Rolex Reference Numbers – Learn to Inform the Distinction Between 4, 5, and 6 Digit

Every single Rolex watch has a corresponding reference amount, and understanding the Rolex reference amount system will in the long run will help you obtain a considerably higher understanding of the mannequin’s timepieces themselves. By way of the years, Rolex has added digits to its amount system, and each time a digit has been added to the mannequin’s reference numbers, that new know-how of watches has been accompanied by its private file of updates, traits, and choices.

Whereas at first look, every would possibly appear as if an arbitrary string of digits, Rolex reference numbers are the essential factor to unlocking particulars a few watch’s manufacturing interval, the form of model, its bezel mannequin, and even the provides which is perhaps used inside the improvement of its case and bracelet. Must you’ve ever questioned why Rolex has used completely completely different measurement reference numbers over time, then be taught our data to the variations between 4, 5, and 6 digit Rolex reference numbers.

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Productions Eras: 4, 5, and 6 Digit Rolex Reference Numbers

Traditional watches are generally categorized as these higher than 30 years earlier. Watches youthful than three a very long time nonetheless not presently in manufacturing are generally called retro watches in the event that they’re close to being within the route of the cutoff of traditional; nonetheless, the entire class most frequently merely will get often called discontinued watches. Lastly, fashions which is perhaps part of the present Rolex catalog (such as a result of the Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN or latest know-how of Submariner fashions with 41mm circumstances) are often called current-production watches, and these are these that you just nonetheless uncover in outlets, although you will attainable should spend some time frame on a prepared file sooner than you will actually have the flexibility to buy one.

What variety of digits a Rolex reference amount has can level out the watch’s frequent manufacturing interval. With that in ideas, Rolex added digits to its reference amount system by specific individual model, so there isn’t a single 12 months the place every single timepiece all through the mannequin’s complete fluctuate seen its reference numbers grow to be one digit longer. Sometimes speaking, most Rolex watches with 4 digit reference numbers have been produced sometime  sooner than the late Nineteen Eighties, they usually’re subsequently thought-about to be traditional watches. For instance, the traditional Submariner 1680, the traditional GMT-Grasp 1675, the traditional Daytona 6263, the traditional Datejust 1601, and so forth.

Rolex began producing fashions with 5 digits inside the late Nineteen Seventies and had (roughly) transitioned all of its fashions to five-digit reference numbers by the late Nineteen Eighties. Subsequently, whether or not or not a five-digit Rolex is categorized as traditional or discontinued comes all the best way all the way down to its manufacturing interval. As an example, the Day-Date 18038, Sea-Dweller 16660, and GMT-Grasp 16750 are often categorized as traditional Rolex fashions, whereas the Day-Date 18238, Sea-Dweller 16600, and GMT-Grasp II 16710 mustn’t primarily thought-about to be traditional fashions, although with yearly that passes, they repeatedly switch within the route of turning into traditional.

Inside the 2000s, Rolex transitioned from five-digit to six-digit reference numbers by each together with a 1 or 2 to the beginning of the numerous reference numbers. As an example, the Rolex Explorer was updated from the ref. 14270 to ref. 114270, the Datejust from 16200 to 116200, the Submariner from 16610 to 116610, and the Daytona from 16520 to 116520. Whatever the additional digit, the core reference amount system and the significance of the numerous digits inside it remained the similar, with the ultimate digit signifying the provides of the watch, and the second to remaining numeral indicating the mannequin of bezel fitted to it.

Rolex Reference Numbers Ending with Letters

Furthermore, the introduction of six-digit reference numbers was accompanied by two or 4 letter additions to the tip of positive model’s numbers as a method to indicate the color of the Cerachrom ceramic bezel that was fitted to the exact watch. As an example, the first know-how of two-tone Rolex Submariner watches fitted with blue dials and blue ceramic bezels was known as the reference 116613LB, whereas the mannequin fitted with a black dial and matching black ceramic bezel was listed as a result of the reference 116613LN.

On this event, the B stands for “bleu” and the N stands for “noir” (which suggests “blue” and “black” respectively in French). Totally different fashions with two colors of ceramic for his or her bezels, such as a result of the Batman GMT-Grasp II bought four-letter endings to their six-digit reference numbers. The distinctive Batman GMT-Grasp II is formally known as the reference 116710BLNR and on this event, BL stands for “bleu” and NR stands for “noir” to point that its bezel is constructed from every black and blue ceramic.

