Dating Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1956?

[Winger]

Hi all,

I have this Rolex and I am extremely confident it is real. The Serial number is worn off from all the years of wear. it is a long way from mint. there are some faint numbers still left to see, and somewhere along the wine the wrote the serial number on the inside of the watch back. 189,377. This number I can see the 1, 9 and last 7 in where the Serial number is, but so worn down its hard to make out. I am wondering if anyone can confirm the rest of the numbers on the inside that would validate the year. One Very strange thing is that 6584 is lined out and 6580 typed in the back. Also appears to have M54 stamped in the back of the case along with 18. Movement is 1030 and the inside number on the edge is 474720. Any help with these numbers would be appreciated.

Also, The fron has Oyster-Perpetual and Officially Certified with Chronometer under the certified. I think 1956 was the first year for Officially Certified?

[Mark020]

M54 is IV54 which means 4th quarter of 1954

[Dan S]

As Mark noted, the case-back gives you the date. The crossed out reference number in the case-back isn't uncommon. Rolex was very frugal. I believe that the dial and hands are modern replacement parts.

[Winger]

Originally Posted by Mark020

M54 is IV54 which means 4th quarter of 1954

Thank you! So it is a 1954 Case back, but he Serial number indicates a 1956. the case back was likely made for a different watch, hence the scratch out and a new number. Cool!

Thank you!

[TuRo]

Butterfly rotor is nice. Caseback and serial being a year or so apart is normal esp if c.o.s.c. cert awaited.
As for dial - swiss are circa 52-63 - Moreover, the dials marked OCC tended to be the mid 50's, they were superceded by SCOC in late 50's/Early 60's I think ....so perhaps original!?

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Winger

Thank you! So it is a 1954 Case back, but he Serial number indicates a 1956. the case back was likely made for a different watch, hence the scratch out and a new number. Cool!

Thank you!

We don't really know the serial number, you are just assuming the number scribed in the case-back is the serial. IMO, it's likely a watchmaker's scribble. If you really want to know the serial number, you will have to try harder to read between the lugs.

[Winger]

Originally Posted by TuRo

Butterfly rotor is nice. Caseback and serial being a year or so apart is normal esp if c.o.s.c. cert awaited.
As for dial - swiss are circa 52-63 - Moreover, the dials marked OCC tended to be the mid 50's, they were superceded by SCOC in late 50's/Early 60's I think ....so perhaps original!?

Thanks! It feels original and looks exactly like a ton of photos I found. I think I did good and found a real nice vintage piece.

[Winger]

Originally Posted by Dan S

We don't really know the serial number, you are just assuming the number scribed in the case-back is the serial. IMO, it's likely a watchmaker's scribble. If you really want to know the serial number, you will have to try harder to read between the lugs.

Fair comment. I am making some assumptions, but realistic ones. I wil lresearch how to bring out engravings that are wore down. Either way, with everything else, the inside, the case dates, the face, its no older than 1956 as the certification only happened then, and wouldn't be much older than 57 or 58 as I am sure the case stock wasn't 5-10 years deep.

[Dan S]

What makes you think that the chronometer dials started in 1956? Pretty sure that goes well back into the 40s at least, many bubblebacks have OCC dials. Obviously some of the Everest expedition watches had OCC dials.

Edit: This Rolex website describes chronometer DJs with the OCC dial starting in 1945, and those may not be the earliest.
https://www.rolex.com/en-us/about-ro...tory/1926-1945

[Dan S]

Very similar watch to yours, here.
https://www.craftandtailored.com/pro...ycomb-occ-dial

Ref 6580 with crossed-out 6584 in the IV.54 case-back. 97xxxx serial from 1964. OCC dial.

If you google "rolex 6580 1953" or "rolex 6580 1954" for example, all the original watches in google images will have OCC dials. Maybe you read somewhere that OCC dials started in 1956, but it pays to do some research.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Winger

Thank you! So it is a 1954 Case back, but he Serial number indicates a 1956. the case back was likely made for a different watch, hence the scratch out and a new number. Cool!

Thank you!

No, it is likely a 1954 with replaced hands at some point. No reason to believe that the case back is a change although it could be.

There is no true, precise dating mechanism using the serial number dating charts, those are always estimates within a couple of years.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Very similar watch to yours, here.
https://www.craftandtailored.com/pro...ycomb-occ-dial

Ref 6580 with crossed-out 6584 in the IV.54 case-back. 97xxxx serial from 1964. OCC dial.

If you google "rolex 6580 1953" or "rolex 6580 1954" for example, all the original watches in google images will have OCC dials. Maybe you read somewhere that OCC dials started in 1956, but it pays to do some research.

It says 97xxx (five digits) so from 1954.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

It says 97xxx (five digits) so from 1954.

Doh! Sorry, that was a typo. 1954 obviously. :facepalm:

[Winger]

Ref 6580 with crossed-out 6584 in the IV.54 case-back. 97xxxx serial from 1964. OCC dial.

If you google "rolex 6580 1953" or "rolex 6580 1954" for example, all the original watches in google images will have OCC dials. Maybe you read somewhere that OCC dials started in 1956, but it pays to do some research.[/QUOTE]

I read on bob's watches 'history of the Oyster-Perpetual" that 1956 was the first year they were officially certified Chronometer. Thats where i got that. usually that site is pretty spot on. But listen, 1954 Watch to me is better than 56 LOL. I like them old! HAHA. Thanks!