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
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
18 Kt Collectors Rolex President Wood Dial, Ref 18038 from 1978
By Rolex
Located in Antwerp, BE
18 Kt Collectors Rolex President Wood Dial, Ref 18038 Gender: Mens Brand: Rolex Type: Wristwatches Reference: 18038 Country/Region of Manufacture: Switzerland Style: Luxury Casual M...
18k 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...
Omega Choreograph Vintage 18k gold wrist watch cal.33.3 1950
By Omega
Located in Berlin, BE
Handaufzugs omega uhr in 18k gelbgold mit lederband und orginaler omega dornschließe cal.33,3 plexiglas uhr weisst leichte gebrauchspuren
18k Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual with Rare Engine Turned Bezel 1957
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Reference 6565 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1957 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 42mm X Diamet...
Stainless Steel
Cartier Santos 18k Yellow Gold And Stainless "Spider" Burgundy Dial Ref 0902
By Cartier
Located in Houston, TX
A rare and unique find, this Cartier Santos features the eye-catching "spider" burgundy dial paired with a matching burgundy cabochon crown. A true statement piece, this watch combin...
Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel
Vintage ROLEX Watch. 9k YG Rolex 4533 Square Tank Manual Wristwatch.
By Rolex
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
Vintage Rolex Square Mens Watch 9k Yellow Gold Ref 4533 Windup Movement. Runs well. Circa 1940s Beautiful Watch. New Genuine Leather band. 27mm square case
9k Gold
Cartier Vivid Yellow, White Diamond Panther Watch
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
CARTIER Vivid Yellow, White Diamond Panther Watch A magnificent 18k yellow gold Panthere watch, set with vivid yellow and white diamonds, emerald eyes and onyx, signed Cartier with F...
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold
$3,600,000
W 0.75 in L 7.25 in
Van Cleef & Arpels Oval Sapphires and Baguette Diamond Bracelet Circa - 1938
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Bracelet of Oval Sapphires Surrounded by Baguette Diamonds Which Embrace the Sapphires. 15 Oval No Heat Sapphires Consisting of, 6 - Kashmir, 8- Burma, 1 - Ceylon....
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Longines 18Kt. Yellow Gold Men's Wrist Watch, French Hallmarked 1930's
By Longines
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Longines Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Modified Tonneau Shape CIRCA: 1930's MOVEMENT / CALIBER: 17 Jewels / Caliber 10.85 DIAL / HANDS: Roman Numerals / Blued Ste...
Yellow Gold
Boucheron Diamond Platinum Necklace And Brooch
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
A truly magnificent 1950's Boucheron diamond necklace. Designed as a stylised, flexible ribbon set with graduated and tapered baguette & step-cut diamonds, suspending an articulated ...
White Diamond, Platinum
Rolex Rare Vintage Oyster Perpetual Yellow Gold 1035
By Rolex
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A striking mens yellow gold Oyster Perpetual by Rolex. Featuring a rare champagne dial with applied hour markers and a textured yellow gold bezel. Equipped with a stunningly rare yel...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$99,920
H 8.5 in W 15 in D 11 in
Chanel 2014 Collector's Runway Supermarket Grocery Basket Chain Tote Minaudière
By Chanel
Located in Miami, FL
Chanel classic silver interwoven chain in the form of a large sized grocery shopping basket Spring 2014 Silver hardware Classic interwoven chain CC Silver Charm Can be used for high...
Tudor Rolex Rose Logo Radial Arabic Numerals c1960's 30mm Manual Mens' Watch
By Tudor
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
This Tudor Rolex Vintage Gents’ Watch is dating from 1960’s, it is in good working order & in overall good original condition An ivory-beige coloured Dial is adorned with brand’s ic...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Benrus Military Style Wrist Watch with Leather Bund Strap
By Benrus
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
Enjoy this neat post WWII Benrus Military BH-11 Style Steel Men's Wrist Watch. In case size 31.5mm, the dial has a combination of Arabic numerals and matchstick markers with a sweep ...
Stainless Steel
Hermes Diamond Birkin 35 Bag Miel Porosus Crocodile Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an exceptional limited edition Hermes Birkin 35 Diamond Porosus Crocodile bag featured in honeyed Miel. Exquisite and rare color, this Hermes Birkin bag with 18K Ye...
Mercedes Stainless Steel Post WWII Vintage Wrist Watch
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
In mint condition, enjoy this post WWII Style Mercedes Winder 32mm Men's Wrist Watch. With a pristine linen face, the gold tone hands and matchstick indexes are sleek and easy to rea...
Stainless Steel, 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.
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.
Throughout the season, timepieces are clues to the characters' character.
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.