Dating Your Rolex Clasp...
Until 1976, Rolex would punch the year of production on the inside of the clasp, preceded by either the Roman numeral denoting which quarter of the year it was produced or an arabic numeral to denote the month, so, when we see the clasp code IV 68 we know that it was produced in the 4th quarter of 1968, but 4 72, means April 1972. From ‘76 onwards though the year was replaced with a lettering system (in a similar fashion to the case numbering system adopted in 1987). If the letter is prefixed with an ‘S’ it indicates if is a service replacement.
Until 1976, Rolex would punch the year of production on the inside of the clasp, preceded by the Roman numeral denoting which quarter of the year it was produced, so, when we see the clasp code IV 68 we know that it was produced in the 4th quarter of 1968. From ‘76 onwards though the year was replaced with a lettering system (in a similar fashion to the case numbering system adopted in 1987). If the letter is prefixed with an ‘S’ it indicates if is a service replacement.
|
A or VA |
1976 |
|
M |
1988 |
|
AB |
2000 |
|
B or VB |
1977 |
|
N |
1989 |
|
DE |
2001 |
|
C or VC |
1978 |
|
O |
1990 |
|
DT |
2002 |
|
D or VD |
1979 |
|
P |
1991 |
|
AD |
2003 |
|
E or VE |
1980 |
|
Q |
1992 |
|
CL |
2004 |
|
F |
1981 |
|
R |
1993 |
|
MA |
2005 |
|
G |
1982 |
|
S |
1994 |
|
OP |
2006 |
|
H |
1983 |
|
T |
1995 |
|
EO |
2007 |
|
I |
1984 |
|
V |
1996 |
|
PJ |
2008 |
|
J |
1985 |
|
Z |
1997 |
|
LT |
2009 |
|
K |
1986 |
|
U |
1998 |
|
RS |
2010 |
|
L |
1987 |
|
X |
1999 |
|
From 2011 Rolex switched to an apparently random serial number system, and in addition to stamping the clasp, now date the inside of the solid end links. For the time being it will be impossible to determine the age of these "Random" clasps, time will tell if a pattern or system begins to appear.
Credits: Chris Youé
