1940s Rolex Precision unusual Gold Shell and Steel back Manual wind Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1940s Rolex Precision Wrist Watch, 35 M.M. 2 piece Gold Shell case with Water Resistant
Gold, Steel
Rolex Gold Shell Oyster Perpetual with Rare Original Black Dial from 1953
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Reference 6334 METAL
Rolex Rare Gold Shell Oyster Perpetual from 1952 Oversized Bubble Back Movement
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Reference 6334 METAL
Rolex Gold Shell Oyster Perpetual Very Rare Deepsea From 1954 / 55 Original Dial
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Reference 6332 METAL
Gold
Rolex Yellow Gold Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Date Gold Shell Watch
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Date / Ref. 15505 METAL
Rolex Yellow Gold Shell Top Oyster Perpetual Date Watch From 1972
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Date / Ref. 1550 METAL
Rolex Rose Gold Shell Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Brand: Rolex MPN: 1025 Model: Oyster Perpetual Case Material: Stainless Steel with 14k Rose Gold
14k Gold, Rose Gold
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Gold Shell Series in New Condition, circa 1972
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Date METAL / MATERIAL
Gold
Rolex 6466 Oysterdate Vintage Plated Shell Precision Watch
By Rolex
Located in Boca Raton, FL
The Rolex 6466 Oysterdate Vintage Plated Shell Precision Watch is a vintage masterpiece that stands
Rolex vintage 15505 Gold Shell Automatic Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1987 Rolex Wrist Watch, 34 M.M Gold Shell with Steel back 3 piece Oyster Case. Caliber 3035
Gold-filled
Rolex Date Men's Vintage 14k Gold Shell Watch, 1550
By Rolex
Located in Dallas, TX
Rolex Date Men's Vintage 14k Gold Shell Watch 1550 - Automatic winding, acrylic crystal. 14k yellow
14k Gold
Rolex Vintage Gold Shell Ref 6334 Automatic Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1950s Rolex Reference 6334 Wrist Watch, 34 M.M. 2 piece Gold Shell over Stainless steel with
Gold-filled
Rolex Date Men's Vintage 14 Karat Gold Shell Watch 1550
By Rolex
Located in Dallas, TX
Rolex Date Men's Vintage 14k Gold Shell Watch 1550 - Automatic winding, acrylic crystal. 14k yellow
Rolex 1984 Date Gold Shell Ref 15505 Quick Set Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1984 Rolex "Date" Wrist Watch, 34 M.M. 3 piece Gold Shell with steel back, oyster water
Gold-filled
Rolex Air King Reference 5520 1960s Gold Capped Shell Champagne Dial 34mm Watch.
By Rolex
Located in Toronto, CA
Brand : Rolex Model: Air King Reference Number : 5520 Features : Screw down Crown - Champagne
Gold
Rolex Vintage Gold Shell Date Model Automatic on Gold Shell Oyster Bracelet
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1972 Rolex Reference 1550 Date Wrist Watch, 34 M.M. 2 piece Gold Shell Oyster case with Steel
Gold Plate
Rolex Gold Shell Self Winding Wristwatch Ref 1025, 1960s
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1967 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Reference 1024, 34 MM Gold Shell case with Stainless Steel Back
Gold-filled, Stainless Steel
Rolex Vintage Ref 1024 Gold Shell with Company Logo Dial
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1984 Rolex Reference 1024 Wrist watch, 34 m.m. Gold Shell with Steel back Oyster case
Gold-filled
Rolex Gold Shell Original Blue Dial Automatic Wristwatch, circa 1980
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual Date / Ref. 1550 METAL
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1980 Ref 1014 Gold Shell Automatic Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Reference 1014 Wrist Watch, 34 M.M. Yellow Gold Shell case with
Gold-filled, Stainless Steel
Rolex Yellow Gold "Shell" Air King with Flawless Original Dial 1970's
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual Air King / Reference 1025
Yellow Gold, Steel
Rolex Gold Shell stainless steel Oyster Perpetual Manual Wristwatch Ref 6634
By Rolex
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage Rolex Gold Shell Oyster Perpetual Men's Watch 6634 - Manual winding. 14k gold shell case
Rolex yellow Gold Shell stainless steel Self Winding Wristwatch Ref 6567
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1959 Rolex Reference 6567, 34 MM Water Proof, Gold Shell Case with stainless Steel Back and a
Gold-filled, Stainless Steel
Rolex Yellow Gold Shell Diamond Beveled Bezel Automatic Wristwatch Ref 1025
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1960s Rolex reference 1025, 34 MM heavy Gold Shell With steel back case, Oyster perpetual
Gold Plate
Vintage Rolex Air King 5520 Gold Shell Wristwatch Box Papers 1 Owner
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1982 Rolex Air King Reference 5520 Wrist Watch, 34 M.M. Gold Shell 2 Piece case with
Gold-filled
Rolex Yellow Gold Shell Custom Dial Oyster Date Automatic Wristwatch Ref 15505
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1982 Rolex Reference 15505 Oyster perpetual date Wrist watch 34 MM Gold Shell case with
Gold Plate
Rolex Datejust 16203NG 10P Diamond, White Shell Dial, Y-Series, Men's Used Watch
By Rolex
Located in Holtsville, NY
to Rolex's unwavering commitment to excellence. Featuring a captivating white shell dial, this watch
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Rolex Gold Shell Oyster Perpetual Date ref #15505 circa 1985
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex gold shell Oyster Perpetual Date ref #15505 34mm diameter case with smooth bezel serial
