Rolex Steel Classic "Bubble Back" with Original Dial and Ladder Bracelet, 1949
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
Thunderbird Machined Bezel and lastly, it has a rare and original Ladder Bracelet by Gay Freres. It can also
Rolex Steel Classic "Bubble Back" with Original Dial and Ladder Bracelet, 1949
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
Thunderbird Machined Bezel and lastly, it has a rare and original Ladder Bracelet by Gay Freres. It can also
Rolex Two Steel and Rose Gold with Original Dial and Ladder Bracelet from 1942
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
Luminous Numerals / Blued Steel Luminous Hands ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Original Ladder or Bamboo Bracelet
Roy King for Omega Large Yellow Gold and Lapis Dial Midcentury Wristwatch
By Roy King for Omega
Located in Chicago, IL
Bracelet Wrist Watch, measuring 7 1/2 inches in length X 1 5/8 inches wide. Omega 17 Jewel Mechanical
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
Rolex- Rolco 9ct Dress Watch circa 1930's with Original Bamboo Ladder Bracelet
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
adjustable "Ladder Bracelet," as well. Rolex produced, through their subsidiaries limited edition models
Rolex Steel Bubble Back with Romabic Dial 1940's with Original Ladder Bracelet
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
seconds on it. This unique watch is also fitted with a new old stock ladder bracelet. These were offered
18k Chopard LUC Ladies Manual watch. Vintage Chopard 18k Yellow gold Watch.
By Chopard
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
This is a rare piece that does not come up for sale often. In fact, you will probably not see one like this for sale. Elegant and minimalistic wristwatch and bracelet. 18k Gold panth...
Gold, 18k Gold
Chopard Diamond Yellow Gold 18K Wristwatch
By Chopard
Located in Geneva, CH
Chopard Diamond Yellow Gold 18K Wristwatch. Pave set by round cut and baguette-cut diamonds. Signed Chopard. Numbered 410522 812. Case dimensions: 3.50 x 2.50 centimeters. Wrist le...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Textured Silver Large Lady's Watch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Watch in silver, swan hallmark. Important and imposing retro watch in silver, it is formed of a wide bracelet in fall, with textured and amatized silver. The clasp is a scale. The wa...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Patek Philippe Ultra Thin, 18Kt Solid Gold Dress Watch circa 1980's
By Patek Philippe
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Patek Philippe et Cie STYLE / REFERENCE: Dress Watch / Reference 3571-1 METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt Solid Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1980's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 26mm X Width...
18k Gold
Lady's 18K Yellow Gold Patek Philippe "Calatrava" Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
Lady's 18K Yellow Gold Patek Philippe "Calatrava" Ref.#4819/1J Wacth White Dial with Black Roman Numerals, Hobnail Pattern Bezel, 18K Yellow Gold Patek Philippe Meshh Bracelet. Swiss...
Yellow Gold
$10,800Sale Price|20% Off
Hermès Vintage One-of-a-Kind 60s Gold, Mahogany, Bone watch -- Watch Collector
By Hermès
Located in New York, NY
This Hermès one-of-a-kind watch is a perfect fit for the Hermès enthusiast or watch collector. Believed to be a piece commissioned in the 1960's, this Hermès watch is comprised of a ...
Gold, Other
Rolex Stainless Steel Bubble Back Rare Roman Dial Perpetual Wind Watch
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Bubble Back METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel DIMENSIONS: Length 40mm X Diameter 32mm CIRCA: 1940's MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Perp...
BUCCELLATI Aquamarine Diamond Ruby 18k Yellow Gold Ring
By Gianmaria Buccellati
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite vintage Gianmaria Buccellati cocktail ring is crafted in 18k brushed and textured yellow gold with white gold accents. This ring is set with a faceted oval 7.0mm x 10....
Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Baume & Mercier .75 Carat Diamond Jade Yellow Gold Ladies Wristwatch
By Baume & Mercier
Located in Stamford, CT
Haute Couture Baume & Mercier ladies wristwatch with a natural jade dial, diamond bezel and an 18k yellow gold case and braided band. Full original 7 ¾ Inch length. Approximate...
Diamond, Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage OMEGA 18K Gold Pearl Sapphire & Diamonds Grape Watch Bracelet Very RARE
By Omega
Located in Addison, TX
This stunning OMEGA wristwatch is a true treasure, with a luxurious 18K yellow gold bracelet and elegant diamond accents. The watch features a round, white dial with an analog displa...
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
DeLaneau 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Blue Sapphire Bracelet Watch
By Delaneau
Located in New York, NY
DeLaneau was founded by a woman in 1949 in Switzerland. They are one of the first watch companies to devote their entire collection to ladies timepieces. The face of this 18 karat y...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Royama Diamond Lapis Lazuli White Gold 18K Bracelet Watch
Located in Geneva, CH
Royama Diamond Lapis Lazuli White Gold 18K very impressive Bracelet Watch. Circa 1990. Signed Royama. Total weight: 179.40 grams. We do not guarantee the functioning of this watch.
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, White Gold
1970s Omega Coral Roy King 18K Textured Link Watch
By Omega
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage desirable fashionable 1970's Omega Large Yellow Gold and Red Natural Coral Dial Midcentury Wristwatch with Bark Finish Textured Oval Links Ladies Bracelet Watch Circa 1970s. ...
Coral, 18k Gold
Rolex Bubbleback 1946 Steel Automatic Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1946 Rolex Reference 3130 "Bubbleback" 31 M.M Stainless Steel 2 piece Oyster case, caliber 630, 17 jewel Automatic Self winding movement, Quality Redone as original Black dial ...
Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Original Dial Bubble Back circa 1940s
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: "Bubble Back" / Oyster Perpetual METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel / Yellow Gold Bezel DIMENSIONS: Length 39mm X Diameter 33...
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Chronometer Bubble Back S.S., Circa 1948
By Rolex
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Chronometer Bubble Back Ref. 2940 Description / Condition: All watches have been professionally scrutinized and serviced prior to being offered for sale. S...
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.
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.
These companies have stood the test of time, making exceptional pieces for generations.