Rolex Oyster 1005 Champagne Dial Gold Vintage Watch
By Rolex
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34mm reference 1005 champagne dial, fluted bezel, and set in 14k yellow gold.
Vintage 1970s Art Deco Wrist Watches
18k Gold
Rolex Oyster 1005 Champagne Dial Gold Vintage Watch
By Rolex
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34mm reference 1005 champagne dial, fluted bezel, and set in 14k yellow gold.
18k Gold
Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005 10s Automatic Silver Dial 14K Yellow Gol
Located in New York, NY
Here's a vintage Rolex reference 1005 champagne dial Oyster Perpetual in 14K yellow gold from the 1970s.
Gold
Rolex SS/14 karat YG Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005, circa 1969
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Stainless Steel and 14K yellow gold Oyster Perpetual ref 1005 serial #2.2 million circa 1969.
14k Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex Oyster 1005 Champagne Dial Gold Vintage Watch
By Rolex
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34mm reference 1005 champagne dial, fluted bezel, and set in 14k yellow gold.
18k Gold
Rolex Yellow Gold Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch Ref 1005 circa 1960s
By Rolex
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
14k yellow gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual wristwatch, a classic standard for the Rolex enthusiast, with a look that is truly timeless, yet the distinctive aesthetic of original stylized...
Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual White Dial Automatic Wristwatch Ref 1005
By Rolex
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Brand: Rolex MPN: 1005 Model: Oyster Perpetual Case Material: Stainless Steel Case Diameter: 36mm Crystal: Plastic Bezel: Fluted 18k Yellow Gold Dial: White dial with gold hands, mar...
Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel, 18k Gold
Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005 34mm 18k Solid Gold Automatic 1960s RA423
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Elegant luxury, Men's 18k solid gold Rolex Oyster perpetual ref.1005 automatic, c.1960s, in excellent working and aesthetic condition.
Gold, 18k Gold
Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005 34mm 14k Gold Automatic 1970s Swiss RA444B
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Luxurious elegance, Men's 14k solid gold Rolex Oyster perpetual ref.1005 automatic, c.1975, in excellent working and aesthetic condition.
Gold, 14k Gold
Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005 34mm 14k Solid Gold Automatic 1970s RA444
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Elegant luxury, Men's 14k solid gold Rolex Oyster perpetual ref.1005 automatic, c.1976, in excellent working and aesthetic condition.
Gold, 14k Gold
1964 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Vintage Mens Watch with Rare Underline Dial 14K Gold
By Rolex
Located in Suwanee, GA
We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stDibs, but we have sold over 10,000 fine watches and exceptionally served thousands of customers with a 5.0 star rating. ...
14k Gold
Rolex yellow Gold Reference 1005 Self Winding Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1967 Rolex Reference 1005, 34 MM 14K yellow Gold Water proof Case, Caliber 1570, 26 jewel Automatic, self winding movement.
14k Gold
Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005 34mm 18k Solid Gold Automatic 1960s RA423B
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Luxurious classic, Men's 18k solid gold Rolex Oyster perpetual ref.1005 automatic, c.1960s, in excellent working and aesthetic condition.
Gold, 18k Gold
Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005 14k Gold SS Automatic Vintage 1960s RJC204
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Iconic classic, Men's 14K gold & stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref.1005 automatic, c.1964, all original.
14k Gold
Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005 18k Gold SS Automatic 1960s Vintage RA319
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Iconic classic, Men's 18K gold & stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref.1005 automatic, c.1966.
18k Gold
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34mm 14k Yellow Gold Fluted Bezel Leather
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1005 two tone 14k yellow gold Men's 34 mm champagne dial watch.
Rolex Yellow Gold Oyster Perpetual " Serpico Y Laino" Wristwatch Ref 1005
By Rolex
Located in Miami Beach, FL
This is a classic Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005 Retailed by Serpico Y Laino.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rolex Date 1005, Gold Dial, Certified and Warranty
By Rolex
Located in Miami, FL
Rolex Date Reference #: 1005. Mens Automatic Self Wind Watch 18k Yellow Gold Gold 0 MM.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref.1005 Two-Tone Watch
By Rolex
Located in Miami, FL
Brand: Rolex Model Name: Oyster Perpetual Model Number: 1005 Movement: Automatic Case Size: 34 mm Case Back: Solid Case Material: Stainless Steel; Yellow Gold Bezel: Yellow Gold Dia...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel
ROLEX Pink Gold Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch Ref 1005
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 18k pink gold Oyster Perpetual wristwatch, Ref 1005, serial 736,ZXXX, circa 1961, 34mm diameter case with smooth bezel and very beautiful glossy black dial with pink gold appli...
