Admin: Create researched reference article for Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1012

2026-10-17T06:56:50Z

Create researched reference article for Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1012

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1012}}
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|title=Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1012 — Gold, smooth bezel | Rolexopedia
|description=Reference guide to the gold, smooth-bezel Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1012, with dated examples, documented movements, and dial details.
|keywords=Rolex 1012, Oyster Perpetual 1012, Cal. 1560, Cal. 1570, vintage Rolex
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|image_alt=Gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1012 with a champagne dial and smooth bezel
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}}

<small>[[Reference:oyster-perpetual|Oyster Perpetual]] → '''1012'''</small>

<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref_1012_hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1012 with champagne dial and smooth bezel|HENRY's circa-1971 example, lot 09-03321.]]
</div>

Strictly Vintage reproduces a page it attributes to a 1966 American Rolex catalogue. It groups the 1012 with the 1013 and 1018, showing the 1012 with a smooth bezel and the 1013 with a patterned bezel. The scan is credited to collector Stefano Mazzariol via Calaméo; its publication details remain unconfirmed. Sale records document 36 mm gold examples from the late 1950s through circa 1971, with Cal. 1560 and Cal. 1570 reported in individual watches.

==Core facts==

{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
|-
! detail
! value
|-
| reference
| 1012
|-
| family
| Oyster Perpetual, time only
|-
| observed dates
| late 1950s, circa 1961, 1960s, and circa 1971 examples; production limits unknown
|-
| movement
| Cal. 1560 in Antiquorum, Bonhams, and the circa-1961 listing (SKU 72035); Cal. 1570 in HENRY's circa-1971 example
|-
| case
| screw-down back and crown; tonneau-shaped case
|-
| diameter
| 36 mm in Antiquorum, Bonhams, and the circa-1961 listing (SKU 72035); approximately 36 mm at HENRY's
|-
| documented material
| 18K gold in three auction records; Antiquorum and HENRY's specify yellow gold
|-
| bezel
| smooth or polished
|-
| crystal
| acrylic Tropic 25-29 per Time Connection's parts list
|-
| dial
| champagne in several sale records; mottled champagne and silver dials marked "SWISS" in separate dealer listings; Tiffany-signed silver dials also reported
|-
| date
| none
|}

==Where it sits in the line==

The [https://www.strictlyvintagewatches.com/the-rolex-oyster-perpetual-reference-1018 catalogue page reproduced by Strictly Vintage] shows the 1012 and 1013 beside the steel 1018, with a smooth 1012 bezel and a patterned 1013 bezel. In a piece about a 1966 1013, [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/vintage-watches-feb-24-2021 Saori Omura also describes] the gold 1012 as smooth-bezel and the 1013 as fluted. Colin A. White's ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' (Morning Tundra; publication date not stated) lists the 1012 bezel as polished (smooth).

==Production outline==

[https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-78-29 Antiquorum's 2005 lot 29] dates its example to the late 1950s. The [https://wannabuyawatch.com/product/rolex-oyster-perpetual-36mm-ref-1012-18k-yg-circa-1961/ circa-1961 listing (SKU 72035)] and [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29125/lot/55/rolex-an-18k-gold-automatic-wristwatch-oyster-perpetual-ref-1012-1960s/ Bonhams lot 55] are dated to circa 1961 and the 1960s. [https://www.henrys.de/index.php?Lang=En&id=27132183&pc=posi HENRY's lot 09-03321] is dated circa 1971. These dates apply to individual watches. [https://vesperco.com/products/rolex-oyster-perpetual-tiffany-cc-with-underline-luminous-dial-ref-1012 Archived listing 856XXX] and [https://bulangandsons.eu/products/rolex-oversized-oyster-perpetual-1012-silver-swiss-only-dial-in-18k-yellow-gold-w3726 listing W3726] describe a late-1950s to early-1960s model. [https://www.antiegrande-watch.jp/archive/detail/1290 Intake record 1290] dates its 1012 to the late 1960s. The earliest and latest dated records here are Antiquorum's late-1950s watch and HENRY's circa-1971 example. They bracket documented examples, not the full production run.

==Movement notes==

Antiquorum, Bonhams, and the circa-1961 listing (SKU 72035) list Cal. 1560 in individual 1012s. HENRY's identifies Cal. 1570, 26 jewels and five adjustments in its circa-1971 watch; its photographs show the closed exterior. The dated examples show both calibers, but leave the changeover year open.

