ROLEX DATE JUST , ROYAL,  EXPLORER, WRIST WATCHES  AND THE HISTORY

A 1950 “Royal” Rolex Oyster is the perfect example of a classic watch that would be extremely difficult to find today. The Oyster model, intended as a rugged, high precision sports watch, was introduced only two years earlier in 1925, and rarely are early examples, offered for sale. The Oyster name is still used by Rolex today and these early watches are correctly perceived by enthusiasts as being historically significant as they very much represent the “first of a bloodline”. For the uninitiated, it rather behoves me to explain that the “Oyster” nickname given to these particular watches is a reference to their automatic winding rotors. Unlike later Rolex watches, these early automatics do not allow for full circular motion of their rotors. Rolex engineers at the time calculated that maximum winding efficiency could be achieved by limiting the available rotor travel to roughly 300 degrees. These superb movements were entirely hand assembled and built to remarkably high standards. Only experienced Rolex watchmakers were involved in the assembly of these movements, due to their high complexity. As the rotor moves backwards and forwards, it is cushioned by a pair of delicate buffer springs. When in use, the wearer can actually feel the rotor impacting against the springs and bouncing back again, hence the “bumper” title ascribed to this particular calibre. Sadly, due to sheer complexity of the movement, and its associated high production cost, despite its superb levels of accuracy and performance, the “Oysters” were only produced for a short time, hence their high desirability factor today. For those concerned with Rolex reference numbers, the actual movement calibre is calibre 1525 and other calibres, possibly the most highly regarded and technically advanced of all the Rolex Oyster. It is fully signed “Rolex Watch Co, Swiss”, has 23 jewels, a 36 hour power reserve ( the length of time that the watch will run from fully wound to stopped if untouched) and operates at 19800 beats per hour. These movements had a well deserved reputation for accuracy and extreme reliability. All my Rolex Oysters watches has been regularly serviced throughout its life and is in perfect running order. Another important aspect of this watch is its superb condition and total originality. This model was the highest stainless steel model in the range and featured the extremely attractive art deco arrowhead markers and equally deco luminous dauphin hands. I would certainly state that, most Rolex dial from 1948 are wonderfully elegant deco dials, some are very attractive vintage Rolex dials that I have ever seen. There dials are, of course, fully signed “Rolex Automatic, Oyster ”. the earlier ones are signed Rolex automatic, There are different shaped watch hands and winding crowns, complete with Rolex logo. For the total perfectionist, Interestingly, the case has delightfully elegant slightly deco Omega from this period, most simply having rather simpler, squared off items. Most Rolex backs are fully signed “Omega Watch Co, Fab Suisse, Swiss Made, complicated, and very collectible classic gentleman's Rolex. “Oyster” are becoming very difficult to find now and when they do surface, they I have unquestionably the rarest, and most valuable, of all the early Rolex Oyster models.

 

Below is the serial numbers to give the dates to the Omega watches

Rolex Serial Numbers

	Year	Serial No
	Jan 04	F 000,001
	Sept 02	Y 000,001
	August 01	K 000,001
	April 00	P 000,004
	1998-1999	A 000,002
	1997-1998	U 000,001
	1996-1998	T 000,001
	1995-1998	W 000,001
	1993 3/4	S 000,001
	1992 1/4	C 000,001
	1991 3/4	N 000,001
	1991 1/2	X 000,001
	1991 1/4	E 999,999
	1990 1/2	E 000,001
	1990	L 999,999
	1989	L 000,001
	1988	R 999,999
	1987 1/2	R 000,000
	1987 1/2	9,999,999
	1987	9,760,000
	1986	9,300,000
	1985	8,814,000
	1984	8,388,000
	1983	7,860,000
	1982	7,366,000
	1981	6,910,000
	1980	6,430,000
	1979	5,959,000
	1978	5,481,000
	1977	5,005,000
	1976	4,535,000
	1975	4,265,000
	1974	4,000,000
	1973	3,741,000
	1972	3,478,000
	1971	3,215,000
	1970	2,952,000
	1969	2,689,000
	1968	2,426,000
	1967	2,164,000
	1966	1,870,000
	1965	1,791,000
	1964	1,713,000
	1963	1,635,000
	1962	1,557,000
	1961	1,485,000
	1960	1,401,000
	1959	1,323,000
	1958	1,245,000
	1957	1,167,000
	1956	1,095,000
	1955	1,010,000
	1954	935,000
	1953	869,000
	1952	804,000
	1951	735,000
	1950	372,000
	1949	608,000
	1948	543,000
	1947	478,000
	1946	413,000
	1945	348,000

	1944	284,000
	1943	253,000
	1942	224,000
	1941	194,000
	1940	165,000
	1939	136,000
	1938	118,000
	1937	98,000
	1936	82,000
	1935	62,000
	1934	55,000
	1933	49,000
	1932	43,000
	1931	40,000
	1930	38,000
	1929	35,000
	1928	33,000
	1927	30,000
	1926	28,000
	1925	25,000