18k Gold
Rolex Rose Gold Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch Ref 1005
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 18K Rose Gold Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch ref 1005 serial number 1.1 million circa 1964. 34mm diameter Oyster case with smooth bezel and acrylic crystal.
18k Gold, Rose Gold
1969 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yellow Gold 1005 Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
The gold dial matches the case metal perfectly and the subtle baton hour markers are elegant completing the feel of a jewellery piece whilst retaining the sober form of a 34mm Rolex ...
Yellow Gold
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1005, Silver Dial, Certified and Warranty
By Rolex
Located in Miami, FL
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Reference #: 1005. Mens Automatic Self Wind Watch Yellow Gold Silver 34 MM.
ROLEX Yellow Gold Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005 circa 1967
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 14k yellow gold Oyster Perpetual, Ref. 1005, serial 1.8 million, circa 1967. 34mm diameter case with smooth bezel, acrylic crystal, and beautiful condition original champagne d...
Rolex Yellow Gold Oyster Automatic Perpetual Wristwatch Ref 1005
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 18K Yellow Gold Oyster Perpetual ref 1005 circa 1966. 34m diameter case with smooth bezel and acrylic crystal.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rolex Yellow Gold Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch Ref 1005, circa 1964
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 14K YG Oyster Perpetual ref 1005 serial # 1.0 million circa 1964.
14k Gold
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Steel Yellow Gold Vintage Mens Watch 1005
By Rolex
Located in Atlanta, GA
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Steel Yellow Gold Vintage Mens Watch 1005.
Steel, Yellow Gold
Rolex Yellow Gold Oyster Perpetual Chronometer Wristwatch Ref 1005 1977
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 18K YG ref 1005 serial# 5.1 million circa 1977.
18k Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Automatic Wristwatch Ref 1005 1971
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref 1005 circa 1971. Makes a wonderful gift for commemoration of 1971 birthday or anniversary.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Yellow Gold Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch Ref 1005
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Stainless Steel and 14K Yellow Gold Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch ref 1005 serial # 9.1 million circa 1985. 34mm diameter Oyster case with 14K yellow gold smooth bezel, acrylic c...
14k Gold, Stainless Steel, Yellow Gold
Rolex Yellow Gold Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch Ref 1005 circa 1963
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 14k yellow gold Oyster Perpetual wristwatch, Ref. 1005, serial number 989,XXX, circa 1963. 34mm case with fluted bezel, acrylic crystal, and original silvered satin dial with e...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yellow Gold Vintage Mens Watch 1005 Box Papers
By Rolex
Located in Atlanta, GA
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yellow Gold Vintage Mens Watch 1005 Box Papers.
Yellow Gold
Rolex Yellow Gold Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Automatic Wristwatch Ref 1005
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
A stainless steel and eighteen carat gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual. This is somewhat of an unusual reference for Rolex, the '1005'.
18k Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex Yellow Gold Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch Ref 1005 c1971
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Stainless Steel and 14K yellow gold Oyster Perpetual ref 1005 serial #2.0 million circa 1971.
14k Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex SS/14 Karat YG Oyster Perpetual Ref 1005, circa 1963
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Stainless Steel and 14K yellow gold Oyster Perpetual ref 1005 serial #1.6 million circa 1963.
Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Steel Yellow Gold Vintage Mens Watch 1005 Box Papers
By Rolex
Located in Atlanta, GA
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Steel Yellow Gold Vintage Mens Watch 1005 Box Papers.
Yellow Gold, Steel
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Stainless Steel & 14K Yellow Gold ref 1005 circa 1966
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A beautiful condition example Rolex Oyster Perpetual in SS and 14K yellow gold, ref 1005 serial# 1.3 million circa 1966.
14k Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel and 14 Karat Yellow Gold Oyster Perpetual Watch Ref 1005
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Stainless Steel and 14K yellow gold Oyster Perpetual ref 1005 serial #665,xxx circa 1961.
Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel
Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual 18 Karat Yellow Gold Watch, 1976
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A 1976 Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Reference 1005. 18K Yellow Gold Watch case. 34mm wide.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1005, Black Dial, Certified and Warranty
By Rolex
Located in Miami, FL
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Reference #:1005. Rolex Vintage Oyster Perpetual 1005 1.4 Million Serial Men Automatic Watch 34mm.
Rolex Yellow Gold Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch Ref 1005 circa 1969
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 14k yellow gold Oyster Perpetual wristwatch, Ref. 1005, serial 2.0 million, circa 1969. 34mm case with fluted bezel and acrylic crystal.