A [https://www.subito.it/abbigliamento-accessori/rolex-chronometre-ref-1012-certificato-cosc-forli-cesena-653901144.htm Subito listing] shows a COSC certificate marked ref. 1012 and dated 28 September 1960. The movement number is obscured, so the certificate cannot be matched to the watch offered.

==Dial map==

The records below document individual dial configurations; they do not define a factory option list.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Appearance
! Record
! What the record establishes
|-
| Champagne with applied gold markers; baton and dart indexes, radium dots, and Dauphine hands in Antiquorum's description
| Antiquorum 2005 lot 29; champagne dials also appear in Bonhams 2023 lot 55 and HENRY's 2026 lot 09-03321
| Multiple catalogued examples; dial originality is not independently assessed in the records.
|-
| Mottled champagne dial signed "SWISS" at 6
| Circa-1961 listing (SKU 72035)
| The listing and image document one watch; its date and originality assessment remain attributed.
|-
| Silver dial marked "SWISS" at 6, described by the seller as Swiss-only
| Dealer listing W3726
| The listing describes a separate example; its serial-based date and dial originality are unverified.
|-
| Silver Tiffany-signed dial with an underline below the chronometer text
| Archived listing 856XXX; covered by Hodinkee in 2016
| These sources concern the same watch. Hodinkee presents the underline's link to a lume transition as a theory.
|-
| Tiffany-signed dial
| Chronomania sale post, 2013
| The seller describes a separate 1012; no independent authentication is supplied.
|-
| Gold dial
| Rolex Forums sale post, 2016; specialist intake record 1290
| Both records describe a gold dial. The intake record dates its watch to the late 1960s and lists Cal. 1560; the date, movement and dial originality remain seller attributions.
|}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 1012 dial-detail.webp|HENRY's circa-1971 champagne-dial example, lot 09-03321
File:Ref 1012 example-bonhams.webp|Separate champagne-dial example, Bonhams 2023 lot 55
File:Ref_1012_dial-variant-tiffany.webp|Silver Tiffany-signed dial with underline, archived listing 856XXX; also covered by Hodinkee in 2016
File:Ref_1012_dial-signature-swiss.webp|Mottled champagne dial with "SWISS" at 6; circa-1961 listing, SKU 72035
File:Ref_1012_dial-signature-bulang-wrist.webp|Silver "SWISS"-signed dial on the 1012 in dealer listing W3726
File:Ref_1012_dial-signature-bulang-detail.webp|Dial detail from dealer listing W3726
</gallery>

==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown==

Antiquorum describes a three-body tonneau-shaped case in 18K yellow gold, with a flat bezel and screw-down back and crown. Its catalogue gives 36 mm diameter and 11 mm thickness. Bonhams and HENRY's also report a 36 mm case; HENRY's marks the figure as approximate.

Time Connection's parts table lists an acrylic Tropic 25-29 crystal for case 1012. This is a parts-fitment entry.

Antiquorum and HENRY's specify yellow gold; Bonhams describes its example as 18K gold without naming the color. A [https://vesperco.com/products/rolex-oyster-yellow-gold-ref-1012 14K listing] and an [https://vesperco.com/products/rolex-oyster-perpetual-tiffany-cc-with-underline-luminous-dial-ref-1012 18K Tiffany listing] share serial prefix 856XXX, Cal. 1560, and a 36 mm case. They may show the same watch: Vesper calls it 14K in one listing and 18K in the Tiffany listing. The conflict leaves the case alloy unresolved. A 2016 Rolex Forums seller describes a rose-gold 1012, and an Omega Forums collector reports a pink-gold example. Neither report includes hallmark evidence that would verify the alloy.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 1012 crown-side.webp|Crown and case flank on HENRY's circa-1971 example, lot 09-03321
File:Ref 1012 caseback.webp|Caseback of HENRY's circa-1971 example, lot 09-03321
</gallery>

==Bracelets, clasps, and packaging==

Antiquorum pairs its example with a Rolex buckle; two other sale records show leather straps. The circa-1961 dealer listing specifies a 20 mm strap. These are sale configurations; original delivery and standard bracelet fitment remain undocumented.

==Historical market and auction record==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! sale
! example
! result
|-
| Antiquorum, New York, 23 March 2005, lot 29
| late-1950s attribution; 18K yellow gold, Cal. 1560, champagne dial; 36 × 11 mm
| USD 2,990
|-
| Bonhams, New York, 2023, lot 55
| 1960s attribution; 18K gold, Cal. 1560, champagne dial; 36 mm
| USD 4,781.25 including premium
|-
| HENRY's, 19 September 2026, lot 09-03321
| circa-1971 attribution; 18K yellow gold, Cal. 1570, champagne dial; approx. 36 mm
| EUR 4,580
|}

HENRY's provides five catalogue photographs of its example. The set shows the watch from the front, dial, crown side and caseback; it does not include an open movement view.

