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__NOTOC__
__NOTOC__
<div style="display:none;">{{DISPLAYTITLE:<span style="display:none;">BezelBase</span>}}</div>
{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=BezelBase — Watch Reference Encyclopedia
|title=BezelBase — Watch Reference Encyclopedia
|description=A hobby-driven encyclopedic reference for Rolex watches. Starting with the Submariner — every reference, every variant, every era. Historical context, production details, and collector notes.
|description=Encyclopedic reference for Rolex watches. Vintage and discontinued Rolex references documented — specs, dial variants, serial ranges, production history.
|keywords=watch reference, Rolex, Rolex Submariner, vintage Rolex, collector guide, watch history, production history, dial variants
|keywords=watch reference, Rolex, Rolex Submariner, Rolex Daytona, Rolex Explorer, Rolex GMT-Master, Rolex Bubbleback, Rolex Prince, Brancard, Oyster, Ovettone, vintage Rolex, collector guide, watch history, production history, dial variants
|image=Bezelbase_main_poster.webp
|image_alt=BezelBase — vintage Rolex reference encyclopedia
|image_width=1280
|image_height=1280
|og_type=website
}}
}}


<div style="max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 1em;">
<div style="max-width: 720px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 1em;">


== About this project ==
<div style="margin: 0.5em 0 1.5em 0; font-size: 110%;">
Rolex changed what a wristwatch could do. The Oyster case (1926) made watches waterproof, the Perpetual rotor (1931) made them self-winding, the Prince (1928) built them to chronometer grade. Watchmakers and collectors have spent the decades since cataloguing what changed across each reference. BezelBase tries to store this information in a single place.


BezelBase is a hobby project with a simple ambition: capture the historical record of Rolex watches in one place, as thoroughly and honestly as possible. Not a blog, not a dealer site — just a reference, built by enthusiasts who keep falling deeper into the details and figured other people might want to read what they found.
Each article documents one Rolex reference: production years, movement, dial variants, case and bracelet details, auction record, and the things to check when authenticating one. Coverage spans the main Rolex lines so the history reads as one connected archive.


The long-term goal is to cover every Rolex family.
Inside one reference, the watch can change a lot. A 5512 from 1962 is not the 5512 from 1978. A pointed-crown-guard 1675 is not the late matte 1675. Generation matters first. [[BezelBase:About|About →]]
</div>
 
<div style="text-align:center; margin:1.5em auto 2em auto;">
[[File:Bezelbase_main_poster.webp|frameless|320x320px|link=]]
</div>
 
== Submariner ==
 
{| style="width:100%; font-size:85%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Pre-five-digit<br/><small>1953–90</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6204|6204]] · [[Reference:6205|6205]] · [[Reference:6200|6200]] · [[Reference:6536|6536]] · [[Reference:6536-1|6536/1]] · [[Reference:6538|6538]] · [[Reference:5508|5508]] · [[Reference:5510|5510]] · [[Reference:5512|5512]] · [[Reference:5513|5513]] · [[Reference:5514|5514]] · [[Reference:5517|5517]] · [[Reference:1680|1680]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Five-digit<br/><small>1979–2010</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:14060|14060]] · [[Reference:14060M|14060M]] · [[Reference:16800|16800]] · [[Reference:16610|16610]] · [[Reference:16610LV|16610LV]] · [[Reference:16803|16803]] · [[Reference:16808|16808]] · [[Reference:16613|16613]] · [[Reference:16618|16618]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:submariner|→ Full Submariner index]]'''
 
== Daytona ==
 
{| style="width:100%; font-size:85%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Manual-wind chronograph<br/><small>1962–1988</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6238|6238]] · [[Reference:6239|6239]] · [[Reference:6240|6240]] · [[Reference:6241|6241]] · [[Reference:6262|6262]] · [[Reference:6263|6263]] · [[Reference:6264|6264]] · [[Reference:6265|6265]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Zenith automatic<br/><small>1988–2000</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16520|16520]] · [[Reference:16518|16518]] · [[Reference:16519|16519]] · [[Reference:16523|16523]] · [[Reference:16528|16528]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | In-house cal 4130<br/><small>2000–2016</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:116520|116520]] · [[Reference:116523|116523]] · [[Reference:116528|116528]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:daytona|→ Full Daytona index]]'''
 
== Explorer ==
 
{| style="width:100%; font-size:85%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Vintage<br/><small>1952–89</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6150|6150]] · [[Reference:6350|6350]] · [[Reference:6610|6610]] · [[Reference:1016|1016]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Modern<br/><small>1989–2021</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:14270|14270]] · [[Reference:114270|114270]] · [[Reference:214270|214270]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:explorer|→ Full Explorer index]]'''
 
== Explorer II ==
 
{| style="width:100%; font-size:85%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Vintage Freccione<br/><small>1971–1984</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:1655|1655]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Transitional<br/><small>1985–1989</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16550|16550]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Modern 40mm<br/><small>1989–2010</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16570|16570]]
|}
 
