1953 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Stainless Steel 6150 Wristwatch

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1953 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Stainless Steel 6150 Wristwatch

About the Item

Vintage * *Complete with: Presentation Box & Service Papers dated 1953 *Case Size: 36mm *Strap: Brown Leather *Age: 1953 *Strap length: Adjustable up to 18cm. Please note we can order spare links and alternate length/colour straps if required. For a quote please contact us. ** Condition: The item is in good pre-owned condition and shows some general signs of wear or patina relative to its age. As one of the classic examples of an understated men’s Rolex of it’s time, this 36mm stainless steel case Oyster Perpetual ref. 6150 is a predecessor of the Rolex Explorer, before the Rolex “Explorer” was released and written on the dials. The 36mm case size is slightly more desirable as a rarity from the more common 34mm case sizes of the time. The first Rolex models with “Explorer” written on the dials started with the reference that followed – the 6350. Therefore this 6150 gave birth to the Explorer as it was eventually called. The 6150 was also born directly out of exploration of the truest nature. The previous Rolex reference 6098 was a chronometer certified movement and developed with real world explorers in mind. Models like the ref. 6084 and ref. 6098 were said to be worn by Alfred Gregory, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzig Norgay – the first explorers to reach the summit of Mount Everest in May 1953. The Rolex reference 6150 was released in 1953 after the staggering popularity shown in the Everest Rolexes, and so this is the model put into the public market. Discovering the full range of dial variations made over the following 8 years, before the release of the Explorer 6530 in 1959, could keep you busy researching for months. We rarely see a white dial such as this, with it’s simple baton hour markers and sparse dial writing, showing only Rolex Oyster Perpetual Precision. This simple dial may have been a transitional model before the popularity of the Explorer dials inflated. Later on, words such as “Explorer” and “Self Winding Rotor” were added to the dial, along with the famed 3, 6, 9 hour seen in Arabic numerals on some of the rarest early Explorers and early ref. 6530s. This dial shows a natural discolouration and some patina due to ageing. The movement is an A296 and the inner caseback reads “IV 1953” indicating it’s age of manufacture and which quarter in that year – a common dating technique of Rolex in the 1950s. The watch comes on a steel Rolex Jubilee bracelet in good condition, with unmarked end links. The watch also comes with a presentation box and certified service papers. Jacob Tomkins is founder and publisher of Twelve: Watch Buyer’s Journal. He is dedicated to horological content and collectors knowledge with a particular interest in rare and unusual timepieces. He has gathered valuable and substantial collecting knowledge over a career-long passion and fascination with the mechanics and variations in watchmaking. ** Gender: Men's *Dial: Silver Baton *Glass: Sapphire Crystal *Movement: Automatic *Water Resistance: Not Recommended for Use in Water *Case: Stainless Steel *Buckle Material: Stainless Steel Deployment *Strap Width: At Case - 19mm/At Buckle - 15mm ** PLEASE NOTE: ALL INTERNATIONAL ORDERS MAY BE SUBJECT TO LOCAL TAXES AND DUTIES WHICH REMAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER. SHOULD AN ITEM BE REJECTED ON THE BASIS OF THESE COSTS WE WILL BE UNABLE TO REFUND OUTWARD & RETURN SHIPPING COSTS. PLEASE CONTACT US SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. ** SERVICE HISTORY * This watch has received a Rolex accredited service in line with our exacting standards. ** PROVENANCE * All of our items undergo checks against a number of databases created in conjunction with the brands and worldwide authorities to ensure authenticity and provenance is ascertained. ** WARRANTY * All of our pre-owned watches have undergone thorough mechanical inspections, including being ultrasonically cleaned, serviced and resealed if appropriate and tested for a minimum of 7 days, to ensure they meet our highest timekeeping standards. Our pre-owned and vintage watches are covered by a full, or a limited twenty-four month warranty. For example, due to their age, some vintage watches should not be subjected to the same conditions as when they were new such as water resistance, which it may no longer be possible to guarantee. Please see our Terms & Conditions for further information. All of our new watches are covered by the warranty from the original manufacturer. Please contact us for further information. ** DELIVERY * UK - We offer a complimentary next day delivery service for all UK orders placed before 3pm. If your order is placed after this time, or during the weekend, your item(s) will be dispatched on the nearest working day. Please be aware that your parcel will require a signature in order to be delivered and tracking information will be supplied on the day of dispatch. We also offer named day delivery options, so please contact us to discuss your requirements. ** International - We offer complimentary delivery on all international orders. If your order is placed before 12pm (GMT) your item(s) will be dispatched on the same day. We aim to get your order to you as quickly as possible, but in rare cases, local customs and excise authorities can introduce delivery delays that are out of our control. We will notify you of any delays where possible and a tracking number will be sent to you on the day of dispatch. ** RETURNS * We're confident that you'll love your purchase from us, but we understand the importance of peace of mind when shopping online. If you decide you would like to return your item, we offer a 30-day returns period from the date of delivery, entitling you to a full refund or exchange.

Creator:
Rolex
Case Material:
Stainless Steel
Case Dimensions:
Diameter: 1.42 in (36 mm)
Place of Origin:
Unknown
Period:
1950-1959
Date of Manufacture:
1953
Condition:
Repaired. The item is in good pre-owned condition and shows some general signs of wear or patina relative to its age.
Seller Location:
Bishops Stortford, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: COM17181stDibs: LU131838384332

Shop All Rolex

Rolex

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.

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