==Gallery==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 1012 hero.webp|HENRY's circa-1971 example, lot 09-03321
File:Ref 1012 example-bonhams.webp|Separate example, Bonhams 2023 lot 55
File:Ref 1012 dial-detail.webp|Dial detail of HENRY's circa-1971 example
File:Ref_1012_dial-variant-tiffany.webp|Silver Tiffany-signed dial with underline; archived listing 856XXX, also covered by Hodinkee in 2016
File:Ref_1012_dial-signature-swiss.webp|Mottled champagne dial with "SWISS" at 6; circa-1961 listing, SKU 72035
File:Ref_1012_dial-signature-bulang-wrist.webp|Silver "SWISS"-signed dial on the 1012 in listing W3726
File:Ref_1012_dial-signature-bulang-detail.webp|Dial detail from listing W3726
File:Ref 1012 crown-side.webp|Crown and case flank of the same watch
File:Ref 1012 caseback.webp|Caseback of the same watch
</gallery>

== Sources ==

* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-78-29 "Antiquorum, Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1012, New York 2005 lot 29", Antiquorum, 2005-03-23]
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29125/lot/55/rolex-an-18k-gold-automatic-wristwatch-oyster-perpetual-ref-1012-1960s/ "Bonhams, Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1012, 2023 lot 55", Bonhams, 2023]
* [https://www.henrys.de/index.php?Lang=En&id=27132183&pc=posi "HENRY's, Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1012, 19 September 2026 lot 09-03321", HENRY's, 2026-09-19]
* [https://www.subito.it/abbigliamento-accessori/rolex-chronometre-ref-1012-certificato-cosc-forli-cesena-653901144.htm "Subito listing, Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1012 with COSC certificate", Subito seller Christian, 2026-08-28]
* [https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0b5fdf83/files/uploaded/1.0%20RolexBook-23Mar.pdf ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra]
* [https://omegaforums.net/threads/the-beauty-of-the-1013-and-1018-series.145206/ "Omega Forums, The beauty of the 1013 and 1018 series", Omega Forums, 2022-04-28]
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/bring-a-loupe-march-11-2016 Louis Westphalen, "Hodinkee, A Rolex Oyster Perpetual Reference 1012 With Tiffany Signature And Underline Dial", Hodinkee, 2016-03-11]
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/vintage-watches-feb-24-2021 "Hodinkee, 1966 Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1013", Hodinkee, 2021-02-24]
* [https://vesperco.com/products/rolex-oyster-perpetual-tiffany-cc-with-underline-luminous-dial-ref-1012 "Vesper & Co., Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1012 with Tiffany and underline dial", Vesper & Co.]
* [https://vesperco.com/products/rolex-oyster-yellow-gold-ref-1012 "Vesper & Co., Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1012, 14K listing", Vesper & Co.]
* [https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=6976268 mcurtisal, "Rolex Forums, FS: Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1012 18K RG", Rolex Forums, 2016-08-29]
* [https://cda.chronomania.net/forum_entry.php?id=79224 montreaddiction, "Chronomania Coin des Affaires, Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1012 Tiffany, 2013", Chronomania, 2013-01-02]
* [https://www.strictlyvintagewatches.com/the-rolex-oyster-perpetual-reference-1018 Rolex, "1966 Rolex American catalogue page reproduced by Strictly Vintage Watches", Strictly Vintage Watches (reproducing Rolex), 1966]
* [https://www.timeconnectioninc.com/pages/rolex-case-reference-list-1000-thru-1873 "Time Connection, Rolex case reference list 1000–1873", Time Connection II]
* [https://wannabuyawatch.com/product/rolex-oyster-perpetual-36mm-ref-1012-18k-yg-circa-1961/ "Wanna Buy A Watch?, Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1012 circa 1961", Wanna Buy A Watch?]
* [https://bulangandsons.eu/products/rolex-oversized-oyster-perpetual-1012-silver-swiss-only-dial-in-18k-yellow-gold-w3726 "Bulang & Sons, Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1012 silver Swiss-only dial", Bulang & Sons]
* [https://www.antiegrande-watch.jp/archive/detail/1290 Antiegrande, "Antiegrande, Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1012 purchase record", Antiegrande]

[[Category:Oyster-Perpetual]]

Reference:1012 - Revision history

Admin: Create researched reference article for Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1012