 140, 550, 551, 620, 653
Submariner (Date) 166, 168
Sea-Dweller 166, 551
Milgauss 101, 654
GMT-Master 167, 654
GMT-Master II 167

 

Bezel Type

Digit (Second to Last
Digit of the Model Number)		 Bezel Type
0 Polished
1 Finely-engine-turned
2 Engine-turned
3 Fluted
4 Hand-crafted
5 Pyramid
6 Rotating bezel

 

Material Type

Digit (Last Digit of
the Model Number)		 Material Type
0 Stainless Steel
1 Yellow Gold Filled
2 White Gold Filled or Stainless Steel and Platinum
3 Stainless Steel and Yellow Gold
4 Stainless Steel and White Gold
5 Gold Shell or Pink Gold (Rose Gold)
6 Platinum
7 14k Yellow Gold
8 Yellow Gold
9 White Gold

Features of the 6-Digit Model Number

The 6-digit Case Reference Number or Model Number started appearing on Rolex watches in the year 2000. The 6-digit Model Number has the same defining characteristics as the 5-digit Model Number engraved on earlier models; the only difference is that, to date, the previous 5-digit number is now preceeded by a "1." As a result, the features remain the same. In a 6-digit Model Number, the last digit indicates the material type, the second to last digit indicates the type of bezel, and the first 4 digits indicate the model type. Of the first 4 digits, the last three are the same as those given in the above chart and continue to indicate the same features. For instance, the 5-digit model number "18138" indicates the Rolex Day Date model in yellow gold with a fluted bezel. However, the same model produced in or after the year 2000 could have had a Case Reference Number of "118138." As a result, the same reference chart can be used for both the 5-digit and 6-digit reference numbers.