Patek Philippe Serial Number Lookup
Identify the approximate production year of your Patek Philippe watch from its serial number, or decode a reference number to discover the model family and case material.
Where to find your serial number: On most Patek Philippe watches the serial number is engraved on the caseback. It is purely numeric, typically 6\u20137 digits on modern watches. Unlike Rolex, Patek Philippe has never switched to randomized serials \u2014 the sequential system has been in use since 1839.
Enter your Patek Philippe serial number (e.g., 1650000, 5250000). Serials are purely numeric, typically 6\u20137 digits.
Popular Patek Philippe Reference Numbers
A selection of well-known Patek Philippe references with their decoded descriptions. Use the decoder tool above for any reference not listed here.
| Reference | Description |
|---|---|
| 5711/1A-010 | Nautilus, 40mm, Stainless Steel, Blue Dial |
| 5711/1A-014 | Nautilus, 40mm, Stainless Steel, Olive Green Dial |
| 5711/1R-001 | Nautilus, 40mm, Rose Gold, Chocolate Dial |
| 5726/1A-014 | Nautilus Annual Calendar, Steel, Blue Dial |
| 5980/1A-014 | Nautilus Chronograph, Steel, Blue Dial |
| 5167A-001 | Aquanaut, 40mm, Steel, Black Dial |
| 5167R-001 | Aquanaut, 40mm, Rose Gold, Chocolate Dial |
| 5968A-001 | Aquanaut Chronograph, Steel, Black Dial |
| 5227G-001 | Calatrava, 39mm, White Gold, White Dial |
| 5227R-001 | Calatrava, 39mm, Rose Gold, Brown Dial |
| 5196P-001 | Calatrava, 37mm, Platinum, Silver Dial |
| 5396G-010 | Annual Calendar, White Gold, Silver Dial |
| 5205G-010 | Annual Calendar, White Gold, Blue Dial |
| 5270G-018 | Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, White Gold |
| 5940G-010 | Perpetual Calendar Moonphase, White Gold |
| 5230G-010 | World Time, White Gold, Blue Dial |
| 5131J-001 | World Time Enamel, Yellow Gold |
| 3940J-001 | Perpetual Calendar (vintage), Yellow Gold |
Serial Number Year Range Guide
Patek Philippe uses a purely sequential numeric serial system. Each range below corresponds to the approximate production years for watches bearing those serial numbers.
| Serial Range | Approximate Years |
|---|---|
| 1–1,000 | 1839–1844 |
| 1,001–10,000 | 1845–1860 |
| 10,001–50,000 | 1861–1877 |
| 50,001–100,000 | 1878–1892 |
| 100,001–150,000 | 1893–1900 |
| 150,001–200,000 | 1901–1910 |
| 200,001–300,000 | 1911–1920 |
| 300,001–410,000 | 1921–1925 |
| 410,001–600,000 | 1926–1930 |
| 600,001–750,000 | 1931–1935 |
| 750,001–850,000 | 1936–1940 |
| 850,001–910,000 | 1941–1945 |
| 910,001–975,000 | 1946–1950 |
| 975,001–1,050,000 | 1951–1955 |
| 1,050,001–1,200,000 | 1956–1960 |
| 1,200,001–1,300,000 | 1961–1965 |
| 1,300,001–1,400,000 | 1966–1970 |
| 1,400,001–1,500,000 | 1971–1975 |
| 1,500,001–1,600,000 | 1976–1980 |
| 1,600,001–1,800,000 | 1981–1985 |
| 1,800,001–2,000,000 | 1986–1990 |
| 2,000,001–2,700,000 | 1991–1995 |
| 2,700,001–3,000,000 | 1996–2000 |
| 3,000,001–3,700,000 | 2001–2005 |
| 3,700,001–4,200,000 | 2006–2010 |
| 4,200,001–4,900,000 | 2011–2015 |
| 4,900,001–5,800,000 | 2016–2020 |
| 5,800,001–6,500,000 | 2021–2024 |
Reference Number Decoder Guide
Patek Philippe references follow the structure: [4-digit model] / [material code] - [dial code]. For example, 5711/1A-010 breaks down as 5711 (Nautilus) | 1A (Stainless Steel) | 010 (blue dial configuration). The 4-digit model number is the primary identifier; the material suffix and dial code describe the specific variant.