'''[[Reference:explorer-ii|→ Full Explorer II index]]'''


== Reference library ==
== GMT-Master ==


<div style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0;">
{| style="width:100%; font-size:85%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Vintage<br/><small>1955–99</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6542|6542]] · [[Reference:1675|1675]] · [[Reference:16750|16750]] · [[Reference:16753|16753]] · [[Reference:16758|16758]] · [[Reference:16700|16700]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | GMT-Master II<br/><small>1983–2007</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:16760|16760]] · [[Reference:16710|16710]] · [[Reference:16713|16713]] · [[Reference:16718|16718]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Ceramic 5-digit<br/><small>2005–19</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:116718LN|116718LN]] · [[Reference:116713LN|116713LN]] · [[Reference:116710LN|116710LN]] · [[Reference:116710BLNR|116710BLNR]] · [[Reference:116719BLRO|116719BLRO]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Ceramic 6-digit<br/><small>2018–present</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]] · [[Reference:126711CHNR|126711CHNR]] · [[Reference:126715CHNR|126715CHNR]] · [[Reference:126710BLNR|126710BLNR]] · [[Reference:126720VTNR|126720VTNR]] · [[Reference:126713GRNR|126713GRNR]] · [[Reference:126718GRNR|126718GRNR]] · [[Reference:126710GRNR|126710GRNR]]
|}


<div style="flex: 1; min-width: 280px; background: #f8f8f8; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 4px; padding: 1.2em;">
'''[[Reference:gmt-master|→ Full GMT-Master index]]'''
=== [[Reference:submariner|Submariner]] ===


36 reference articles covering every generation from the first 6204 in 1953 to the current 126-series production. Four eras, three dozen variants, seventy years of production history.
== Oyster & Bubbleback ==


'''Highlights:'''
{| style="width:100%; font-size:85%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
* [[Reference:6538|6538]] — the James Bond Submariner
|-
* [[Reference:5513|5513]] — 27-year production run, the broadest vintage reference
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
* [[Reference:1680|1680]] — first Submariner Date, Red Sub and White Sub eras
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
* [[Reference:16610|16610]] — the 23-year benchmark modern Submariner
|-
* [[Reference:116610LV|116610LV]] — the "Hulk," now a modern collectible
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Pre-Oyster & Oyster<br/><small>1922–37</small>
* [[Reference:114060|114060]] — the last 40mm no-date, "the last small Sub"
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:3666|3666]] · [[Reference:2136|2136]] · [[Reference:3003|3003]] · [[Reference:3004|3004]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Bubbleback era<br/><small>1933–45</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:1858|1858]] · [[Reference:3131|3131]] · [[Reference:3372|3372]] · [[Reference:3525|3525]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Datejust / Padellone / Super Oyster<br/><small>1945–53</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:4467|4467]] · [[Reference:5030|5030]] · [[Reference:5031|5031]] · [[Reference:6031|6031]] · [[Reference:6075|6075]] · [[Reference:6105|6105]] · [[Reference:8171|8171]] · [[Reference:6098|6098]]
|}


'''[[Reference:submariner|→ Full Submariner index]]'''
'''[[Reference:bubbleback|→ Full Bubbleback index]]'''
</div>
 
== Air-King ==


</div>
{| style="width:100%; font-size:85%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Battle of Britain origin<br/><small>1945–53</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:4925|4925]] · [[Reference:4365|4365]] · [[Reference:4499|4499]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | First automatic<br/><small>1953–57</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:6552|6552]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Long-run mainstay<br/><small>1957–89</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:5500|5500]] · [[Reference:5501|5501]] · [[Reference:5502|5502]] · [[Reference:5504|5504]] · [[Reference:5506|5506]] · [[Reference:5520|5520]] · [[Reference:5700|5700]] · [[Reference:5701|5701]]
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Sapphire era<br/><small>1989–2014</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:14000|14000]] · [[Reference:14000M|14000M]] · [[Reference:114200|114200]]
|}


== How this is built ==
'''[[Reference:air-king|→ Full Air-King index]]'''


Every claim in a BezelBase article traces to a named source — Rolex primary material, the Vintage Rolex Field Manual, auction catalogues from Phillips, Sotheby's, and Christie's, specialist dealer archives, and documented collector research. Where sources disagree, both positions are presented with attribution. Where the historical record has gaps, they are acknowledged rather than glossed over.
== Prince ==


The articles are structured for reference use. Each follows the same architecture: core specifications, production outline, movement notes, dial map, case and bezel details, bracelet fitment, special branches, and market context. Built to be scanned, not just read.
{| style="width:100%; font-size:85%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:0.5em; table-layout:fixed; line-height:1.35;"
|-
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px; width:150px;" | Era
! style="text-align:left; border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; padding:2px 3px;" | References
|-
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top; font-weight:bold;" | Brancard era<br/><small>1928–mid-1940s</small>
| style="padding:3px 4px; vertical-align:top;" | [[Reference:1343|1343]] · [[Reference:971|971]] · [[Reference:1490|1490]] · [[Reference:1491|1491]] · [[Reference:1527|1527]] · [[Reference:1862|1862]] · [[Reference:3361|3361]] · [[Reference:3937|3937]]
|}