Up until fairly these days, it was safe to think about {{that a}} six-digit Rolex reference amount meant that the watch was a gift manufacturing model. Nonetheless, starting spherical 2015, Rolex began discontinuing some six-digit fashions and altering them with modern variations with each new actions, upgraded design particulars, or every – whereas nonetheless retaining the six-digit reference amount format. Subsequently, there are literally every discontinued fashions and current-production Rolex fashions which have six-digit numbers, although any timepiece with a six-digit reference amount is usually thought-about to be a recent Rolex watch, regardless of whether or not or not or not it is nonetheless in manufacturing.

Fully completely different Styles of Luminescence by Rolex Reference Amount

There are some design particulars on a Rolex watch which will present assist to tell the excellence between a 4, 5, and 6 digit Rolex reference amount. As an example, the form of luminous provides used on Rolex watches has developed over time. Radium was used until the early Sixties; tritium until the late Nineteen Nineties; LumiNova until about 2000; Great-LumiNova until the late-2000s; after which lastly, Chromalight (which was used alongside Great-LumiNova for quite a lot of years until Rolex totally transformed to using its private proprietary blue-glowing Chromalight supplies.

If the watch makes use of radium for its luminescence, then it is assured to have a four-digit Rolex reference amount. Tritium is perhaps barely trickier to pin down due to the reality that it remained in use for such a really very long time, however when a Rolex watch has tritium lume then it is safe to think about that it has each a 4 or five-digit reference amount. Equally, if the exact watch in question has each Luminova or Great-LumiNova, then it higher than attainable has each a 5 or six-digit reference amount. Lastly, if a watch has blue-glowing Chromalight then it is assured to have a six-digit Rolex reference amount, given that supplies itself didn’t make its first look until after Rolex had almost utterly transformed to a six-digit reference amount system.

All of that being acknowledged, if the watch is fitted with a service various dial that was put in at a later degree all through repairs or routine serving, then the watch has the potential to be from a significantly ancient times. Rolex will change dials and palms with updated variations when watches need repairs, and while you acquired’t uncover a four-digit model with a dial that has blue Chromalight lume, you’ll find some that attribute each Luminova or Great-Luminova, and might appear similar to the mannequin of luminescent supplies that could be seen on later-era fashions with five-digit or six-digit reference numbers.

Crystals and Bezels: 4, 5, and 6 Digit Rolex Reference Numbers

Rolex moreover modified the form of crystals used to protect the dials of its watches. Initially, the company used acrylic crystals, whereas it now makes use of clear sapphire crystals. The transition started slowly inside the Nineteen Seventies, picked up steam inside the Nineteen Eighties, and was achieved by the early Nineteen Nineties. Aside from the Rolex Quartz 5100, Datejust 1630, and the Rolex Date 1530, almost all four-digit Rolex reference amount watches have been initially fitted with acrylic crystals. Furthermore, all Rolex watches with six-digit reference numbers have sapphire crystals. That acknowledged, counting on the exact model, five-digit Rolex references can each have acrylic or sapphire crystals.

For a lot of of its historic previous, Rolex has used aluminum to make the bezel inserts on its sports activities actions watches. Nonetheless, in 2005, Rolex launched the Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert to the GMT-Grasp II assortment. Finally, Rolex modified all aluminum bezels with Cerachrom ceramic all through the Submariner, Sea-Dweller, and GMT-Grasp II collections, along with altering the stainless steel bezel on the Daytona with a Cerachrom equal and even prominently exhibiting in quite a few varieties all by the Yacht-Grasp assortment. Consequently, in case your Rolex watch has a ceramic bezel, then it is assured to be a model with a six-digit reference amount.

In short, the evolution of the Rolex reference numbers from 4, to five, to six digits mirrors the evolution of the watches themselves. Sometimes speaking, the longer the reference amount, the newer the watch, and each completely completely different know-how of fashions is characterised by its private distinctive traits and choices. Do you generally favor 4, 5, or 6-digit Rolex references? Depart us your concepts inside the comment half beneath.