Why Link Count Matters
When you buy a pre-owned Rolex, you focus on reference numbers, papers, and condition. One detail often slips through: bracelet link count. It sounds trivial until you need an extra link. A single steel Oyster link can run $150 or more; on President or gold bracelets, replacement links can exceed $500–$1,000. Sellers sometimes remove links for a previous owner and never return them—or sell them separately. Checking the count before you buy takes seconds and can save you real money.
This guide gives you the factory-standard link counts for Oyster, Jubilee, and President bracelets across the main Rolex models. Use the reference table below to verify any watch in under a minute.
Quick Rules
- Oyster (sport & dress): Most full-size models leave the factory with 11–12 links (often expressed as 7+5 or 6+5). Fewer visible screws on the side usually means links were removed.
- Jubilee: Typically 17–24 links depending on model and generation; Datejust 36mm Super Jubilee uses 24.
- President (Day-Date, Lady-Datejust): Usually 22–24 links. Day-Date 40 and 36 use 24; Day-Date II 41 uses 22.
- Dive watches (Submariner, Sea-Dweller, Deepsea): Include a diver’s extension; link count is often 11–12 plus extension. Newer Submariner (12xxx) uses 11 or 11.5 links; previous gen (116610) uses 12.
Bracelet Type and Link Count
Below are factory-standard link counts by model and bracelet. Half-links (e.g. 11.5, 12.5) are used on some references. “+ Extension” means the bracelet includes the diver’s extension and the number is the main link count.
| Model | Bracelet Type & Ref | Link Count |
|---|---|---|
| Air-King | ||
| Air-King 116900 | Oyster 71200 | 12 |
| Air-King 126900 | Oyster 78JB20 | 12 |
| Datejust | ||
| Datejust 41 (126300, 126334, 126333, 126331) | Oyster 72610 / 72613 / 72611 | 12.5 |
| Datejust 41 (126300, 126334, 126333, 126331) | Jubilee 62610 / 62613 / 62611 | 22 |
| Datejust II 41 (116300, 116334, 116333) | Oyster 72210 / 72213 | 12 |
| Datejust 36 (126200, 126234, 126233, 126231) | Oyster 72800 / 72803 / 72801 | 12 |
| Datejust 36 (126200, 126234, 126233, 126231) | Jubilee 62800 / 62803 / 62801 | 22 |
| Datejust 36 116234 | Oyster 72600 | 12 |
| Datejust 36 116234 | Jubilee 63600 (Super Jubilee) | 24 |
| Datejust 36 (16014, 16234) | Jubilee 62510H | 22 |
| Datejust 31 (278240, 278274, 278273) | Oyster 72330 / Jubilee 63360 / President 83363 | 12 / 22 / 24 |
| Lady-Datejust 28 (279160, 279174, 279173, 279171) | Oyster 72340 / Jubilee 63340–63343 / President 83341 | 12 / 22 / 24 |
| Lady-Datejust 26 (69174, 79174, 179174) | Jubilee 62510D / 63130 | 22 |
| Day-Date | ||
| Day-Date 36 (18038, 18238, 118238, 118235, 118239, 128238, 128235, 128239) | President 8385 / 83208 / 83205 / 83209 / 83418 / 83415 / 83419 | 24 |
| Day-Date II 41 (218238, 218235, 218239) | President 83218 / 83215 / 83219 | 22 |
| Day-Date 40 (228238, 228235, 228239, 228206) | President 83418 / 83415 / 83419 / 83416 | 24 |
| Daytona | ||
| Daytona 16520 / 16528 / 16523 | Oyster 78390 / 78398 / 783963 | 11 |
| Daytona 116520, 116523, 116528, 116500LN, 116503, 116508, 116506 | Oyster 78490 / 78590 / 78493 / 78593 / 78498 / 78598 / 79596 | 12 |
| Daytona 126500LN, 126503, 126508, 126509, 126505, 126506 | Oyster 78JB00 / 78JA03 / 78JA08 / 78JA09 / 78JA05 / 79JA06 | 12 |
| Explorer & Explorer II | ||
