Why This Watch Matters

The perfect, no-frills, manually-wound Rolex Oysterdate. Everything you want and nothing you don't.

The Full Story

Vintage collectors often get caught up in the infinitesimal details that intrigue further and further as you dive in. Yet sometimes, a watch jumps up and hits us in the face with pure, simplistic, undeniable greatness. The stainless steel Oyster case is already an iconic vintage look, but when you add in an interestingly finished dial, and a manually-wound movement, the watch suddenly becomes something to write home about. Translating from Rolex, the "Precision" branding indicates a manually-wound movement, just as "Perpetual" points to a self-winding or automatic movement powering the watch. Rolex watches like this one are consistently compelling, never going out of style.

This example of the Oysterdate Precision stands out due to its modest size and feel on the wrist. Oyster cases measuring 34mm diameter were long considered to be less desirable than larger models from the company, but over the past few years, this has changed quite drastically. As size preferences have skewed slightly smaller, appreciation of these 34mm Oysters has risen thanks to an extremely comfortable on-the-wrist feel.

The dial is classic, with a silver sunburst finish and a satin touch, along with baton markers for precise legibility. One thing that's great about the dial is the full, round lume plots with a creamy color that match the handset and the subtle "T SWISS T" indication at the bottom of the dial. This example is fitted with a classic and comfortable Rolex rivet-link Oyster bracelet. It's a watch you could wear daily without ever getting tired of it, featuring a timeless design with attractive and well-balanced simplicity.

The Fine Print

What We Love And What You Should Know

Things We Love:

Things To Know:

This Rolex is in good, honest overall condition. The case is sharp with scratches and few light nicks. The underside of the lugs shows some scratches from the bracelet. The numbers are clearly visible between both sets of lugs. 

The dial is in great condition with a very light patina overall. The lume plots are all-around full, with an attractive patina. There is some more noticeable patina on the dial near the edges and lume plots. The lume in the hands has developed some patina. The hour markers and hands have developed patina. 

The inside caseback is stamped with the reference number "6694." There are some scratches on the crystal. The Rolex rivet-link ref. 7205 Oyster bracelet is in good condition with scratches and some stretch to the links. The clasp has some scratches to both sides. The clasp is dated "4.66," corresponding to a fourth quarter of 1966 manufacture, indicating this is an earlier replacement. The crystal has some scratches and some wear to the edge at one o'clock. The dial, crown, case, movement, and bracelet are all signed by Rolex. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist.