AP serial reference

[pam312]

Hello, Guys.

I am new to AP and looking for buying one. I was searching for an AP serial reference list by year like Rolex ones. But I couldn't find one yet.

Are you able to share the link or information if you know any? such as current serial number or something like that..

Thanks a lot!

[TSW]

AP use letters that are in production for couple of years,
G series was the last one that you still will find at some AD's and H series are the newest one.

[Submarino]

Here's some guidance that I've been able to gather over time with the pieces I've owned and I currently own. These would be production time periods for all AP watches. The info is not 100% confirmed but quite close.

A Series - 1972 to 1975
B Series - 1976 to 1979
C Series - 1980 to 1986
D Series - 1987 to 1994
E Series - 1994 to 2000
F Series - 2001 to 2005
G Series - 2006 to 2010
H Series - 2011 To Date


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[VetteBandit]

Originally Posted by Submarino

Here's some guidance that I've been able to gather over time with the pieces I've owned and I currently own. These would be production time periods for all AP watches. The info is not 100% confirmed but quite close.

A Series - 1972 to 1975
B Series - 1976 to 1979
C Series - 1980 to 1986
D Series - 1987 to 1994
E Series - 1994 to 2000
F Series - 2001 to 2005
G Series - 2006 to 2010
H Series - 2011 To Date


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Because they make so few watches, compared to companies like Rolex, the change in serial letters is much slower.

[HL65]

Interesting....Hal the RB2 wasn't released until July of 07' and they were F series.

[emagni]

Anyone knows what year range is a P series?

[Submarino]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Interesting....Hal the RB2 wasn't released until July of 07' and they were F series.

Like I said I am not 100% sure but with information from others we can improve the date ranges. This is based on my own pieces and other watches I've seen from friends or here on TRF. What you just mentioned will help in revising the date ranges. Anybody else can chime in???

[Submarino]

Here's a revision based on Ken's comment. Let's get more info from all you AP owners and we might get close to reality.

A Series - 1972 to 1975
B Series - 1976 to 1979
C Series - 1980 to 1986
D Series - 1987 to 1994
E Series - 1994 to 2000
F Series - 2001 to 2007
G Series - 2008 to 2010
H Series - 2011 To Date

[Yoda]

My understanding is that AP work to a serial number from 1 to a certain number I think 100k once that number has been reached then the next letter of the alphabet is reached. the letters do not work by years and I think the LE are differently numbered.

If An LE is limited to say 500 AP will only make a certain number a year so an LE can run over several letters.

[Submarino]

Originally Posted by Yoda

My understanding is that AP work to a serial number from 1 to a certain number I think 100k once that number has been reached then the next letter of the alphabet is reached.

This is correct. However, the letters are indeed associated to a time period as the progression of numbers in the case number advances chronologically. You can't go from 1 to 100k unless you advance in time. I.e There can't be a B-series from
1990 and a C-series from 2000. Letters and numbers progress chronologically.



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[pam312]

You guys are awesome!!!! thanks for the info!!

[gusvs]

Hi all,

I need your help on confirming an AP serial number. I am looking at a ref 14790 which the seller claims to be from 1999. It's an E-serial so that would probably be correct. However, the serial number engraved on the case only has four digits after the "E", I thought AP always had five digits? The seller claims this is because the serial number (also printed on cert) starts with a 0. Can anyone confirm that AP has case serials starting with a 0 after the first letter and that they then leave this out from the engraving?

Thanks in advance,
Gustaf

[exiger77]

Originally Posted by gusvs

Hi all,

I need your help on confirming an AP serial number. I am looking at a ref 14790 which the seller claims to be from 1999. It's an E-serial so that would probably be correct. However, the serial number engraved on the case only has four digits after the "E", I thought AP always had five digits? The seller claims this is because the serial number (also printed on cert) starts with a 0. Can anyone confirm that AP has case serials starting with a 0 after the first letter and that they then leave this out from the engraving?

Thanks in advance,
Gustaf

My I-series has 0 in front of them. I0XXXX

[Watchcentric]

Hi,

I'd like to know what both numbers mean (for this watch the E 3548 and the No 2770).

I thought the E 3548 is the case number, which follows the sequential numbering listed above and which gives an indication of the year the case (and therefore the watch) was manufactured.

The No 2770, on the other hand, is the serial number of this particular type of watch. This would be the 2770th watch of the 14790 model.

Is this correct?

Originally Posted by gusvs

Hi all,

I need your help on confirming an AP serial number. I am looking at a ref 14790 which the seller claims to be from 1999. It's an E-serial so that would probably be correct. However, the serial number engraved on the case only has four digits after the "E", I thought AP always had five digits? The seller claims this is because the serial number (also printed on cert) starts with a 0. Can anyone confirm that AP has case serials starting with a 0 after the first letter and that they then leave this out from the engraving?

Thanks in advance,
Gustaf

[gusvs]

Originally Posted by Watchcentric

Hi,

I'd like to know what both numbers mean (for this watch the E 3548 and the No 2770).

I thought the E 3548 is the case number, which follows the sequential numbering listed above and which gives an indication of the year the case (and therefore the watch) was manufactured.

The No 2770, on the other hand, is the serial number of this particular type of watch. This would be the 2770th watch of the 14790 model.

Is this correct?