| Explorer 14270, 114270, 214270, 124270 | Oyster 79790 / 78360 / 78690 / 77200 / 78GB00 | 11–12 |
| Explorer II 16570 | Oyster 78360 / 78790A | 11 |
| Explorer II 216570, 226570 | Oyster 77210 / 78KB00 | 12 |
| GMT-Master II | ||
| GMT Master II 16710 | Jubilee 62510 / Oyster 78360 / 78790 | 20 / 11 / 12 |
| GMT-Master II 116710LN, 116710BLNR, 116719BLRO, 116713LN | Oyster 78200 / 78209 / 78203 | 12 |
| GMT Master II 126710BLRO, 126710BLNR, 126720VTNR | Jubilee 69200 / Oyster 79200 | 17 / 12 |
| GMT Master II 126711CHNR, 126719BLRO, 126715CHNR | Oyster 79201 / 79209 / 79205 | 12 |
| Sea-Dweller & Deepsea | ||
| Sea-Dweller 40 16660, 16600 | Oyster 93160 | 12 + Extension |
| Sea-Dweller 40 116600 | Oyster 97400 | 11 + Extension |
| Sea-Dweller 43 126600, 126603 | Oyster 97220 / 97223 | 11 + Extension |
| Deepsea 44 116660, 126660, 136660 | Oyster 98210 | 11 + Extension |
| Deepsea 44 (Gold) 136668LB | Oyster 98228 | 11 |
| Sky-Dweller | ||
| Sky-Dweller 326934, 326933, 326938, 326935 | Oyster 72220 / 72223 / 72228 / 72225 | 12 |
| Sky-Dweller 326934, 326933 | Jubilee 62220 / 62223 | 17 |
| Submariner | ||
| Submariner 116610LN, 116610LV, 116613, 116618, 116619, 114060 | Oyster 97200 / 97203 / 97208 / 97209 | 12 |
| Submariner 126610LN, 126610LV | Oyster 97JB00 | 11.5 |
| Submariner 124060, 126618, 126619, 126613 | Oyster 97JB00 / 97JA08 / 97JA09 / 97JA03 | 11 |
| Yacht-Master & Yacht-Master II | ||
| Yacht-Master 40 (16622, 16623, 16628, 116622, 126622, 126621) | Oyster 78760 / 78763 / 78768 / 78800 / 78801 | 12 |
| Yacht-Master 42 226627 | Oyster 78JR00 | 12 |
| Yacht-Master II 116680, 116681, 116688 | Oyster 78210 / 78211 / 78218 | 12 |
| Other | ||
| Milgauss 116400 | Oyster 72400 | 12 |
| Oyster Perpetual 31 / 34 / 36 / 39 / 41 (277200, 124200, 126000, 114300, 124300) | Oyster 72DB00 / 72FB00 / 72HB00 / 70400 / 72JB10 | 12 |
| Land-Dweller 40 (127334, 127335, 127336) | Flat Jubilee 62JB00 | 23 |
| Land-Dweller 36 (127234, 127235, 127236) | Flat Jubilee 62JB01 | 23 |
The Screw-Count Shortcut
Counting every link on a Jubilee is tedious. For Oyster bracelets, use the screw count: most full-size Oyster bracelets leave the factory with 12 links, and 4–5 of those links have visible screws on the side. If you see only 2 screws, links have been removed. The bracelet may still fit, but you’re missing removable links—and spare links are expensive. Always ask the seller to confirm total link count and whether any links were removed; if they have spares, they should be included in the sale.
Oysterflex Sizing
Sport models on Oysterflex (rubber over a metal core) can’t be extended by adding links. Length is fixed; if it’s too short, you need a new strap segment from Rolex (often $300+). Rolex stamps the inside with letters (E, F, G) to indicate size:
- E + E — small (e.g. ~6.5″ wrist)
- E + F — medium (e.g. ~7″ wrist)
- F + G — large (e.g. ~7.5″ wrist)
Before buying a pre-owned Oysterflex Daytona or Yacht-Master, check the letter codes to ensure the strap will fit without an extra purchase.
Before You Buy
Link count is a small check that can prevent a big bill. Ask the dealer: “Can you confirm the total link count and screw count for this bracelet?” Use this guide to verify the answer. Whether you’re buying from us or elsewhere, thirty seconds with the table above can confirm you’re getting a complete bracelet—and save you hundreds in replacement links later.
