Rolex Clasp Codes: Bracelet Date Chart
From 1976 to 2010 Rolex stamped a short date code inside the clasp of its bracelets. The letters give the year the clasp was made and the number gives the month. Enter a code below or find it in the chart.
Rolex clasp codes by year
| Year | Clasp code |
|---|---|
| 1976 | A or VA |
| 1977 | B or VB |
| 1978 | C or VC |
| 1979 | D or VD |
| 1980 | E or VE |
| 1981 | F or VF |
| 1982 | G |
| 1983 | H |
| 1984 | I |
| 1985 | J |
| 1986 | K |
| 1987 | L |
| Year | Clasp code |
|---|---|
| 1988 | M |
| 1989 | N |
| 1990 | O |
| 1991 | P |
| 1992 | Q |
| 1993 | R |
| 1994 | S |
| 1995 | T or W |
| 1996 | V |
| 1997 | Z |
| 1998 | U |
| 1999 | X |
| Year | Clasp code |
|---|---|
| 2000 | AB |
| 2001 | DE |
| 2002 | DT |
| 2003 | AD |
| 2004 | CL |
| 2005 | MA |
| 2006 | OP |
| 2007 | EO |
| 2008 | PJ |
| 2009 | LT |
| 2010 | RS |
Clasps made from 2011 onward carry random codes that cannot be dated.
How to read a Rolex clasp code
A clasp code is one or two letters followed by a number from 1 to 12. Look up the letters in the chart above for the year, then read the number as the month.
- OP8 is August 2006.
- AB3 is March 2000.
- N11 is November 1989.
| Number | Month |
|---|---|
| 1 | January |
| 2 | February |
| 3 | March |
| 4 | April |
| 5 | May |
| 6 | June |
| Number | Month |
|---|---|
| 7 | July |
| 8 | August |
| 9 | September |
| 10 | October |
| 11 | November |
| 12 | December |
Where to find the clasp code
Open the clasp fully and look at the inside of the folding blades, close to the hinge. The code is stamped into the metal and is often small and faint, so a loupe and a good light help. Older clasps also carry the bracelet reference number, a longer number that should not be confused with the date code.
What a clasp code does and does not tell you
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| It dates the clasp, not the watch | Bracelets were made separately from cases. A clasp dated within about a year of the serial number is normal. |
| A much later code | The bracelet or clasp was probably replaced at some point. That is common on older watches, but it matters to collectors who want every part original. |
| A much earlier code | Unusual. The bracelet may have come from another watch. |
| A separate S stamp | Marks a service replacement clasp fitted by Rolex. |
| No readable code | Codes wear away with polishing and use, and clasps made before 1976 or after 2010 do not follow this chart. |
Like serial number charts, clasp code charts are compiled by dealers and collectors. Rolex has never published an official list, so treat every date as a close estimate.
To date the watch itself, use the Rolex serial number chart. To check that a full bracelet is present, see the Rolex link count guide. If you would like a second opinion on a watch, contact our Houston team.