Mid-1950s Oyster Perpetual - Worth Repairing

[Hamster]

Hi Guys,

I've never owned a Rolex before but have just inherited this one from my Dad so I'm an absolute novice (my current watch is a Casio). He basically had it forever so I'm guessing that it's a 1950s watch. I took it in the Brisbane Vintage Watch Repair for an opinion. In a repaired condition it apparently be worth around AUD $2,000 and to restore it would be a minimum of AUD$600. The watch is running and is keeping pretty good time.

Any information about the watch would be greatly appreciated as well as opinions on whether I should go to the expense of a restoration or just keep it in the bottom of a draw.

[Alcan]

That watch is not of Rolex manufacture, its a poor quality counterfeit.

[jjmcd]

Originally Posted by Alcan

That watch is not of Rolex manufacture, its a poor quality counterfeit.

Disagree. It looks like a Rolex "Zephyr" from the mid-1950s. The reference numbers for Zephyrs are 1008, 9522, 6582, 9919 and 1009.

I haven't seen a Zephyr with the depth rating on the dial before, but there were a lot of dial variations in the 1950s that weren't documented.

A similar white dial Zephyr is a few watches down here: http://www.darlor-watch.com/rolex_watches_3.html

A black dial Zephyr is about 1/4th the way down here: http://www.bubblebackclub.com/pub_pr...ries_cat_id=13

[Hamster]

Guys,

Thanks for the opinions. It certainly looks like a Zephyr. There are some numbers around the side of the case where the band attaches that are too small for me to read. I'm guessing that a manufacturer wouldn't go to that much trouble.

[powerfunk]

Although the resale of these may be only $2k give or take, anytime somebody (like me) buys a vintage piece with unknown service history for $2k, it's basically expected to spend several hundred on immediately servicing it.

My recommendation would be to find a friendly knowledgeable watchmaker on TRF, send it their way, and if anything is unoriginal or not as it should be, well, you'll only be out postage. Nice Zephyr!

[pawnshopkiller]

2k? Maybe 1200 bucks

[kyle L]

Looks real, and an interesting one too. I think it's a 6582 Zephyr, here's another example.



Definitely get it fixed up, it's your dad's watch! I would leave the dial as is or get it cleaned somehow, but don't redial it.

[Hamster]

Guys,

Thanks for the comments and the identification, very much appreciated. The watch for the immediate future will be safely kept and will ultimately I'll get it cleaned and overhauled.

[Lisa]

Interesting! At my 30th high school class reunion last summer, an old friend was sporting a Zephyr. He had bought it in the late 1980s at a vintage jewelry shop. His had been redialed, and was missing the "crosshairs," though.

Very cool that you have this!