Rolex Ref 4444 1948 32mm Shock Resisting Oyster Royal Watch 31r31s
By Rolex
Located in Dix hills, NY
KEEPING GOOD TIME. A NICE ORIGINAL Men's 1948 ROLEX OYSTER ROYAL Signs of Wear: Exterior: Minor Scratches
Rolex Ref 4444 1948 32mm Shock Resisting Oyster Royal Watch 31r31s
By Rolex
Located in Dix hills, NY
KEEPING GOOD TIME. A NICE ORIGINAL Men's 1948 ROLEX OYSTER ROYAL Signs of Wear: Exterior: Minor Scratches
$9,960Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage 1940s Bubbleback Rolex Oyster Perpetual 14k Gold 32mm Watch Ref. 3372
By Rolex
Located in Montclair, NJ
Watchmaker: Rolex Movement: Swiss Made - Automatic - Self Winding Case Material: Solid 14k Rosy
14k Gold
Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual 32MM 3372 Brown Bubble Back Steel Automatic Watch
By Rolex
Located in Houston, TX
Brand: Rolex Gender: Men's Metal Type: Stainless Steel Diameter: 32.00 mm Weight: 44.38 grams
Steel, Stainless Steel
$7,920Sale Price|20% Off
W 1.26 in
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 5015 14k SS Mens 1940s 32mm Bubble Back Automatic RA690
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Rare, timeless classic Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref 5015 Bubble Back Automatic with 14k solid gold
Gold, 14k Gold, Stainless Steel
Vintage Rolex Oyster Royal Quadrant Dial 6246
By Rolex
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A vintage 32mm Rolex Oyster Royal crafted in stainless steel. Featuring a stunning quadrant dial
Stainless Steel
$2,610Sale Price|40% Off
H 7.5 in W 1.5 in D 1.5 in
1947 Rolex Oyster Bubbleback “Elegante” Gold-Plated Wristwatch w California Dial
By Rolex
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This vintage 32mm Rolex Oyster “Elegante” wristwatch showcases timeless sophistication with its
Gold
Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6050 18k Gold 32mm Automatic 1950s Vintage RA439B
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Luxurious classic, Men's 18k solid gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref.6050 bubble back automatic, c
18k Gold
Unused Rolex Oyster Perpetual 32mm 114200
By Rolex
Located in Surfside, FL
Rolex Oyster Perpetual in stainless steel. Auto w/ sweep seconds. 32 mm case size. Unused with
Stainless Steel
Michael Kneebone Pink Kasumi Pearl Moissanite Drop Earrings
By Michael Kneebone
Located in Austin, TX
Kasumi pearls are paired with Moissanite is this elegant and versatile drop earrings. Kasumi pearls come from Japan, specifically Lake Kasumi. They are renowned for their spectacul...
Pearl, 14k Gold
$11,920Sale Price|20% Off
W 1.42 in
Rolex Oyster Ref 6605 Datejust 18k Gold 36mm Mens 1960s Date Automatic RA701
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Timeless treasure, rare 18k solid gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref.6605 Datejust automatic, c.1960, in excellent working condition. Verified authentic by a master watchmaker. Gorgeous...
18k Gold
Vintage Rolex Oysterdate Precision Tropical Dial Men’s Watch Ref. 6066
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
A striking vintage Rolex Oysterdate Precision men’s wristwatch, distinguished by its beautifully aged tropical dial. The dial has developed a rich, warm brown patina with scattered s...
Stainless Steel
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
Baume & Mercier Montre Mecanique Or Malachite 1970s Yellow Gold Manual Watch
By Baume & Mercier
Located in PARIS, FR
Baume & Mercier watch circa 1970 in 18k yellow gold (750/1000), oval case, signed malachite dial, mechanical movement (manual winding), signed green leather strap, signed gold-tone m...
Yellow Gold
$5,446
W 0.75 in L 0.75 in
Cartier Montre Santos Lady Acier Or 1990s Automatic Steel Gold Santos Lady Watch
By Cartier
Located in PARIS, FR
Cartier Santos Lady watch in steel and 18K yellow gold, automatic movement, white dial with railway track minute markers and Roman numerals, adjustable steel and yellow gold bracelet...
Gold, Steel
Rolex Bubbleback 1946 Steel Self Winding Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1946 Rolex "Bubbleback" Wrist Watch, 32 M.M 2 piece Stainless Steel case, Automatic, self winding 17 Jewel Movement. Restored as original Black Dial with Luminous Half Roman an...
Steel
Rolex Cellini 18K Yellow Gold Watch
By Rolex
Located in Queens, NY
Rolex Cellini 18K Yellow Gold Watch, featuring champagne dial with baton indexes and 18K Rolex Crown logo at 12 0'clock, powered by 19 jewel mechanical wind-up movement, worn on wris...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava Yellow Gold Wristwatch Ref. 2452J
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
A vintage manual wind Patek Philippe watch from the Calatrava collection, featuring a 35 mm case diameter with a silver white dial and gold hour markers, a seconds subdial on the 6 o...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Hermes Birkin Limited Edition 35 Diamond Bordeaux Porosus Crocodile Bag
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an exceptional limited edition Hermes Birkin 35 Diamond Porosus Crocodile bag featured in stunning jewel-toned Bordeaux. This rare masterpiece features 18K White Go...
Patek Philippe Round Crystal Dial Leather Strap Wristwatch in Yellow Gold
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
A classic Patek Philippe wristwatch, featuring a round dial covered in crystal with hours and hands represented by yellow gold lines. Case and case back are made of 18K yellow gold. ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 1500 35mm 14k Gold SS Mens 1970s Automatic RA624B
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Timeless classic, Men's 14k and stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1500 Date automatic, c.1974, in excellent working condition. Verified authentic by a master watchmaker. Gorgeou...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel
Vintage Must de Cartier 590005 Tank Watch. Cartier Pillar Dial ARGENT Tank.
By Cartier
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
Genuine Cartier watch. Vintage Iconic Tank Argent. Sterling Silver and Gold plated (Vermeil). ref.590005 Rare Pillar Dial. Comes with a new leather band Quartz Movement New batt...
Sapphire, Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Rolex Date Steel 1501 Automatic Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1973 Rolex Date Wrist watch, 35 M.M. Stainless Steel 3 piece Oyster case. Caliber 1570, 26 jewel Automatic, self winding movement. Custom Turquoise Blue Dial with Raised White...
Steel
Rolex Rare 1942 Bubble Back Ladies Steel Automatic Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1942 Rolex Ladies Reference 3869 Bubble Back Wrist Watch, 24 M.M. Stainless Steel 2 Piece Oyster case, original and unpolished, original Oyster Crown. Automatic, self winding ...
Steel
Patek Philippe 18Kt Solid Gold Dress Watch with Original Dial and Bracelet 1960
By Patek Philippe
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Patek Philippe & Cie. STYLE / REFERENCE: Dress Watch / Reference 3426/3 METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt Solid Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1960's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Diameter 32mm MOVE...
18k 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.
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.