Stainless Steel, 18k Gold
Rolex Gold Shell Oyster Perpetual Date Automatic Wristwatch circa 1979
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date ref #1500 14K yellow gold shell circa 1979. Gorgeous on a man or woman
Rolex Datejust 79173NR White Shell Dial, Y Series, Ladies, Pre-Owned
By Rolex
Located in Holtsville, NY
dial that exudes a sense of luxury and refinement. The Rolex Datejust isn't just a watch; it's an icon
Yellow Gold
$6,800Sale Price|20% Off
Custom Made 14k Yellow Gold 1.52 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring with Appraisal
Located in Eagan, MN
What a gorgeous and unique ring this is!! It is custom made so it truly is a one-of-a-kind ring. It is a size 6.25. I just love the asymmetrical design it has. It has a large Vint...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,900
H 0.87 in W 0.79 in
Ladies Chopard 18k White Gold Diamond Watch Rare JLC Deployment Clasp ref 8/6495
By Chopard
Located in Richmond, CA
A beautiful vintage Chopard 18K solid white gold wristwatch (reference 8/6495), with a full factory diamond bezel on a blue croco leather band, and factory paired with a Jaeger LeCou...
Diamond, White Gold
Cartier Paris Rivoli 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Lugs & Deployment Buckle Watch
By Cartier
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
Cartier Paris Rivoli ladies watch. 24MM 18K yellow gold case size with factory lugs diamond. Silver dial with blue hands and black Roman numeral hour marker. 18K yellow gold case bac...
18k Gold
Piaget Emperador Rose Gold 26 x 33 mm
By Piaget
Located in MADRID, ES
Piaget Emperador Rose Gold 26 x 33 mm, con diseño originalmente destinado a caballero, aunque por su tamaño es adecuado para uso unisex. Caja esfera y hebilla en oro rosa y con corre...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
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
Patek Philippe 18Kt Solid Gold Dress Watch circa 1980's with Original Bracelet
By Patek Philippe
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Patek Philippe & Co. STYLE / REFERENCE: Dress Watch / Reference 4217-10 METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt Solid Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1980's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 23mm X Widt...
Gold
Rare Vintage Hermes Kelly 32 Lisse Noisette GHW Bag
By Hermès
Located in Jakarta, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta
Super rare vintage 2003 Kelly 32 in noisette lisse leather. Beautiful condition with visible light scratches and rubbing on the exterior leather. Visible scratches on the flap lining...
Patek Philippe Calatrava 18K Yellow Gold Quartz Men’s Watch Ref. 3954
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
This refined Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 3954 embodies the purity and elegance that define the Calatrava line. Crafted in 18K yellow gold, the watch features a clean white lacquer ...
Quartz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold 18K Wristwatch 1960S
By Patek Philippe
Located in Geneva, CH
Patek Philippe Wristwatch ref. 3503/5 in 18K Gold. CIRCA: 1967 CASE NUMBER: 2650836 MOVEMENT NUMBER: 1137844 REF.: 3503 CASE MATERIAL: 18K yellow gold CASE DIMENSIONS: 30.9 mm wide ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rolex Air King Vintage Steel Automatic Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1970 Rolex Air King Reference 5500 Wrist watch, 34 M.M Stainless Steel 3 Piece Oyster case. Caliber 1520 Automatic, self winding movement. Silver Satin dial with raised Stick m...
Steel
Rolex Steel O.P Date With Custom Made M.O.P Dial and Diamond Bezel circa 1970's
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual Date / Reference 1500 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1970's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 42mm X...
Stainless Steel
Zenith tonneau gold manual winding watch new old stock
By Zenith
Located in Perugia, IT
ZENITH - 18kt Yellow Gold - Hand-Wound Case reference 90/30.2860.305 Reference Italy BXY821056 Production 1997 approx New from old stock Case measurements: 40 mm (from the 'end of th...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rolex Steel Datejust With Custom Made Green Dial and Diamond Bezel circa 1970's
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Datejust / Reference 1601 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1970's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 43mm X Diameter 36m...
Stainless Steel
$28,000
PATEK PHILIPPE Calatrava
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
Calatrava Reference Number 3919, 18K Yellow Gold 2 Piece Case with Hobnail Bezel and 18K Chain Link Bracelet. Manual Wind Mechanical Movement, White Enamel Dial, Black Roman Numerals...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$5,000
Dm 1.34 in
Rolex Stainless Steel Air King With Custom Made Pumpkin Orange Dial circa 1970's
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Air King / Reference 5500 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1970's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 40mm X Diameter ...
Stainless Steel
Rolex 18Kt Solid Gold "President" Day-Date circa
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Day-Date / Reference 1803 METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt Solid Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1974 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 44mm "Lug Tip to Lug...
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.
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.