Collector's Reference
Patek Philippe Serial Number
Lookup & Guide
Patek Philippe has maintained meticulous production records since 1839 — over 185 years of watchmaking. Use our free lookup tool to date any Patek from its serial number, from the earliest Calatrava to the latest Nautilus.
Serial Number Lookup
Enter your Patek Philippe serial number — found between the lugs at 6 o'clock or on the caseback. Movement serials appear through the exhibition back.
Approximate Production Year
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Results are approximate. Patek Philippe does not publicly disclose production records. Serial numbers advanced slowly due to limited annual production (~60,000 pieces per year).
Patek Philippe Serial Number Timeline
Patek Philippe began numbering movements in 1839 and has used a continuous sequential series ever since. The serial advances slowly — Patek's annual production of ~60,000 pieces is a fraction of Rolex or Omega output — making each serial a precise provenance marker.
Founding Era (1839–1960)
| Year | Starting Serial |
|---|---|
| 1839 | 1 |
| 1845 | 500 |
| 1851 | 1,500 |
| 1856 | 4,000 |
| 1861 | 9,000 |
| 1866 | 17,500 |
| 1871 | 27,000 |
| 1876 | 42,000 |
| 1881 | 60,000 |
| 1886 | 82,000 |
| 1891 | 107,000 |
| 1896 | 135,000 |
| 1901 | 162,000 |
| 1906 | 190,000 |
| 1911 | 210,000 |
| 1916 | 236,000 |
| 1921 | 267,000 |
| 1926 | 295,000 |
| 1931 | 821,000 |
| 1936 | 842,000 |
| 1941 | 857,000 |
| 1946 | 873,000 |
| 1951 | 891,000 |
| 1956 | 916,000 |
| 1961 | 958,000 |
Modern Era (1966–Present)
| Year | Starting Serial |
|---|---|
| 1966 | 1,000,000 |
| 1971 | 1,050,000 |
| 1976 | 1,100,000 |
| 1981 | 1,155,000 |
| 1986 | 2,730,000 |
| 1988 | 2,800,000 |
| 1991 | 2,900,000 |
| 1993 | 3,000,000 |
| 1996 | 3,150,000 |
| 1998 | 3,400,000 |
| 2001 | 3,620,000 |
| 2003 | 3,800,000 |
| 2006 | 4,100,000 |
| 2008 | 4,300,000 |
| 2011 | 4,700,000 |
| 2013 | 5,000,000 |
| 2016 | 5,400,000 |
| 2018 | 5,700,000 |
| 2021 | 6,100,000 |
| 2024 | 6,500,000 |
Note: the jump from ~1,155,000 to ~2,730,000 between 1981–1986 reflects a major expansion in production capacity during the Stern family era of modernization.
Key Patek Philippe References
Patek Philippe reference numbers are 4–5 digits, occasionally with letter suffixes indicating case material (J = yellow gold, G = white gold, P = platinum, A = stainless steel). Knowing the reference alongside the serial allows precise model identification.
| Reference | Model | Era |
|---|---|---|
| 5711 | Nautilus (Steel, Date) | 2006–2021 |
| 5726 | Nautilus Annual Calendar | 2011–present |
| 5167 | Aquanaut | 2007–present |
| 5196 | Calatrava | 2005–present |
| 96 | Calatrava (Original) | 1932–1998 |
| 5970 | Perpetual Calendar Chronograph | 2004–2010 |
| 2499 | Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (Vintage) | 1951–1985 |
| 1518 | Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (Vintage) | 1941–1954 |
| 5035 | Annual Calendar | 1996–2007 |
| 5396 | Annual Calendar | 2006–present |
| 3940 | Perpetual Calendar | 1985–2007 |
| 5140 | Perpetual Calendar | 2000–2019 |
| 5002 | Sky Moon Tourbillon | 2001–present |
Where to Find Your Patek Philippe Serial
Between the Lugs (Case Serial)
The case serial is engraved between the lugs at 6 o'clock. The bracelet must be removed to read it. This is the primary serial used for dating and provenance.
Movement Serial (Exhibition Back)
Many Patek Philippe models feature an exhibition caseback. The movement serial — which may differ slightly from the case serial — is visible on the movement bridges or plates.
Extract from the Archives
Patek Philippe offers an official Extract from the Archives service — a document certifying the reference, metal, dial, and delivery date for any watch in their records. For high-value transactions, an archive extract provides the most authoritative provenance.
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