Mens Rolex Oyster Precision 5500 Air King Automatic, 1970s Vintage RJC190
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition, case serial no.5401244. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, i...
Mens Rolex Ref 1002 Oyster Perpetual Automatic 1960s Swiss Vintage RA143
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measuring 34mm, case in excellent, vintage condition. Original Rolex crown. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned, in excellent r...
Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Ref 7002 Presentation 14k Gold Filled 35mm Automatic 1970s RA424
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on 14k gold-filled case measuring 35mm, personal inscription on case back, case in excellent, vintage condition. Original Rolex crown. 17-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automati...
Stainless Steel, Gold-filled
Mens Rolex Ref 5500 Oyster Precision Air King Automatic 1960s Swiss RJC191S
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition, case serial no.1572286. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, i...
Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Oyster Precision 5500 Air King 34m Automatic 1970s Vintage NA140G
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, case in excellent condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running conditi...
Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Oyster Precision 5500 Air King 34m Automatic 1970s Vintage NA140
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running cond...
Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Oyster Precision 5500 Air King 34m Automatic 1960s Vintage NA141B
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running cond...
Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Oyster Precision Ref 5500 Air King 34m Automatic 1960s Vintage RA476B
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running cond...
Mens Rolex Oyster Precision 5500 Air King 34m Automatic 1960s All Original RA476
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running cond...
Mens Rolex Oyster Precision 5500 Air King 34m Automatic 1960s All Original NA141
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running cond...
Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref 1002 Air King 34mm Automatic 1970s Swiss RA442B
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measuring 34mm, case in excellent, vintage condition. Original Rolex crown. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned, in excellent r...
Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Precision Ref 5701 35mm 14k SS Air King Date Automatic 1960s RA446
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Acrylic crystal. Original Rolex crown. Smooth 14k solid gold bezel on stainless steel case measuring 35mm, case in excellent vintage condition. 26-Jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic mo...
Stainless Steel, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mens Rolex Precision Ref 5701 35mm 14k SS Air King Date Automatic 1960s RA446B
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Acrylic crystal. Original Rolex crown. Smooth 14k solid gold bezel on stainless steel case measuring 35mm, case in excellent vintage condition. 26-Jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic mo...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Precision Ref 5701 35mm 14k SS Air King Date Automatic 1960s RA446S
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Acrylic crystal. Original Rolex crown. Smooth 14k solid gold bezel on stainless steel case measuring 35mm, case in excellent vintage condition. 26-Jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic mo...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Precision Ref.9659 18k White Gold Hand-Wind, c.1960s Swiss RA153
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Stainless steel smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition, case serial no.6013369. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned...
18k Gold, White Gold
Mens Rolex Oyster Precision 5500 Air King Automatic 1960s Vintage RJC131
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition, case serial no.2077242. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, i...
Mens Rolex Ref 7002 Presentation 14k Gold Filled 35mm Automatic 1970s RA424
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on 14k gold-filled case measuring 35mm, personal inscription on case back, case in excellent, vintage condition. Original Rolex crown. 17-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automati...
Gold-filled, Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Ref 5500 Oyster Precision Air King Automatic 1960s Swiss RJC191T
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running cond...
Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Ref 5500 Oyster Precision Air King Automatic Swiss 1970s RJC190S
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running cond...
Stainless Steel
Mens Rolex Oyster Precision Ref 5500 Air King Automatic 1960s Swiss RJC106B
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running cond...
Rolex Oyster Precision 5500 Air King 34m Mens Automatic 1970s Vintage NA142R
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, case in excellent condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running conditi...
Stainless Steel
Men's Rolex Oyster Precision "Air-King" Ref.5500 Automatic, circa 1970s RA116BLU
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Stainless steel smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition, case serial no.3002201. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned...
Mens Rolex Oyster Precision 5500 Air King 34m Automatic 1970s All Original RA493
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running cond...
Mens Rolex Oyster Precision Ref 5500 Air King 34m Automatic 1970s Vintage RA477B
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Smooth bezel on stainless steel case measures 34mm wide, in excellent vintage condition. 26-jeweled Rolex cal.1520 automatic movement, cleaned and serviced, in excellent running cond...
Rolex Stainless Steel Submariner Wristwatch Ref 5513
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Original very pleasing condition matte black feet first dial with nicely patina'd luminous indexes and hands. Powered by Rolex caliber 1520 self winding movement. With associated ref...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Submariner Automatic Wristwatch Ref 5513
By Rolex
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Submariner Ref. 5513 Submariner without date"MAXI DIAL" CASE screwed case, steel, acrylic glass domed, screw-down crown, 40mm MOVEMENT caliber Rolex 1520, automatic DIAL...
Rolex Stainless Steel Air King Automatic Wristwatch Ref 5500
By Rolex
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Air King Ref. 5500 Beautiful King CASE screwed case, steel, acrylic glass, screw-down crown, serie, 34mm MOVEMENT cal Rolex 1520, automatic DIAL original Tritium.dial a...
Rolex Stainless Steel Airking Wristwatch Ref 5500 circa 1974
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Original silvered satin dial with stainless steel markers and hands. Self-winding calibre 1520 movement. On Rolex stainless steel heavy Oyster bracelet.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Air King Date automatic Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
The "Air King" is perhaps the best known model in this series, and the only one that has stood the test of time, still featuring in the Rolex stable today. This model is po...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Airking Wristwatch, circa 1986 with custom color dial
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
With Rolex self winding calbire 1520 movement with sweep seconds.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Air King Date Tropical Dial Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
The "Air King" is perhaps the best known model in this series, and the only one that has stood the test of time, still featuring in the Rolex stable today. This model is powered ...
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.