Rolex Bracelet & Clasp Codes
Enter the code stamped inside your Rolex clasp to date your bracelet — 1976–2010 charts, plus Oyster, Jubilee & President bracelet references
Where to find your Rolex clasp code
Open the deployant clasp fully. On an Oyster bracelet, the code is stamped on the inside of the swing arm; on a Jubilee, check the inner face of the folding blade. The engraving is tiny — a jeweller’s loupe or your phone camera in macro mode makes it much easier to read. You will usually see two lines: the bracelet reference (e.g. 78360) and the clasp date code (e.g. K, DE4, OP6).
That date code matters: Rolex publishes no official archive, but collectors have cross-referenced reliable correspondence charts covering 1976 to 2010. It is one of the few ways to check whether a bracelet is consistent with the watch it is fitted to.
Clasp codes 1976–1999 (single letter)
From 1976 to 1999, Rolex stamped a single letter, sometimes preceded by a « V » between 1976 and 1981 (VA, VB… equivalent to A, B…). An adjoining digit indicates the month of production (1–12).
| Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (VA) | 1976 | I | 1984 | Q | 1992 |
| B (VB) | 1977 | J | 1985 | R | 1993 |
| C (VC) | 1978 | K | 1986 | S | 1994 |
| D (VD) | 1979 | L | 1987 | T or W | 1995 |
| E (VE) | 1980 | M | 1988 | V | 1996 |
| F (VF) | 1981 | N | 1989 | Z | 1997 |
| G | 1982 | O | 1990 | U | 1998 |
| H | 1983 | P | 1991 | X | 1999 |
Clasp codes 2000–2010 (two letters)
From 2000 onwards, the code switches to two letters followed by a month digit: « DE4 » reads as April 2001, « OP6 » as June 2006.
| Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB | 2000 | OP | 2006 |
| DE | 2001 | EO | 2007 |
| DT | 2002 | PJ | 2008 |
| AD | 2003 | LT | 2009 |
| CL | 2004 | RS | 2010 |
| MA | 2005 |
Before 1976 and after 2010
Before 1976, clasps carry a direct « month + year » stamp: « 2 70 » means February 1970, « 4 66 » April 1966. After 2010, Rolex switched to deliberately random alphanumeric codes (CX3, J4M…) — the same logic as the random case serial numbers introduced in 2010.
One important detail: a clasp stamped with an extra « S » was replaced during an official Rolex service. It is perfectly genuine, but its code no longer dates the original watch.
Rolex bracelet reference numbers
The first line engraved inside the clasp is the bracelet’s own reference. Its final digit indicates the metal: 0 for steel, 3 for steel and yellow gold (Rolesor), 4 for steel and white gold, 5 for rose gold, 6 for platinum, 8 for 18k yellow gold and 9 for 18k white gold. Here are the references you will encounter most often on vintage and neo-vintage watches.
| Reference | Type | Era / typical models |
|---|---|---|
| 7205 / 7206 | Riveted Oyster | 1950s–60s — Submariner, GMT-Master, Daytona |
| 7835 / 7836 | Folded-link Oyster | 1960s–70s — sports models and Datejust |
| 78360 / 78350 | Solid-link Oyster | Late 70s–80s — Daytona 16520, Explorer, GMT |
| 9315 / 93150 | Oyster Fliplock | Submariner & Sea-Dweller (1665 to 16600) |
| 78790 | Oyster Oysterlock | GMT-Master II 16710, Explorer II 16570 |
| 6251H / 62510H | Jubilee | Datejust & GMT-Master — the 62510H fits the 16700/16710 « Jubilee » |
| 63600 | Modern Jubilee | Five-digit Datejust, solid links |
| 8385 / 83205+ | President | Day-Date & gold Datejust — semi-circular links |
| 97200 / 97220 | Modern Oyster | Submariner 116610 and Glidelock sports models |
End link codes
The end links connecting the bracelet to the case carry their own number, stamped on the edge. It lets you check that a bracelet genuinely belongs to the model it is fitted to — an originality criterion every collector verifies before buying.
| End link | Associated models |
|---|---|
| 58 | Submariner 5512/5513, GMT 1675, Explorer 1016 |
| 580 | 1600–1680 series (older Oyster) |
| 585 | Sea-Dweller 1665 |
| 771 | Daytona 6239, 6263, 6265 |
| 501B | Submariner 16610, GMT 16700, Explorer II 16570 |
| 503B | Daytona 16520 |
| 558B | Explorer 14270 |
| 592B | Sea-Dweller 16600 / 16660 |
Clasp, bracelet, watch: what it all tells you
On the vintage market, a « period-correct » bracelet — whose clasp code and end links match the era of the case — significantly increases a watch’s value and credibility. Conversely, a gap of a few years is nothing to worry about: bracelets get replaced, and Rolex mixed stock. What matters is overall consistency.
For a complete check, cross-reference three things: the case year with our Rolex Serial Number Lookup, the exact model with the Rolex Reference Decoder, and the bracelet date with the tool above. If everything lines up and you are thinking of selling, request a free valuation — consistent, well-preserved examples are exactly what we look for in our pre-owned Rolex collection. Cet outil existe aussi en français : Codes bracelets & boucles Rolex.
Frequently asked questions
My clasp code does not match my watch’s year — is that a problem?
No. Rolex assembled heads and bracelets separately, and a one-to-three-year gap is completely normal. A twenty-year gap suggests a replaced bracelet — common and harmless for authenticity, but worth knowing before you buy.
What does an « S » on the clasp mean?
A clasp stamped with an S was replaced during an official Rolex service. It is genuine, but its date code reflects the replacement, not the watch’s production.
Can I date a clasp made after 2010?
No: since 2011 the codes are random and follow no public chart, just like case serial numbers since 2010. Only Rolex can link them to a date.
Are these charts official?
Rolex publishes no archives. These correspondences were established by the collector community over decades and are broadly consensual, with rare ambiguities (T/W for 1995) that we flag honestly.
Where is my bracelet’s full reference?
Inside the clasp for the bracelet reference, and on the edge of the end links (case side) for their own number.