Lets see your old Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches!

[AaronR15]

I purchased my first Rolex a few weeks ago to assemble as a project. Came with an awesome dial that I just fell in love with. It's a 1003 case and came with a very worn leather lizard grain bracelet that needs to be replaced.



I just purchased a 1560 movement for it, so I am pretty excited! I need idea's for the bracelet and the dial hands now. I purchased a $75 dollar watch repair kit, that I should have everything I need.



I can't wait to take these pieces and assemble a beautiful watch!

[AaronR15]

I just purchased a new Lizard Grain leather strap, along with Dauphine Hands... Couldn't hold out!!! Can't wait to get this thing ticking...

[Paul]

Here's a couple of oldies - an auto and a manual wind.

Each is from the late 50's and still on their original bracelets

[AaronR15]

Do you know how the auto movements work? I have been wondering how the 1560 movement works...

[Paul]

Well not quite magic ..... but pretty damn clever !

My technnical skills are just enough to get me into trouble so here's a basic explanation from Mr Google that sums it up .....

In all mechanical watches, a series of gears “ticks” of increments of time, which in turn registers as movements of the hands on the face of the watch. A rotor sits on a staff in the middle of the watch’s movement and winds the mainspring which is the source of power.

With an automatic watch the winding of this spiral spring is done automatically with any arm or wrist movement. A power reserve lets the movement of your watch keep time for anywhere between 10 and 72 hours. The bigger the reserve, the longer your watch will keep running without further movement or manual winding.


Rolex was the first watch manufacturer to devise and patent the rotor system ('Perpetual') in the 1930's. Emile Borer was the Rolex technician who came up with the system, but he was not the first to develop a rotor. That distinction goes to Swiss watchmaker, Abraham-Louis Perrelet as long ago as 1770. This was quite the invention because it wouldn’t be until much later in time that wrist watches were worn and there just wasn’t enough physical movement with a pocket watch to make it a feasible way to move the rotor and wind the mainspring .

Someone please jump in if there's anything wrong with that (very basic) explanation

[AaronR15]

When it stops ticking, do I move it around a bit before I put it on, then set the time? Or how does that work?

[Paul]

If you're a rough manual worker like me, you give it a gentle shake, set it (or vice versa) and away you go.
A more sophisticated owner might unscrew the oyster crown and give it a few winds to get it going.

Either way is quite acceptable - very little action is needed to get a healthy, auto-wind watch moving. Just a single wind gets my 54 year old 6542 from whoa to go.

If your Rolex becomes your daily wearer, kinetic energy will simply keep it going, even if it's not worn for a day. A good watchmaker can also regulate a (healthy) Rolex movement to run within a few seconds each day.

So, a tweak to adjust the time perhaps once a month is all a well set up automatic Rolex should need. Your classic Rolex doesn't have a date to worry about it either - you'll be able to just set the time and forget it

[Grissom]

[Darlinboy]

'59 6552....

[russellnyc]

My 1953 1500 is getting lots of mileage today.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1344174511.895827.jpg

Edit: Oops, just realized you were looking for perpetual non-dates.

[roadcarver]

My wife's 6618. The before and after...

[adam78]

Originally Posted by russellnyc

My 1953 1500 is getting lots of mileage today.



Edit: Oops, just realized you were looking for perpetual non-dates.

Sorry to break it to you, but your 1500 is from at least the mid-late '60s...Nice, still.

[russellnyc]

Originally Posted by adam78

Sorry to break it to you, but your 1500 is from at least the mid-late '60s...Nice, still.

I know, I know, I learned that yesterday in my other thread. The serial number was in that in between period where it could be '53 or '63. Now that I know it's '60s, it feels like I got a new watch.

[AaronR15]

You can post up your Date's also! I think one of them is next on my list!

[jerseyden]

1956

[jklein]

here's the newest addition to my collection!

[AaronR15]

Bump!

[joe100]

How about the OP AirKing?

[AaronR15]

Beautiful AK!

[Baden H]

My 1962 9ct 1003.

[Warnsboy]

[Ue11]

Model P 5399. I was told it's a prototype.

[rolexnub]

Beautiful Pics

[Johnfinlay]

My 1550,bought because like the linen dial

[Elliot1957]

In my collection I like old and new, leather and steel.

[photo]

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by Elliot1957

In my collection I like old and new, leather and steel.

Love that GMT!