Material Suffix Codes
| Code | Material |
|---|---|
| 1A | Stainless Steel |
| 1R | Rose Gold |
| 1G | Yellow Gold |
| 1J | Yellow Gold (vintage) |
| 1P | Platinum |
| 11A | Stainless Steel |
| 11G | Yellow Gold |
| 11R | Rose Gold |
| 11P | Platinum |
Model Families (4-digit Reference)
| Reference | Model Family |
|---|---|
| 2499 | Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (vintage) |
| 3940 | Perpetual Calendar (vintage) |
| 3970 | Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (vintage) |
| 4910 | Twenty~4 |
| 5078 | Minute Repeater |
| 5098 | Gondolo |
| 5100 | Ten-Day Tourbillon |
| 5101 | Ten-Day Tourbillon |
| 5102 | Sky Moon Tourbillon |
| 5107 | Calatrava |
| 5110 | World Time |
| 5111 | Gondolo |
| 5130 | World Time |
| 5131 | World Time Enamel |
| 5140 | Perpetual Calendar |
| 5146 | Annual Calendar |
| 5153 | Calatrava |
| 5159 | Perpetual Calendar |
| 5164 | Aquanaut Travel Time |
| 5167 | Aquanaut |
| 5170 | Chronograph |
| 5172 | Chronograph |
| 5178 | Celestial |
| 5196 | Calatrava |
| 5200 | World Time (Gondolo) |
| 5204 | Split-Seconds Perpetual Calendar Chronograph |
| 5205 | Annual Calendar |
| 5212 | Weekly Calendar |
| 5227 | Calatrava |
| 5230 | World Time |
| 5270 | Perpetual Calendar Chronograph |
| 5327 | Perpetual Calendar |
| 5396 | Annual Calendar |
| 5524 | Calatrava Pilot Travel Time |
| 5650 | Aquanaut Advanced Research |
| 5711 | Nautilus |
| 5726 | Nautilus Annual Calendar |
| 5940 | Perpetual Calendar Moonphase |
| 5960 | Annual Calendar Chronograph |
| 5961 | Annual Calendar Chronograph |
| 5968 | Aquanaut Chronograph |
| 5980 | Nautilus Chronograph |
| 5990 | Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph |
| 6000 | Calatrava |
| 6119 | Calatrava |
| 7071 | Twenty~4 |
| 7300 | Twenty~4 |
All serial number year ranges are estimates based on documented Patek Philippe production data. Exact production dates may vary. Reference number decoding reflects Patek Philippe's modern reference format; vintage or special edition references may differ from the patterns described here.
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Shop Pre-Owned Patek PhilippeFrequently Asked Questions
On most Patek Philippe watches, the serial number is engraved on the caseback. It is a purely numeric sequence, typically 6–7 digits on modern pieces. Some vintage models may have shorter serials. The reference number (a separate engraving) is usually found on the movement or on the inner caseback.
You can estimate the production year by looking up the serial number in Patek Philippe's well-documented sequential numbering system. Unlike Rolex, Patek Philippe has never randomized its serial numbers, so ranges remain accurate for the entire history of the brand from 1839 to today. Enter your serial in the tool above to see the approximate production era.
No. The year ranges are estimates. Patek Philippe produces a limited number of watches per year and the exact number produced in any given year varies. Serial transitions do not happen on January 1st. The ranges provided are based on historically documented data and should be treated as approximate guidelines, accurate to within a few years.
A Patek Philippe reference number consists of a 4-digit model number, optionally followed by a slash, a material suffix code (e.g., 1A for stainless steel, 1R for rose gold, 1G for yellow gold, 1P for platinum), a hyphen, and a dial configuration code. For example, 5711/1A-010 means: 5711 (Nautilus model), 1A (stainless steel case), 010 (blue dial). The model number alone (e.g., 5711) uniquely identifies the watch family.
A serial number lookup can confirm whether your serial falls within a plausible production range, but it cannot verify authenticity on its own. To confirm authenticity, look for the engraved Patek Philippe Geneva seal on the caseback, examine movement quality, check that the reference number matches the model, and consult a certified Patek Philippe retailer or independent watchmaker. Gray and Sons offers professional pre-owned authentication for Patek Philippe watches.