Why We Love it
As you well know by now, we have a passion for timepieces with tradition, style and value. When these elements combine, an icon is formed, and it is hard to get more iconic than the brand with the big crown - Rolex.
With perfect portions, and timeless styling with its signature waterproof case design, Rolex Oysters may simply be the most versatile and wearable watches ever designed.
This particular model, a rare Oyster "Pre-Precision" Reference 6426, dates to circa 1950 and features a classic 34mm steel Oyster case, crisp silver sunburst dial and a smooth steel bezel. Perhaps what makes this piece most special is the patination on the dart markers and alpha hands which adds some true character and uniqueness.
What can't be discerned from the photos is just how thin these manually-wound Precisions are - making them incredibly slim and comfortable watches to wear, and the perfect accessories for dressing up your wrist under a cuff.
Paired up with its early Rolex-signed lizard strap, signed steel buckle, and coming complete with a period presentation box, this is one vintage Rolex that will certainly catch the eye of true vintage enthusiasts, particularly in a room full of sports watches!
The Story
When you think of Rolex, your first thoughts may be to their unforgettable GMT Master with its two-tone "Pepsi" bezel, the aviator's timepiece designed with Pan-Am pilots and transatlantic jet flights in mind. Or it might go to the form-follows-function Explorer I, the watch designed for mountaineers and tested under the most extreme conditions on earth. But it probably goes to the Submariner, the legendary diver by which all others are measured.
There's no denying that a Rolex Submariner is one of the most iconic watches of the last 60 years, but the same can easily be said about its diminutive siblings in the Oyster series. Designed for everyday wear, these timepieces were made as high grade affordable gentleman's watches in an era when owning a Swiss watch from any brand - never mind a Rolex - was a privilege far fewer could attain than today.