== Contribute ==
'''[[Reference:prince|→ Full Prince index]]'''


This is an open project. If any of this interests you, there is plenty of work to do.
== Reference guides ==


* '''Improve an article''' — every page is a working draft; click ''Edit source'' and make it better
Three pages cover material that applies across every Rolex line documented here. '''[[Reference:Bracelets|Bracelets]]''' catalogs bracelet refs, end links, clasps, and link types alongside the clasp date-code key. '''[[Reference:Movements|Movements]]''' lists every caliber spanning the manual-wind chronograph, Zenith-driven, and in-house generations. '''[[Reference:Serial-numbers|Serial numbers]]''' decodes the three Rolex serial systems — numeric pre-1987, letter 1987–2010, and random alphanumeric 2010+.
* '''Bring sources''' — auction results, dealer archives, published research, anything that strengthens a claim or fills a gap
* '''Upload photos''' — images of watches you own are welcome (see the [[BezelBase:Image policy|image policy]])
* '''Flag errors''' — if something is wrong, say so; getting it right matters more than getting it finished


</div>
</div>


[[Category:BezelBase]]
[[Category:BezelBase]]

Latest revision as of 04:54, 2 May 2026

Rolex changed what a wristwatch could do. The Oyster case (1926) made watches waterproof, the Perpetual rotor (1931) made them self-winding, the Prince (1928) built them to chronometer grade. Watchmakers and collectors have spent the decades since cataloguing what changed across each reference. BezelBase tries to store this information in a single place.

Each article documents one Rolex reference: production years, movement, dial variants, case and bracelet details, auction record, and the things to check when authenticating one. Coverage spans the main Rolex lines so the history reads as one connected archive.

Inside one reference, the watch can change a lot. A 5512 from 1962 is not the 5512 from 1978. A pointed-crown-guard 1675 is not the late matte 1675. Generation matters first. About →

Submariner

Era References
Pre-five-digit
1953–90 		6204 · 6205 · 6200 · 6536 · 6536/1 · 6538 · 5508 · 5510 · 5512 · 5513 · 5514 · 5517 · 1680
Five-digit
1979–2010 		14060 · 14060M · 16800 · 16610 · 16610LV · 16803 · 16808 · 16613 · 16618

→ Full Submariner index

Daytona

Era References
Manual-wind chronograph
1962–1988 		6238 · 6239 · 6240 · 6241 · 6262 · 6263 · 6264 · 6265
Zenith automatic
1988–2000 		16520 · 16518 · 16519 · 16523 · 16528
In-house cal 4130
2000–2016 		116520 · 116523 · 116528

→ Full Daytona index

Explorer

Era References
Vintage
1952–89 		6150 · 6350 · 6610 · 1016
Modern
1989–2021 		14270 · 114270 · 214270

→ Full Explorer index

Explorer II

Era References
Vintage Freccione
1971–1984 		1655
Transitional
1985–1989 		16550
Modern 40mm
1989–2010 		16570

→ Full Explorer II index

GMT-Master

Era References
Vintage
1955–99 		6542 · 1675 · 16750 · 16753 · 16758 · 16700
GMT-Master II
1983–2007 		16760 · 16710 · 16713 · 16718
Ceramic 5-digit
2005–19 		116718LN · 116713LN · 116710LN · 116710BLNR · 116719BLRO
Ceramic 6-digit
2018–present 		126710BLRO · 126711CHNR · 126715CHNR · 126710BLNR · 126720VTNR · 126713GRNR · 126718GRNR · 126710GRNR

→ Full GMT-Master index

Oyster & Bubbleback

Era References
Pre-Oyster & Oyster
1922–37 		3666 · 2136 · 3003 · 3004
Bubbleback era
1933–45 		1858 · 3131 · 3372 · 3525
Datejust / Padellone / Super Oyster
1945–53 		4467 · 5030 · 5031 · 6031 · 6075 · 6105 · 8171 · 6098

→ Full Bubbleback index

Air-King

Era References
Battle of Britain origin
1945–53 		4925 · 4365 · 4499
First automatic
1953–57 		6552
Long-run mainstay
1957–89 		5500 · 5501 · 5502 · 5504 · 5506 · 5520 · 5700 · 5701
Sapphire era
1989–2014 		14000 · 14000M · 114200

→ Full Air-King index

Prince

Era References
Brancard era
1928–mid-1940s 		1343 · 971 · 1490 · 1491 · 1527 · 1862 · 3361 · 3937

→ Full Prince index

Reference guides

Three pages cover material that applies across every Rolex line documented here. Bracelets catalogs bracelet refs, end links, clasps, and link types alongside the clasp date-code key. Movements lists every caliber spanning the manual-wind chronograph, Zenith-driven, and in-house generations. Serial numbers decodes the three Rolex serial systems — numeric pre-1987, letter 1987–2010, and random alphanumeric 2010+.

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