Vintage 1954 Rolex Small Second Manual Wind Watch Ref. 3882
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
Rolex’s early dress-watch craftsmanship is reflected in this vintage 1954 reference 3882, a manual wind watch with a refined small seconds layout.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Submariner Small Crown Gilt Black Dial 6205 Steel Automatic Watch 1954
By Rolex
Located in Central & Western District, HK
Brand: Vintage Rolex Model: 6205 Year: 1954 Serial number: 21xxx Reference: OT1504 Model 6204 as the first small crown submariner produced in 1953, guarantee depth rate 100 meters.
Steel, Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Speed King with Rare Original Waffle Dial from 1954
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Speed King / Reference 6221 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1954 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 30mm x Diam...
Rolex Gold Shell Oyster Perpetual Very Rare Deepsea From 1954 / 55 Original Dial
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Reference 6332 METAL / MATERIAL: Gold Shell CIRCA / YEAR: 1954 / 55 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 41mm X Diamet...
Gold
Rolex Precision Vintage Manual wind Steel Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1954 Rolex Reference 6426 Wrist Watch, 34 M.M. Stainless Steel 3 Piece Oyster case, screw down crown, 17 Jewel Mechanical, Manual wind Nickle Lever movement, acrylic crystal, "...
Steel
Unavailable
Rolex 14 Karat Yellow Gold Watch, 1954
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1954 Vintage Rolex 14k Yellow Gold watch with Original Silver Dial with Applied Gold Color Beveled Stick/Bar/Baton Markers. 33mm x 37mm lug to lug (1.3 in. x 1.46 in.) 17 jewel, manu...
14k Gold
Vintage Rolex Speedking Reference 6220 Stainless Steel Watch, 1954
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1954 Vintage Rolex Oyster Speedking Ref. 6220 Stainless Steel watch with Original Silver Waffle Textured with Applied Steel Elongate Arrow and Pointed Bar Markers.
Rolex 18 Karat YG Ovetone “Red” Datejust Ref 6305, circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
An early, rare, and fine condition Rolex “Ovetone” Datejust model ref 6305 serial # 971,xxx circa 1954 with original dial with red printed “Datejust” and red print date wheel.
18k Gold
1954 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Classic Vintage Mens Automatic Watch with Bubbleback
By Rolex
Located in Suwanee, GA
NAMED ONE OF WATCHPRO MAGAZINE’S “HOT 100” - THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS OF THE U.S. WATCH INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU? We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stD...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Prince Imperial 1645 Pocket Watch, Art Deco Style, Circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in Canterbury, England
Our very rare and attractive Rolex Prince Imperial pocket watch features a 9k yellow gold case of c.45mm x 40mm.
Rolex “UFO” Case Design Precision #9083 Circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
This is a rare and incredibly cool vintage Rolex, made circa 1954. A manual wind “Precision” ref. #9083 in impeccable original condition with the original attached bracelet with rive...
Stainless Steel
1954 Vintage Rolex Yellow Gold Silver Baton Dial Fancy Lugs Precision 4891
By Rolex
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An 18k Yellow Gold Fancy Lugs Precision Vintage Gents Wristwatch, silver dial with applied index batons, an 18k yellow gold fixed smooth bezel, a black leather strap with a gold plat...
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Rolex Yellow Gold Turn O Graph Thunderbird Bezel Automatic Wristwatch, 1954
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1954 Rolex Turn O Graph Reference 6202, 36 MM Stainless Steel 3 Piece case with Yellow Gold Thunderbird Bezel. Original Mint Condition White Waffle Dial with raised Gold marker...
14k Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex 14Kt Solid Yellow Gold Ladies Art Deco Watch circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Reference 965 METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt Solid Yellow Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1954 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 39mm "Lug Tip t...
14k Gold
Rolex Ladies 18Kt. Solid Rose Gold Art Deco Bracelet Watch From 1954
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
Solid Rose Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1954 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: 16mm Length X 24mm Diameter MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 17 Jewels / Caliber DIAL / HANDS: Factory Original Dial with G...
18k Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel Perpetual Original Dial Bubble Back Watch, 1953 / 1954
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Ref. 6084 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel DIMENSIONS: 39mm X 33mm CIRCA: 1953 / 54 MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Pe...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Automatic Wristwatch, 1954
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1954 Rolex Reference 1002, 34 MM Stainless Steel 2 piece case. Caliber 1560 Automatic, self winding movement. Custom Black and Rose "California" dial, half Roman and ...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Ladies 14Kt Solid Rose Gold Watch from 1954 with Matching Period Bracelet
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Reference 4006 METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt Solid Rose Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1954 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 30mm "Lug Tip To...
Rose Gold
1954 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Stainless Steel Automatic Men's Watch Ref. 6285
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
Brand: Rolex Model: Oyster Perpetual Reference Number: 6285 Caliber: Case Size: 33mm Movement: Automatic Stone: Material: Stainless Steel, Leather Band Size: 8" Weight: 50.4 Grams Co...
Stainless Steel
Mid-Century Stainless Steel Rolex Oyster Speedking, Circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in Towson, MD
One stainless steel Rolex Oyster Speedking model #6420 Serial # 54633 Circa 1954.
Steel, Stainless Steel
Rolex 14Kt. Solid Rose Gold Art Deco Wristwatch from 1954
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt.
