Admin: Add audited Oyster Perpetual reference 1025

2026-10-17T08:30:04Z

Add audited Oyster Perpetual reference 1025

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1025}}
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1025 — Cal. 1560 and 1570, Gold-Covered Steel Cases | Rolexopedia
|description=Reference guide to the no-date Oyster Perpetual catalogued as Rolex 1025, with movement and case details, disputed attributions, and observed dial and bracelet configurations.
|keywords=Rolex 1025, Oyster Perpetual 1025, Cal. 1560, Cal. 1570
|image=Ref_1025_hero.webp
|image_alt=Gold-tone Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1025 with champagne dial and smooth bezel
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}

<small>[[Reference:oyster-perpetual|Oyster Perpetual]] → '''1025'''</small>

<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref_1025_hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Gold-tone Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1025 with champagne dial and smooth bezel|Freeman's and Hindman, lot 71.]]
</div>

The Vintage Rolex Field Manual lists the 1025 as a no-date Oyster Perpetual with a smooth bezel and Cal. 1570. Auction and specialist records also attribute Cal. 1560 to individual watches. Meticulous Watches reports a 1025 engraving between the lugs and inside the caseback on a silver underline-dial example. Its published text reports both marks; the photographs show neither. Other catalogues disagree about the date display, bezel, or case material.

==Core facts==

{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
|-
! detail
! value
|-
| reference
| 1025
|-
| family
| Oyster Perpetual, no date
|-
| documented dates
| dealer and auction dates for individual watches range from circa 1961 to the late 1960s; later catalogue dates remain disputed
|-
| case diameter
| 33.5–34 mm in located examples
|-
| case material
| Listings describe gold shell, gold-filled, gold-plated, or gold-capped steel; the terminology varies by source
|-
| bezel
| Smooth in the Field Manual and several auction listings; triangle, faceted, pyramid, and fluted bezels appear in conflicting dealer or auction attributions
|-
| crystal
| Auction records leave it unidentified; a parts retailer lists Tropic 12 acrylic
|-
| movements
| Cal. 1560 and Cal. 1570 reported on individual watches
|-
| date
| None
|-
| bracelet
| Rivet-expansion and folded Oyster bracelets, plated Oyster bracelet, or leather strap in individual records; original delivery is unproven
|}

==Where it sits in the line==

The 1025 sits in the four-digit, time-only Oyster Perpetual line. Auction records for ref. 1024 also report an interior 1025 stamp, so the outside case reference matters when identifying a watch. The photos in those auction records leave the between-lug number unconfirmed; see the [[Reference:1024|1024 page]].

==Production outline==

Meticulous Watches dates its partial serial 673XXX to circa 1961. The Pergola chart discussed in [[Reference:Serial-numbers|Serial-numbers]] places that number in 1960/61, but published charts disagree on duplicate numeric ranges. Treat circa 1961 as the seller's estimate, not an independent date. Freeman's and Hindman dates serial 947479 to circa 1963, Aste Bolaffi dates serial 1,812,604 to circa 1968, and Antiquorum gives a late-1960s estimate without a serial. L o'clock lists serial 960962 as a 1960s watch. Each date belongs to an individual example.

Vintage & Prestige dates a watch with partial serial 401*** to 1974. The published charts place that number in much earlier bands. Antiquorum's 2011 date-display watch and Christie's circa-1973 fluted, solid-gold watch have unconfirmed reference engravings in the available photographs. Their dates describe those catalogue lots; neither establishes the 1025's production span.

==Movement notes==

Freeman's and Hindman identifies a 26-jewel Cal. 1560; Meticulous Watches and L o'clock also report that caliber in 1025 listings. Aste Bolaffi and Antiquorum identify Cal. 1570 in other examples. Both calibers appear in attributed examples; the 1025 changeover year remains unknown. See [[Reference:Movements|Movements]] for the wider 15xx family.

==Dial map==

Auction records show champagne and silver dials. Meticulous Watches describes a silver underline dial; Laurent Fine Watches and Vintage & Prestige describe grey dials. A 2019 Rolex Forums seller calls its champagne dial tritium. That lume description is the seller's claim.

