14k Yellow Gold Rolex Circa 1955 Precision Watch Hand Wound Cal. 1210 Movement
By Rolex
Located in Providence, RI
This vintage Rolex wristwatch is a classic example of mid-century elegance, featuring a 14k yellow gold case that exudes a refined and timeless aesthetic. The case is slim, round, an...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster, circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Oyster reference# 6480, serial# 94,xxx circa 1955.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Oyster Reference 6480 Stainless Steel Watch, 1955
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1955 Vintage Rolex Oyster Ref. 6480 Stainless Steel watch with Original Silver Dial with Applied Pointed Bar/Baton Markers. 34mm x 38mm lug to lug (1.34 in. x 1.5 in.) 17 jewel, manu...
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Manual Wind Model, circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Oyster reference# 6480, serial# 94,xxx circa 1955.
Stainless Steel
Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual 14 Karat Yellow Gold Watch, 1955
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1955 Vintage Rolex Ouster Perpetual Ref. 6564 14k Yellow Gold with Original Silver Dial Turning Golden Brown with Applied Beveled Gold Stick/Bar/Baton Markers.
Rolex Pendant Watch 18K Gold Diamonds Signed, 1955
By Rolex
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Rolex Pendant watch 18K Gold and fine Diamonds. Extremely rare jewelry item, Rolex have only produced a limited number of these pendants for special clients. The delicate cover with...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Rolex Ladies Watch 18 K Gold Diamonds Signed, 1955
By Rolex
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Rolex Ladies Pendant watch 18K Gold and Fine Diamonds. Extremely rare jewelry item, Rolex has only produced a limited number of these pendants for special clients. The delicate cove...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
Rolex Rose Gold Chronograph Wristwatch Ref 9162 circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in Firenze, IT
Rolex 18k rose gold chronograph wristwatch, Ref. 9162, Case No. 130792, circa 1955, 30 minute and 12 hour registers, snap back, reeded band, silvered dial, applied indexes, subsidiar...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Sold
W 1.23 in Dm 1.23 in L 1.23 in
Rolex 12324 – 1955 – 31mm Stainless Steel – Cream Dial – Manual Wind
By Rolex
Located in London, GB
Rolex 12324 – 1955 – 31mm Stainless Steel – Cream Dial – Manual Wind A charming and beautifully preserved mid‑century Rolex, this reference 12324 dates to 1955 and features a small 3...
Rolex Rose Gold Stainless Steel Datejust Perpetual Wind Watch, circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Datejust / Red and Black Date Wheel METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel and Solid Gold DIMENSIONS: 45mm X 36mm CIRCA: 1955 / 1...
1955 Rolex Men's Watch 6586 Stainless Steel White Dial Gold Markers
Located in Washington Depot, CT
1955 Rolex Men's Watch Model: 6586 Serial: 97860 Automatic movement White Dial - gold markers.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual with Rare Dial from, 1955
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Reference 6564 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1955 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 40mm X Diamet...
Rolex Oyster Speedking Manual Red Depth Honeycomb Dial 6420, 1955's
By Rolex
Located in Central & Western District, HK
Brand: Vintage Rolex Model: 6420 Year: 1955 Serial number: 72xxx Reference: OT1868 Introducing a captivating 30mm Rolex Oyster featuring a unique white honeycomb dial Ref:6420, enh...
Steel
Rolex Steel Perpetual with Original Dial and Rare Multi Faceted Bezel from 1955
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Oyster Perpetual / Reference 6586 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: First Quarter 1955 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Lengt...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Vintage Date Model Custom Color Dial Automatic Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1955 Rolex, 35 M.M. Stainless Steel 2 Piece Water Resistant Oyster Case with Engine Turned Bezel.
Stainless Steel
1955 Rolex Oyster Precision Stainless Steel 6424 Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
Vintage * *Complete with: Presentation Box dated 1955 *Case Size: 36mm *Strap: Stainless Steel Jubilee *Age: 1955 *Strap length: Adjustable up to 18cm.
Stainless Steel
1955 Rolex Oysterdate Stainless Steel 6494 Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
Vintage * *Complete with: Box & Guarantee dated 18th July 1955 *Case Size: 34mm *Strap: Brown Calf Leather *Age: 1955 *Strap length: Adjustable up to 20cm.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Oyster Perpetual wristwatch, Ref. 6564, serial number 82,XXX, circa 1955. 34mm case with smooth bezel and acrylic crystal, with original warmly patinaed dial wi...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Rolex Datejust Reference 6305-2 Stainless Steel Watch, 1955
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1955 Vintage Rolex Datejust Ref. 6305-2 Ovettone Red Datejust Stainless Steel watch with Roulette Red and Black Date Wheel & White Dial with Applied Pointed Steel Stick/Bar/Baton Mar...
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Wristwatch Ref 6480 circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Oyster wristwatch, Ref# 6480, production serial # 96,XXX, circa 1955. 34mm Oyster case with smooth bezel and acrylic crystal.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Precision 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ref. 4477, circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Precision 18K YG man’s manual wind dress model ref. 4477 circa 1955.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rolex Yellow Gold Bombe Wristwatch Ref 6590 circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 18k yellow gold Bombe wristwatch, Ref. 6590, serial number 120,XXX, circa 1955.
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Wriswatch Ref 6422 circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Great looking vintage Rolex stainless steel Oyster wristwatch, Ref. 6422, serial number 69,XXX, circa 1955, with manual-wind movement. 34mm case with dome bezel and acrylic crystal.
Stainless Steel
Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Bombe 14 Karat Yellow Gold Watch, 1955
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1955 Vintage Rolex Bombe Ref. 6018 14k Yellow Gold watch with Original Waffle Textured Silver Dial with Applied Gold Beveled Elongated Triangle Markers with Rare Copper Gilt Movement...
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Precision Wristwatch Ref 6282 circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Vintage Rolex Oyster Precision ref 6282 circa 1955 with beautiful condition original waffle dial.
Stainless Steel, Yellow Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual Bulls Eye Wristwatch circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Oyster Perpetual wristwatch, Ref. 6532, serial number 120,XXX, circa 1955. 34mm case with smooth bezel and very pleasing original two-tone silvered satin "bull'...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Pink Gold Datejust ref# 6305 circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 18K PG Datejust ref #6305 serial# 36,xxx circa 1955. 36mm diameter fully size man's model with beautifully restored antique white dial with applied pink gold triangular shaped ...
18k Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel and 14 Karat Gold “Red” Datejust Ref 6305, circa 1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
An early, rare, and fine condition Rolex Datejust, ref 6305 serial # 99,xxx circa 1955.
14k Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex 14K YG Oyster Perpetual ref # 6584 serial c.1955
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 14K YG Oyster Perpetual ref # 6584 serial # 41,XXX circa 1955. 34mm diameter Oyster case with great original patinad dial with raised triangular indexes and tapered dauphine ha...
14k 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.
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.