Watch Serial Number Lookup
Every Tudor carries two identifiers: a reference number for the model and a serial number for the individual watch. This guide covers where to find both on vintage and modern Tudors, how to read a current reference such as M79000N-0001, what the serial can and can't tell you, and how to check it against stolen-watch records before you buy.
Watch checks & theft reports
A database check is not proof of authenticity or ownership.
On vintage and many neo-vintage Tudors, the serial number is engraved between the lugs at 6 o'clock, hidden by the bracelet or strap, the same convention Rolex uses. On some older pieces the number between the lugs at 12 o'clock is the reference rather than the serial. Placement on current models varies by collection and generation, so if you can't see a number between the lugs, check the rest of the case and the guarantee paperwork, or ask an authorised Tudor retailer to read it for you. Never accept a typed serial number from a seller in place of a photo of the engraving itself.
The serial number identifies one specific watch. Unlike Rolex, Tudor has never published a serial-to-year chart, and the dating tables that circulate online are collector estimates. The production period is better established from papers, service records and model-specific details. For working out what a watch should be, the reference number tells you far more than the serial.
No. Counterfeiters copy real serial numbers, and a genuine Tudor can still carry aftermarket parts (dial, bezel insert, hands, bracelet) that the serial says nothing about. Treat a matching serial as one piece of evidence: compare it with the papers, then have anything valuable or uncertain inspected by an authorised Tudor retailer or an experienced independent watchmaker.
Check the case back, between the lugs, the rehaut, the movement, the warranty card and the original box or papers. Locations vary by brand — see the brand guides below.
Most brands also stamp a separate reference or model number. Together, the two numbers identify the exact watch far better than either alone.
Run the serial number through our stolen-watch database to check whether matching watch information has been reported stolen.
A match or a clean result is one data point, not a verdict — compare the watch's details carefully either way.
For a significant purchase, pair your search with authentication from the manufacturer, an authorized dealer or an independent watch specialist.
Tudor grew out of Rolex: Hans Wilsdorf registered the Tudor name in 1926 and founded Montres Tudor SA in 1946 to offer Rolex-standard reliability at a lower price. That shared history is why many vintage Tudors use Rolex-made cases and the same between-the-lugs engraving. Since 2015 Tudor has also produced its own manufacture movements (the MT calibres), and the brand states that current watches come with a five-year guarantee that transfers to later owners and needs no registration.
Current Tudor references start with M, followed by the model number, sometimes a letter suffix, and a four-digit variant code after a hyphen. Tudor's own site lists the Black Bay 54, for example, as M79000N-0001.
The variant code separates dial, bezel and bracelet combinations of the same model, so two watches with the same model number can have different references. When you buy, the full reference on the papers should match every visible detail of the watch: case size, bezel, dial colour and bracelet or strap.
| Part | Example | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | M | Current-generation reference format |
| Model number | 79000 | The model family (here, the Black Bay 54) |
| Suffix letter | N | A variant code within the model, often linked to colour |
| Variant code | -0001 | The exact dial, bezel and bracelet combination |
Tudor says on its product pages that current watches carry a five-year guarantee that can be transferred to later owners and doesn't require registration or periodic maintenance checks. The guarantee runs from the original purchase date, so the date on the papers or invoice tells you how much cover is left.
Ask for the guarantee paperwork, the original invoice (personal details can be redacted), any service receipts and the box. Papers don't prove ownership on their own, because they can be separated from the watch, but a seller with a complete, consistent set who can explain the watch's history is a far better bet than one who has nothing.
The serial number is what lets a stolen Tudor be identified later, so the most useful thing you can do is get it on record quickly and in as many places as possible.
On vintage and many neo-vintage Tudors it's engraved between the lugs at 6 o'clock, under the bracelet or strap. Placement varies on current models, so check the whole case and the guarantee paperwork, or ask an authorised Tudor retailer to read it.
The reference number (for example M79000N-0001) identifies the model and its configuration. The serial number identifies your individual watch. Both should match the paperwork.
Not reliably. Tudor has never published a serial-to-year chart, and online tables are collector estimates. Papers, service records and model details are better guides, and Tudor or an authorised service centre can help with a specific watch.
No. Real serial numbers are copied onto fakes, and genuine watches can carry replacement parts. Use the serial alongside the papers and a physical inspection.
Tudor says current watches carry a five-year guarantee that transfers to later owners and doesn't need registration. It runs from the original purchase date, so check the date on the papers.
No. Older Tudors and Rolexes both engrave the serial between the lugs, but the two brands use separate number series, so a Rolex dating chart won't date a Tudor.
Get the serial number from the engraving itself, not just the seller's message, and search it on StolenWatchX before you pay. If a record matches, don't complete the purchase; contact the police.
Treat it as a serious warning sign: removed or illegible serials are common on stolen and tampered watches. Walk away unless an authorised service centre can explain it in writing.
Report it to the police, collect the serial and reference from your papers or insurance documents, tell your insurer, and register the watch on StolenWatchX so anyone who checks the serial sees the report.
Where to find a serial number, what it can tell you, and how to check it.
How to search a serial number against stolen-watch records before you buy.
What a serial or database check can — and can't — prove about authenticity.
A full due-diligence checklist for buying a pre-owned watch safely.
Start a police, insurer and marketplace report for a stolen watch.