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

The listed case diameters are 33.5 or 34 mm. Antiquorum describes a three-body case with a screw-down back and crown; Aste Bolaffi specifies a steel screwback and Twinlock crown. Catalogues call the case gold-plated steel, gold-filled, gold shell over steel, or gold-capped. The available photographs leave the relationship between these descriptions unresolved.

The Field Manual and several auction descriptions list a smooth bezel. Meticulous Watches also describes one, while L o'clock, Eguchi, and other sellers attribute faceted or triangle-cut bezels to separate 1025 examples. Factory fitment remains unverified (see [[#Reported variants and outliers|Reported variants and outliers]]). Auction descriptions leave the crystal unidentified. Time Connection II lists a Tropic 12 acrylic crystal; the original specification remains unknown.

[[File:Ref_1025_caseback.webp|thumb|right|250px|Exterior caseback on Freeman's and Hindman lot 71; the image does not show the interior reference stamp.]]

==Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes==

Freeman's and Hindman shows an Oyster rivet-expansion bracelet with 585 marks. The short description calls it 18K; the detailed field says 14K, matching the stamps. The catalogue reports no assay. Antiquorum describes a gold-plated Oyster bracelet. Forum and dealer listings show leather straps or a folded two-tone bracelet. Original delivery and a 1025-specific end-link map remain undocumented. A 2019 forum seller lists a box, warranty, booklet, and receipt; that is one seller's account, not a packaging standard.

[[File:Ref_1025_bracelet.webp|thumb|right|250px|Rear view of the bracelet and case on Freeman's and Hindman lot 71.]]

==Reported variants and outliers==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! source attribution
! reported configuration
! evidence status
|-
| Antiquorum Hong Kong, 2011, lot 292
| Date display, Cyclops, multi-faceted bezel, gold shell over steel, Cal. 1570
| Disagrees with the no-date model in the Field Manual; photos leave the reference mark unconfirmed
|-
| Christie's, 2021, lot 55
| Circa 1973, 33 mm, solid 18k yellow gold, time-only, fluted bezel
| Catalogue attribution; photos leave the reference mark unconfirmed
|-
| Meticulous Watches listing
| Silver underline dial; smooth bezel; steel case with gold bezel and cap
| Dealer reports 1025 marks inside and outside; photographs show neither
|-
| L o'clock listing
| Triangle-cut bezel; vertical-brush dial; Cal. 1560
| Dealer attribution; photos show the movement but not the case-reference mark; crystal reported replaced
|-
| Eguchi, European Watch Company, and Vintage & Prestige listings
| Triangle-cut, faceted, or pyramid bezel
| Seller attributions; factory fitment remains unverified
|}

The located examples show individual configurations, but do not establish separate factory branches. No retailer-signed or military example appears in the sources listed here.

==Sale and auction records==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! sale record
! date assigned to watch
! recorded details
|-
| Freeman's and Hindman, lot 71
| circa 1963
| serial 947479; Cal. 1560; champagne dial; gold-plated steel; 34 mm
|-
| Aste Bolaffi, lot 167
| circa 1968
| serial 1,812,604; Cal. 1570; silver dial; gold-filled case with steel screwback; 34 mm
|-
| Antiquorum New York, lot 100
| late 1960s
| Cal. 1570; champagne dial; gold shell over steel; 34 mm
|-
| Vintage & Prestige archive, item W1210
| seller states 1974
| serial 401*** conflicts with the published serial charts; grey dial; triangle/pyramid bezel; folded two-tone bracelet; 34 mm
|-
| Antiquorum Hong Kong, lot 292
| catalogue dates it circa 1966
| calls case 2,115,163 ref. 1025; describes a date, Cyclops, multi-faceted bezel, gold shell over steel, and Cal. 1570; attribution disputed
|-
| Christie's, lot 55
| catalogue dates it circa 1973
| calls serial 3,218,701 ref. 1025; 33 mm, solid 18k yellow gold, time only; photos show a fluted bezel; no readable reference marking
|-
| Meticulous Watches archive
| circa 1961
| serial 673XXX; seller reports 1025 marks between the lugs and inside the back; Cal. 1560; silver underline dial; smooth bezel; gold cap over steel
|-
| L o'clock archive, item 2505-4678
| 1960s
| serial 960962; Cal. 1560; 34 mm; triangle-cut bezel; vertical-brush dial; replacement crystal
|}