Rose Gold
Rolex Steel Oyster Perpetual Date with Original Rare Waffle Dial, circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual Date METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1954 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 42mm x Diameter 34mm MOV...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Manual Wind Wristwatch, 1954
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Ref. 6332 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel DIMENSIONS: 42mm X 34mm CIRCA: 1954/ 1955 MOVEMENT / CALIBER:...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Vintage Steel Manual Wind Ref 6424 Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1954 Rolex Reference 6424 Wrist Watch, 36 M.M. Stainless Steel 3 piece Oyster case.
Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Oysterdate Precision Wristwatch Ref 6294 Circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Rolex stainless steel Oysterdate Precision wristwatch, Ref. 6294, circa 1954, with honeycomb cream dial, date aperture, red/black date wheel, and manual-wind movement.
Stainless Steel
Vintage Rolex 9ct Gold Precision 4747 Dress Watch, Circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A wonderful vintage 9ct gold Rolex manual dress watch dating from the 1950s. A wonderful piece of Rolex history this Rolex Precision has lots of timeless style including the rare sha...
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Rolex Datejust Red Ovettone Reference 6305-1 Watch, 1954
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1954 Vintage Rolex Early Rare Red Datejust Ovettone Ref. 6305-1 with Alternating Red and Black Roulette Wheel Date Wheel 14k While Gold Bezel and Stainless Steel watch with Original ...
1954 Rolex Submariner Stainless Steel 6538 Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
PLEASE CONTACT US SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. ** SERVICE HISTORY * This watch has received a Rolex accredited service in line with our exacting standards. ** PROVENANCE * ...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Precision Wristwatch circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Oyster Precision wristwatch, Ref. 6423, serial number 275,XXX, circa 1954. 34mm case with shallow engine-turned bezel, acrylic crystal, and pleasing original pa...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Rose Gold Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch, circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Vintage man’s Rolex ref 6334 Oyster Perpetual rose gold shell, stainless steel case back circa 1954. Featuring 34mm diameter case with smooth bezel, acrylic crystal, and very pleasin...
Gold-filled, Rose Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel Submariner Wristwatch Ref 6205 circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Rolex Submariner Ref. 6205 Extremely rare Brevet crown without crown guards, one of the first three Submariner models in production Case Stainless steel, screw back, acrylic ...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Turn-O-Graph Wristwatch Ref. 6202 circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Rolex Turn-O-Graph Ref. 6202 Case Stainless steel, screw back case, acrylic crystal, rotating bezel, 35mm Movement caliber A260, automatic Dial Original black dial an...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch Ref 6332 circa 1954
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Oyster Perpetual wristwatch, Ref. 6332, serial number 982,XXX, circa 1954. 34mm flat-walled case.
Stainless Steel
While the rise in popularity of vintage Rolex watches is of no surprise to aficionados, collectors and industry experts, when it comes to contemporary luxury wristwatches, Rolex is also often the first brand that springs to mind. Not only is the company revered for its precision timekeeping and impeccable craftsmanship, but its name was designed to be memorable.
Rolex's enviable worldwide recognition can be credited in part to the genius of company founder Hans Wilsdorf. When the German-born watch dealer and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, set up their London enterprise, in 1905, they called it Wilsdorf & Davis, according to the traditional formula.
But Wilsdorf was determined to come up with another name that was short, would look good on a watch dial and was easy to say and remember in several languages. In 1908, he trademarked the name Rolex, and by 1920, he had moved the company to Geneva and redubbed it as Montres Rolex S.A.
But the main reasons for the brand’s success are its aforementioned commitment to precision and unflagging pursuit of innovation. In 1926, the company introduced the aptly named Oyster model. With a screw-down crown and case back, both fitted with rubber gaskets, this was the first truly waterproof watch.
Five years later, Rolex upped the ante with the Oyster Perpetual. That model’s patented Perpetual movement contained a rotor mechanism enabling it to self-wind. In another trendsetting move, in 1945, the brand debuted the Datejust, with a date window prominently displayed on the dial.
The company’s two most iconic models are sports watches. Although the Submariner, which debuted in 1953, was developed as a dive watch, its waterproof case, solid construction and good looks made it a favorite of adventurers and urbanites alike, including James Bond, who wore it in classics like Dr. No and Goldfinger. The Daytona, the racing chronograph made famous by Paul Newman, is especially sought after by collectors. Newman’s personal Daytona, which hit the auction block in 2017, sold for $17.8 million.
Find vintage Rolex watches, bracelets and more on 1stDibs.
Antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches have captured the hearts and minds of all manner of watch collectors as well as the watchmakers themselves — it's time you found your own.
Certain vintage watches for men and iconic watch designs for women are sought after not only because of their graceful proportions or innovative materials but also because of the illustrious histories of the houses that created them, histories that they stylishly embody.
Bulgari’s legendary Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional wristwatches.
Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist.
In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.
Are you shopping for a wristwatch? It’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors.
Find antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches for sale on 1stDibs.
A fresh palette of dial colors and technological advances have elevated this classic watch model.
The watch has transformed several times over, but it’s still undeniably a classic.
This is perhaps the least subtle version of the Submariner.
If you think this looks like the Rolex Kermit, you're correct.
This model was designed for lefties.
Learn the devious techniques that counterfeiters use to sell inauthentic pieces at authentic prices. Of course, you don't have to worry about that on 1stDibs, where every seller of Rolex watches is highly vetted.
From understanding the models to choosing among vintage, pre-owned and new watches, here’s our expert advice on finding the best Rolex for you.
As the cache goes on display at London’s Design Museum, we speak to its enigmatic owner about some of his rarest acquisitions.