1958 6581

[ranger52]

I am hopefull that someone here can awnser a few questions for me. I have a 1958(40023) oyster perpetual 6581, with a Cal. 1030 movement.
One question is do I have the right year of manufacture? The other question is: How good is the 1030 movement? Do other rolex models use the 1030 also? Thank You in advance

[Darlinboy]

Cal 1030 movement is quite robust and used in many models. May be a bit difficult to source parts if any are needed at a service, Rolex no longer provides service parts for that caliber IIRC.

The watch should have a serial number engraved between the lugs and may have the quarter and year of manufacture stamped on the insise of the caseback.

There is a serial-to-year chart in the TRF reference section. Would love to see pictures.

[ranger52]

the S.N is 40023. with a ref# 6581. As soon as I can figure out how to upload pic's, I will. It is really a nice watch. I am the second owner, and it has been serviced regulary thoughout the years. The dial looks to have once been a cream color, and now is a nice patinia(hope I spelled that right)! The watch saw 18 mos in Veitnam, 18 mos in Korea, a few days in Grenada. Belive it or not... it still keeps chronometer time. The only nick on the whole watch is where a back opening tool had slipped at one time, and left a mark. You really have to look for it. Well, anyway, I will post some picks, or at least a link, or I can e-mail some to whom ever might like to see the watch.

[ranger52]

Here are a quick couple of pic's of my 6581 Oyster perpetual. The shots are not that great. I will post more when I get a chance. I'm still looking for a bracelet clasp for the 19mm bracelet.Then it will be complete.

[ranger52]

Did I mention that this is my daily wearer. Still keeps chronometer time.

[Frosty]

[ranger52]

Couple more, incuding a wrist shot. This watch runs so well that the only way I would trade it away, would be for a birth year. (1960)

[joe100]

Love the tropic dial and the so-called "13" engine turned bezel.

[crowncollection]

I love the coronet shape, hands and dial cool watch

[ranger52]

Thanks everyone. I too love the dial as well. It just screams Vintage and where have you been since 58!

[ranger52]

Can someone tell me the year of manufacture? S.N. is 40023. I can't seem to figure it out by looking at the charts. My best guess is 1958.

[joseluu]

I would say it is 1937, so it still had time to have been in the Spanish Civil War and, definitely, in WWII!!

[ranger52]

Like I said, it has been taken care of. I am the second owner, and have had it since 1969. My friend that I bought it from had it serviced every three years, as I have also done. The only thing it needs is a rolex clasp for the 19mm oyster bracelet. Someday I'll run into one that I can afford, or trade something for it I never thought it was from the 30's! Wow

[joe100]

No no no, not from the 1930s. No way, no how. It's from the late 1950s. Inside the case back will be a date stamp of when the caseback was made. This will give you a rough idea of when the watch was made. Trust me, it'll be mid to late 50s

[ranger52]

Thanks Joe. I thought it was a late 50's. Next service I will have my watchmaker look and write down the date for me.

[joe100]

Yeah, it will give you a rough estimate. Rolex made movements, cases, bracelets, casebacks in batches then put the watch together at a later date. But it'll be late 50s.

[joseluu]

Originally Posted by ranger52

I am hopefull that someone here can awnser a few questions for me. I have a 1958(40023) oyster perpetual 6581, with a Cal. 1030 movement.
One question is do I have the right year of manufacture? The other question is: How good is the 1030 movement? Do other rolex models use the 1030 also? Thank You in advance

If this serial number is correct, the watch is from the 30´s. If there is a digit missing, that´s another story.

[ranger52]

Originally Posted by joseluu

If this serial number is correct, the watch is from the 30´s. If there is a digit missing, that´s another story.

No didgits are missing that I can see. Even with a high powerd magnifier it is still the same.
I had read somewhere that some time in the mid to late 50's Rolex did something with thier serial numbers, so from reading from that, I have assumed this watch was a 1958. I can't remember where I read that. Maybe I just googled it and found it somewhere.
Maybe someone else here on the forum might know what I am talking about. Looking back at the ref#, it too should be from the mid to late 50's

[joseluu]

Here is where I usually look the year:

http://www.oysterworld.de/production-dates.html

[joe100]

Rolex serial numbers are not chronological. They restart and change systems.

Joseluu: the serial number on ranger's watch is consistent with a roman style mid to lat 1950s watch. Not only that, this Oyster Perpetual with engine turned bezel comes from the mid to late 1950s and running into the 1960s. A Rolex from the late 1930s will look infinitely different. Please read this article : http://www.qualitytyme.net/pages/numbers.html you will see there is much more to this than your source.

[ranger52]

Originally Posted by joseluu

Here is where I usually look the year:

http://www.oysterworld.de/production-dates.html

I can understand what your saying. Perhaps my watch has a didgit that is so worn that I can't see it even with a 15X loupe. Heck, it may have even wore off through the years. Your guess is as good as mine! all in all, I love the watch for it's patinia dial, and it's history though out the years. I wore it thru all my years in the military, and it never let me down. It just goes to show, that if you keep the watch serviced, it will last a lifetime. I even still swim with mine.

[ranger52]

Originally Posted by joe100

Love the tropic dial and the so-called "13" engine turned bezel.

Joe, I may be not up with all the rolex lingo. Why do you call it a Tropic dial?

[joe100]

Tropic dials are dials that have faded to a brown color due to heat damage. You'll see it on Submariners a lot where the black dial and bezel fade to a chocolate brown. Some like it, some don't.

[ranger52]

Originally Posted by joe100

Tropic dials are dials that have faded to a brown color due to heat damage. You'll see it on Submariners a lot where the black dial and bezel fade to a chocolate brown. Some like it, some don't.

Thanks Joe. Mine looks more of a deep orange to me, and I do like it. I think it gives the watch charetor(excuse my spelling! ) Anyway thanks for the lesson.

[joe100]

No problem, enjoy your 6581, it's a honey!

[joseluu]

I see. Theres is always more than meets the eye!

[joe100]

With vintage Rolex, anything is possible! Haha


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[ranger52]

Originally Posted by joe100

With vintage Rolex, anything is possible! Haha


Sent from my  using Tapatalk

So very true...

[vintagewaferthin]

Very cool looking patina! It really does give the watch character. Enjoy it in the absolute best of health.

[ranger52]

Originally Posted by vintagewaferthin

Very cool looking patina! It really does give the watch character. Enjoy it in the absolute best of health.

Thank you very much. And thank you for showing me how to spell character!