The auction catalogues identify their lots as ref. 1025; their photographs leave the between-lug engraving unconfirmed. Meticulous Watches is the only reviewed seller that reports both outside and inside reference marks, though its photographs show neither. The 1974 date in Vintage & Prestige's archive conflicts with its partial serial.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref_1025_hero.webp|Freeman's and Hindman, lot 71, front three-quarter view
File:Ref_1025_bracelet.webp|Freeman's and Hindman, lot 71, bracelet and case
File:Ref_1025_caseback.webp|Freeman's and Hindman, lot 71, exterior caseback
</gallery>

== Sources ==

* [https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0b5fdf83/files/uploaded/1.0%20RolexBook-23Mar.pdf ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra]
* [https://freemansauction.com/auction/2056-Watches/lot/71 "Freeman's | Hindman, Watches, lot 71 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1025", Freeman's | Hindman, 2024-11-15]
* [https://www.astebolaffi.it/pdf/auctions/276.pdf Aste Bolaffi, "Aste Bolaffi, Watches lot 167 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1025, circa 1968", Aste Bolaffi, 2023-11-14]
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-263-100 Antiquorum, "Antiquorum New York, 12 June 2012, lot 100 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1025", Antiquorum, 2012-06-12]
* [https://www.laurentfinewatches.com/watch-expo/expo-vintage/pdfs-vintage/Rolex-Oyster-Perpetual-Vu-0504-2017-by-lfw.pdf "Laurent Fine Watches, archive sheet — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1025", Laurent Fine Watches, 2017]
* [https://eguchi-store.jp/stocklist/270116/ "Eguchi Vintage, item 270116 — Oyster Perpetual ref. 1025", Eguchi Vintage Clothing, Watch & Watch Repair Shop]
* [https://www.europeanwatch.com/watch/rolex-1025-faceted-bezelgold-capped-original-box-papers-24910 "European Watch Company, sold listing — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1025", European Watch Company]
* [https://www.timeconnectioninc.com/pages/rolex-case-reference-list-1000-thru-1873 "Time Connection II, Rolex case-reference and parts list — ref. 1025", Time Connection II]
* [https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=694979 JessyW, "Rolex Forums, 29 August 2019 — Oyster Perpetual ref. 1025 sale listing", Rolex Forums, 2019-08-29]
* [https://www.vintageandprestige.com/product/rolex-oyster-perpetual-1025/ "Vintage & Prestige Fine Jewellery, archive listing W1210 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1025", Vintage & Prestige Fine Jewellery]
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-255-292 Antiquorum, "Antiquorum Hong Kong, 23 October 2011, lot 292 — catalogue attribution to ref. 1025", Antiquorum, 2011-10-23]
* [https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/christies-fine-watchmaking-important-timepieces-independent-collection/rolex-oyster-perpetual-18k-yellow-gold-ref-1025-55/138448 Christie's, "Christie's online, 2021, lot 55 — catalogue attribution to ref. 1025", Christie's, 2021]
* [https://meticulouswatches.com/products/untitled-sep8_14-3 Meticulous Watches, "Meticulous Watches, Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1025 with underline dial", Meticulous Watches]
* [https://shop.loclock.jp/items/109147651 L o'clock, "L o'clock, Oyster Perpetual ref. 1025, serial 960962", L o'clock]
* [https://rolexhaven.com/serial-numbers.html RolexHaven (anonymous specialist), "RolexHaven — Serial Numbers (Pergola + Dowling charts photographed)", rolexhaven.com]
* [https://swisswatchtime.com/serial-number-chart/ Swiss Watch Time, "Swiss Watch Time, Rolex serial number chart", Swiss Watch Time]

[[Category:Oyster-Perpetual]]

Reference:1025 - Revision history

Admin: Add audited Oyster Perpetual reference 1025