Lot #AN3169 – Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Watch 1500

$2,099.00 

Vintage gents stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date wristwatch, ref #1500.  Circa 1972.  Silver Rolex “T Swiss Made T” dial with applied bar hour markers and elongated minute markers.  Stainless steel smooth bezel.  Swiss made, mechanical manual wind movement.  Comes on a stainless steel Rolex crimped Oyster bracelet #7835 with matching #361 end pieces.  Approximate diameter is 34mm.  The hour markers and minutes are the same length which makes this a rare and unusual Rolex dial.

The crystal has crazing throughout.  The watch has superficial scratches due to normal wear and age.  Overall condition is good.  Running at the time of inspection, however not checked for accuracy nor water resistance/proofness.  An overhaul is always recommended for used watches.

In 1905, Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, founded their company Wilsdorf & Davis Ltd.  In 1908, they registered Rolex and became Rolex Watch Co Ltd in 1915.  After moving their headquarters to Geneva, Switzerland, the company name was changed to Montres Rolex S.A. in 1920.  Rolex introduced the first waterproof Rolex Oyster in 1926.  The following year, Mercedes Gleitze swam for 10 hours across the English Channel wearing a Rolex Oyster.  Rolex invented the first self-winding automatic movement with rotor in 1931.  Rolex watches became popular in the fields of aviation, motor racing, sports, and expeditions.  Some notable models are the Rolex Datejust, the Rolex Explorer, the Rolex Submariner, the Rolex GMT-Master, the Rolex Day-Date (aka “President”), the Rolex Milgauss, the Rolex Lady Datejust, the Rolex Deep Sea Special, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, the Rolex Sea-Dweller, the Rolex Explorer II, the Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000, the Rolex Pearlmaster (aka “Masterpiece”), the Rolex Yacht-Master, the Rolex Yacht-Master II, the Rolex Deepsea, the Rolex Sky-Dweller, the Rolex Air-King, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, and the Rolex Cellini.