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1982 Ladies Rolex 6917 with Diamond Bezel 18k Yellow Gold Complete
By Rolex
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Complete with original box and papers. Vintage 6917 18k 1982 ladies Datejust with a diamond bezel. Crafted out of 18k yellow gold paired with a champagne dial and the iconic Presiden...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$38,400Sale Price|20% Off
Rolex x Loree Rodkin Watch
By Rolex
Located in London, GB
A Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date crafted in 18k yellow gold, customised by jewellery designer Loree Rodkin. The watch features a champagne dial with baton hour markers, day aperture...
Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
1981 Rolex Datejust 31 President 6827 18K Yellow Gold Watch White Roman #24681
By Rolex
Located in Washington Depot, CT
1981 Rolex 18K Yellow Gold President Datejust 31 Watch Model: 6827 Serial: 6703098 This elegant Rolex midsize watch is set in solid 18K gold. 31mm case with fluted bezel White ro...
18k Gold
Vintage Rolex Datejust Thunderbird Two Tone Diamond Dial Watch Ref. 16253
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
Rolex’s classic Datejust design is given a distinctive sport-luxury edge in this 1985 two tone Thunderbird reference 16253. The watch features the model’s recognizable rotating bezel...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Stainless Steel
Unworn Rolex Rainbow Daytona 116595RBOW
By Rolex
Located in Mayfair, London, London
This impressive Daytona variant was first released in rose gold at Baselworld 2018 after Rolex had discontinued the yellow and white gold models. On the black lacquer dial, 11 sapphi...
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green ...
$23,000
W 1.42 in D 0.48 in Dm 1.42 in
Rolex Day-Date 18248 18K Gold Presidential Bark, Diamond Dial Watch c.1991
By Rolex
Located in Ocala, FL
Crafted in 1991, this Rolex Day-Date reference 18248 is an iconic expression of luxury, fashioned entirely in solid 18-karat yellow gold and fitted with the renowned President bracel...
Diamond, 18k Gold
1973 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Stainless Steel Automatic Men's Watch 1601
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
This 1973 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Ref. 1601 is a highly collectible example of one of the most iconic models in Rolex history, combining timeless design with the enduring app...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Daytona Chronograph Yellow Gold John Mayer Green Dial Mens Watch 116508
By Rolex
Located in Aventura, FL
Rolex Daytona Yellow Gold John Mayer Green Men's Watch 116508. Chronometer automatic self-winding movement. 18K yellow gold Oyster case 40.0 mm in diameter. Screwed-down case back, b...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1961 Rolex Vintage Turn-O-Graph Thunderbird Datejust Mens Watch, 1625 - SS, Gold
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...
18k Gold, Stainless Steel
$2,119
W 1.34 in L 1.62 in
1966 Omega (Seamaster) Rare Cal. 560 Vintage Mens 10K Gold Filled & Stainless St
By Omega
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...
Gold-filled
$50,368
H 9.85 in W 13.78 in D 7.09 in
Hermès Birkin 35 Miel Shiny Porosus Crocodile Palladium Hardware Handbag
By Hermès
Located in Banbury, GB
Investment Piece and Great Deal SKU 33301488 Comes With Hermès Dust Bag, Keys,Padlock,Clochette Date 2007 Model Birkin 35 Serial Number [K] Metal Palladium Materials Crocodile Leath...
$2,369
W 1.42 in L 1.66 in
Personally Owned & Worn By Don McLean with Two COAs - Daniel Steiger Generation
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...
Rose Gold, Stainless Steel
Rare Rolex Oysterquartz Day-Date UAE Champagne Dial 19018
By Rolex
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A rare Oysterquartz Day-Date 36mm 19018, by Rolex. As well as applied hour markers and the iconic weekday and date apertures, the champagne dial features an image of the former nati...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$47,640Sale Price|20% Off
Dm 1.42 in L 6.25 in
Rolex 15 Carat Diamond 18k Yellow Gold President Day-Date Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Exuding unparalleled luxury, this exceptional Rolex Day-Date President wristwatch features a breathtaking display of 15 carats of high-quality diamonds. The timepiece is expertly cra...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960's Rolex Ladies Datejust 18K Pink Gold Watch 6517 Champagne Dial #24698
By Rolex
Located in Washington Depot, CT
1960's Rolex Ladies Datejust Watch Model: 6517 Serial: 1xxx13 ( numbers have been worn over time so full serial is not visible) This vintage Rolex ladies watch is set in 18K pink g...
18k Gold
Rolex 1.20 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold President Mens Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Stamford, CT
Mens Rolex President 18k gold. Minimal stretch to band. Worn for special occasions only. White dial with Roman numerals and after market diamond bezel. Circa 1985. Serviced and warr...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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.
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry 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.