1950s Rolex Best Buy?

[Styles Bitchley]

I’ve been looking at Rolexes from the 50s and can’t help thinking they offer great value for what they are. So many fantastic dials with patina and character.

Wondering what reference you guys think is the best 50s Rolex for a good price (say, less than $2k) right now.


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[Storky]

If you intend to wear the watch regularly my advice would be NOT to buy a manual wind.
If you’re undoing the crown everyday it will wear and parts for these old pieces are becoming more difficult to obtain and are becoming much more expensive too.
... just my opinion. :-)

[N5XTC]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

I’ve been looking at Rolexes from the 50s and can’t help thinking they offer great value for what they are. So many fantastic dials with patina and character.

Wondering what reference you guys think is the best 50s Rolex for a good price (say, less than $2k) right now.


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a rolex from the 50's for under 2k? is there such a thing? just wondering.

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by N5XTC

a rolex from the 50's for under 2k? is there such a thing? just wondering.

Oops. That was supposed to be a 5...$5k.


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[N5XTC]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

Oops. That was supposed to be a 5...$5k.


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5k is much more doable.

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by Storky

If you intend to wear the watch regularly my advice would be NOT to buy a manual wind.
If you’re undoing the crown everyday it will wear and parts for these old pieces are becoming more difficult to obtain and are becoming much more expensive too.
... just my opinion. :-)

The 7xx and 12xx calibers are extremely common and will have many parts available for years to come. Case and crown tubes are all the same. Click springs, slipper clutches, balances ect will all be far more common for a manual caliber than replacing messed up rotors, balances and the like in an old bubble back

[MorningTundra]

Originally Posted by Storky

If you intend to wear the watch regularly my advice would be NOT to buy a manual wind.

If you’re undoing the crown everyday it will wear and parts for these old pieces are becoming more difficult to obtain and are becoming much more expensive too.

... just my opinion. :-)

I believe this to be urban legend. If you’ve experienced multiple crown tube failures, you’re an outlier. I’ve worn manual wind Oysterquarts from the 50s without problems. They’re robust and simple watches at compelling prices.


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[Styles Bitchley]

Thanks for the thoughts. I’ll continue narrowing down my choices. Bubble backs seem to come up often at surprisingly low prices, but I suppose that’s because of the difficulty in finding parts - or they’re just not fashionable?


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[JustinK]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

Thanks for the thoughts. I’ll continue narrowing down my choices. Bubble backs seem to come up often at surprisingly low prices, but I suppose that’s because of the difficulty in finding parts - or they’re just not fashionable?


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I think they are cool but too small to wear. I suspect a lot of people feel this way at the moment but trends change.

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by MorningTundra

I believe this to be urban legend. If you’ve experienced multiple crown tube failures, you’re an outlier. I’ve worn manual wind Oysterquarts from the 50s without problems. They’re robust and simple watches at compelling prices.


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The good ol manual wind oysterquartz from the 50s. That’s a rare one

[MorningTundra]

Have you seen this?

https://www.fratellowatches.com/tbt-...recision-6694/

Can you wear 34mm? I can ... it’s more about mindset than wrist size.


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[turpe]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

Oops. That was supposed to be a 5...$5k.


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Eh... $2k, give or take a little, is still do-able, especially if you look at something like an Air-King. I have a 6552 from the late 50s - I was sniffing around selling it a while back (changed my mind and kept it) and a very respected 2nd hand dealer told me to expect it to sell for around $2k.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

The good ol manual wind oysterquartz from the 50s. That’s a rare one

As rare as the 1920s battery-powered Sub C.

[MorningTundra]

Under $5k? Circa 1950s?

Check out ref 6015. Rare, COSC, Perpetual, unusual case finish.


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[motoikkyu]

If you are looking for something really cool, consider the 6090. This is a bubbleback in 34mm, which is an acceptable size for most, with the Bombe or Bombay lugs. Time only, usually available around 5k in 14k or 18k. It's got a cool look, it's big enough for most, and it is exceptionally comfortable to wear.

[MorningTundra]

Originally Posted by MorningTundra

Under $5k? Circa 1950s?

Check out ref 6015. Rare, COSC, Perpetual, unusual case finish.


Sent from my cracked, broken hand wound phone. IG @morning_tundra

Yikes. Somehow autocorrect turned 6518 into 6015. AFAIK, there isn’t a 6015 🤨


Sent from my cracked, broken hand wound phone. IG @morning_tundra

[Toronto Soup King]

Some estate-saler up here in Ontario has a 6426 going on eBay for CAD1500, it's 34mm but on bracelet would be wearable for me (if I needed any more watches!) So you can find them, for sure