That is my understanding as well, but I would like to know for certain.

/Gustaf

[gusvs]

Originally Posted by exiger77

My I-series has 0 in front of them. I0XXXX

Interesting, thanks!

[Submarino]

It would be No. 2770 of all Royal Oaks in the E batch.

[gusvs]

Originally Posted by Submarino

It would be No. 2770 of all Royal Oaks in the E batch.

Thnaks. Is it strange though that it does not have the "0" after the "E" in the case serial number?

[HKRolexFans]

AP produced around 2x, xxx pieces a years and my last purchase bears a no. of 9x, xxx, so probably we will see serial no. starting from 'I' next year, just my observation and guess

[vette boy 52]

I just purchased an "I" serial the first part of October.

[jw0n]

Hi guys. I'm trying to purchase a pre-owned AP RO Lady Automatic via a store located in the US. Trying to determine the age, etc of said piece. Here's a pic of the caseback:



I have some quick questions:

1. How come the serial isn't engraved in the caseback? Does it have to be popped open? Was this the case with older APs (pre-1990s)?

2. Why does the caseback say Royal Oak II? I tried to google for more information but have come up with nothing.

3. Also lightly visible are the letters "NY116" -- what sort of information is this? Batch? Year? Surely not serial... right?

I've requested that the seller pop open the caseback to see if the serial has been engraved in the rear, and am still pending their response. In the meantime, anything else I should be on the lookout for?

[Watchcentric]

Interesting, I didn't know that.
So ALL Royal Oaks are sequentially numbered?

Does this include the Royal Oak Offshores as well, or do they have another serial number range?

Originally Posted by Submarino

It would be No. 2770 of all Royal Oaks in the E batch.

[FightOnSC!]

the letter "I" has started appearing on some of the watches.

[jw0n]

Originally Posted by jw0n

Hi guys. I'm trying to purchase a pre-owned AP RO Lady Automatic via a store located in the US. Trying to determine the age, etc of said piece. Here's a pic of the caseback:



I have some quick questions:

1. How come the serial isn't engraved in the caseback? Does it have to be popped open? Was this the case with older APs (pre-1990s)?

2. Why does the caseback say Royal Oak II? I tried to google for more information but have come up with nothing.

3. Also lightly visible are the letters "NY116" -- what sort of information is this? Batch? Year? Surely not serial... right?

I've requested that the seller pop open the caseback to see if the serial has been engraved in the rear, and am still pending their response. In the meantime, anything else I should be on the lookout for?

Folks, any guidance here appreciated

[robisan]

I don't know AP much but it looks that the caseback has been buffed hard erasing the serial in the process.. not sure thou.

[jw0n]

Thanks for the input -- but I've seen a 1978 Royal Oak Lady Auto that had the serial etched behind the caseback, so I was wondering if this could be one of those early serials. I'm not sure if there was a particular year before the serials were engraved on the caseback, and no amount of trawling Google will reveal any more information...

I'm looking to get the piece from an AD which has been vouched for several times on TRF already, but it just annoys me that there's a piece of the puzzle missing!

[sydude]

Figured I'd get the ball rolling on updating this list, it's been a while. I don't know the actual years that the 'I' and 'J' Series cases started (I guesstimated) so please reply with the actual year if you know it.

A Series - 1972 to 1975
B Series - 1976 to 1979
C Series - 1980 to 1986
D Series - 1987 to 1994
E Series - 1994 to 2000
F Series - 2001 to 2007
G Series - 2008 to 2010
H Series - 2011 To ~2012
I Series - ~2013 to ~2015
J Series - ~2016 to...

[metronidazole]

Hi!
I have recently purchased a 15400 in blue from a AP Boutique, and noticed that the No. usually above the case number is missing. It is a brand new J series, is that normal? Has AP stopped putting the serial number? Should I be concerned?
Thanks heaps!! :)

[2nastie]

Originally Posted by metronidazole

Hi!
I have recently purchased a 15400 in blue from a AP Boutique, and noticed that the No. usually above the case number is missing. It is a brand new J series, is that normal? Has AP stopped putting the serial number? Should I be concerned?
Thanks heaps!! :)

You have a picture? Give it's from the boutique, authenticity should be there but I've never one without a serial number on the case. Should go: case # top line and then series letter and serial number second line.

Usually on the 15400:
No. XXXXX
J XXXXXX

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by metronidazole

Hi!
I have recently purchased a 15400 in blue from a AP Boutique, and noticed that the No. usually above the case number is missing. It is a brand new J series, is that normal? Has AP stopped putting the serial number? Should I be concerned?
Thanks heaps!! :)

No need for concern

My 44 Titanium which I just got on Monday is the same there is no NoXXXX at the top. My RG 44 has one though. They were purchased 2 1/2 months apart from the same AD and are both 2017 Novelties. Weirdly enough the serial on the bottom went from J 35,000-ish to J 70,000-ish in less than 3 months. So something has changed very recently with the numbering. Authenticity isn't in question and they are both registered with AP on their site.

The warranty book used to say Case number: JXXXXX - xxxx ( the first bit was the lettered serial number on the case and the second bit corresponded to the No.XXX on the case)
The warranty book now says Case number: JXXXXX with no second bit


Pic for reference....I blurred out the numbers following the "J" but have not edited anything else to give you an idea.