Bill's comprehensive report on Rolex punched papers from 1960-1990 remains a vital resource for collectors. This visual exploration delves into the nuances of guarantee papers, offering insights into their evolution and authenticity. His work highlights the complexities of these documents, which are highly prized by collectors for the confidence they provide regarding a watch's provenance.
This is a visual exploration of a very complex matter. I will not draw any conclusions but give the reader the ability to try and draw his or her own conclusion to which you will find there are no conclusions.
Rolex Punched papers a prized by collectors as they offer "usually" a level of confidence as to the authenticity and date sale and or certification date. Punched papers have always held more validity over hand written Rolex Guarantees as falsification is much more difficult.
There are a styles of punched holes mostly 4x6 and 4x5 hole pattern meaning that each number is composed of a series of holes four wide by five or six tall. You can see the evolution of these patterns with no specific transition period when Rolex added Flat green English guarantee paper in the mid to late 70's .
So my conclusion is there are no absolutes we can depend on or specific transition periods. Please feel free to add more examples of papers you have, which can help us build an archive of examples.
Bureaux Suisses Chronometer Certificates (Punched 576,xxx ? 596,xxx) (added as example 1961 paper not punch style this case not punched) 
Bureaux Suisses Chronometer Certificates (Punched ~1,2xx,xxx ? ~1,8xx,xxx)
Punch style 4x6 Only
“Rolex Superlative Chronometer” Booklet (~1,3xx,xxx ? ~1,5xx,xxx)
Punch style 4x6 only
Punch style 4x6 only
“Your Rolex Oyster” 1967 Booklet (~1,33x,xxx ? ~1,87x,xxx)
Punch style 4x6 Only
Punch style 4x6 Only
“Your Rolex Oyster” 1968 Booklet (~1,83x,xxx ? ~2,24x,xxx)
Punch style 4x6 only
Punch style 4x6 only
“Your Rolex Oyster” 1970 Booklet (~1,88x,xxx ? ~3,13x,xxx)
“Your Rolex Oyster” 1970 Booklet (~1,88x,xxx ? ~3,13x,xxx) two punch styles
Punch style 4x5 - sometimes 4x6
Punch style 4x5
Punch style 4x6
“Chronometre” Certificate (~1,88x,xxx ? ~3,13x,xxx)
Punch style 4x6 French certificates
Punch style 4x6 French certificates and second English 4x5 pattern
Punch style 4x6 French certificates
“Garantie” Certificate (~2,62x,xxx ? ~4,xxx,xxx)
Garantie Certificate (~2,62x,xxx ? ~4,xxx,xxx) 4x5 and 4x6
Garantie Certificate (~2,62x,xxx ? ~4,xxx,xxx) 4x5 and 4x6
Garantie Certificate (~2,62x,xxx ? ~4,xxx,xxx) Punch style embossed rare
Punch style 4x5
“Chronometre & Garantie” Certificate (~2,xxx,xxx ? ~5,21x,xxx) 
Punch style 4x5 and 4x6
Punch style 4x5 and 4x6
Punch style 4x5 and 4x6
Embossed style
Embossed stlye rare
Larger 4x6
Punch style larger 4x6
“Garantie” Certificate (~4,xxx,xxx ? ~9,xxx,xxx)
English 4x5 punch pattern
Larger French 4x6 punch style pattern
Larger French 4x6 punch style pattern
English 4x5 punch style pattern
English 4x5 punch style pattern
English 4x5 punch style pattern
“Chronometre & Garantie” Certificate (~4,2xx,xxx ? ~Kxxxxxx)
English 4x5 punch style
English 4x5 punch style
French larger 4x6 punch style
French 4x6 punch style
French 4x6 punch style
French 4x6 punch style
French 4x6 punch style
French 4x6 punch style
French 4x6 punch style
This last segment is not specifically punched hole but falls with the above period and is good to have as reference.
“Guarantee” Booklets (~1,2xx,xxx ? ~3,xxx,xxx)
This is also another interesting article by our Dear Rolex moderator DrStrong.
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The Rolex paperwork through the ages
