Admin: Create the collector-grade Rolex reference guide for 1510

2026-10-21T01:41:01Z

Create the collector-grade Rolex reference guide for 1510

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 1510}}
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 1510 — Reference Guide | Rolexopedia
|description=Documented examples, dial and bezel descriptions, movement labels, and unresolved catalogue conflicts for Rolex ref. 1510.
|keywords=Rolex 1510, Oyster Perpetual Date, Zephyr, Morellis bezel, 1570
|image=Ref 1510 hero.webp
|image_alt=Yellow-gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date ref. 1510 with textured bezel and bracelet
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}

<small>[[Reference:oyster-perpetual|Oyster Perpetual]] → '''1510'''</small>

<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref 1510 hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Yellow-gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date ref. 1510 with textured bezel and bracelet|Monaco Legend's 1969 example, case 2,223,098.]]
</div>

The Rolex ref. 1510 is a 34–35 mm, 18K yellow-gold Oyster Perpetual Date with a textured bezel. Auction catalogues date individual examples from circa 1965 through circa 1970; production limits remain unknown. One circa-1971 listing conflicts with a second record for the same serial. Several examples have crosshair dials, which auctioneers and collectors sometimes describe as Zephyr-style.

==Core facts==

{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
|-
! detail
! value
|-
| reference
| 1510
|-
| model
| Oyster Perpetual Date
|-
| catalogue dates
| circa 1965–1970; a circa-1971 listing conflicts with another record for the same serial
|-
| case
| Oyster case; screw-down caseback and crown described in catalogues
|-
| diameter
| 34–35 mm in auction descriptions
|-
| documented material
| 18K yellow gold
|-
| bezel
| patterned/textured; catalogues and collectors use several names
|-
| date
| date aperture at 3 o'clock; one photographed watch has a Cyclops lens
|-
| movement
| auction catalogues say Cal. 1570; exact date-bearing variant unresolved
|-
| bracelet
| textured 18K yellow gold examples; original delivery is unverified
|}

==Where it sits in the line==

The 1510 sits among the four-digit Oyster Perpetual Dates. Collector charts distinguish its textured exterior from the plain bezel of the [[Reference:1500|1500]] and the engine-turned bezel of the [[Reference:1501|1501]]. Auction catalogues identify the 1510 as an Oyster Perpetual Date.

Vintage Rolex advertisements use "Zephyr" for earlier Oyster Perpetual models. Phillips and Christie's apply the name to 1510 crosshair-dial examples. Collectors differ: in a Rolex Forums thread, powerfunk includes the 1510 but questions whether its Morellis bezel fits the Zephyr group. The Phillips dial is signed "Oyster Perpetual Date."

==Production outline==

Christie's dates examples circa 1965 and 1967; Phillips dates one circa 1968, and Monaco Legend dates one to 1969. Leonard Joel describes a circa-1970 example. A Grailzee listing records papers dated 11 September 1970 but gives no serial. Christie's also dates serial 2,860,900 to circa 1971; Gazette Drouot assigns that serial to a hand-wound watch from 1955–58. The catalogue dates apply to individual watches, and production limits remain unknown.

Christie's records cases 1,598,902 and 1,691,443; Phillips records 1,901,206; Monaco Legend records 2,223,098. The Phillips watch reappeared in 2026 with the same movement D186394, retailer number 135,020, clasp stamp "65 2," and paper dates. That catalogue prints case 1,906,206, one digit different from the 2019 record. The matching identifiers point to one watch; the correct case number remains unresolved.

==Movement notes==

Auction catalogues identify 1510 movements as Cal. 1570, usually with 26 jewels. Monaco Legend's photograph shows the movement in a watch catalogued as ref. 1510; the bridge is marked 1570 and the movement bears a 26-jewel inscription. Rolex parts literature distinguishes date-equipped Cal. 1575 from Cal. 1570, although 1575 components can carry a 1570 bridge marking. The parts lists cited name refs. 1500, 1501 and 1503; they give no 1510 fitment. The exact movement variant in the 1510 remains unresolved, so the catalogue label and photograph are recorded as separate evidence.

[[File:Ref 1510 movement.webp|thumb|right|220px|alt=Open movement from a Rolex ref. 1510 showing the 1570 marking and 26 jewels|Movement photograph from Monaco Legend Auctions, lot 140.]]

==Dial map==

Auction and seller records describe several crosshair dials. The descriptions refer to individual catalogued watches; no factory color sequence is documented.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! catalogue
! dial description
! limit of the record
|-
| Christie's, lot 5841772
| silvered, with crossing lines
| Catalogue description
|-
| Phillips, Geneva 2019, lot 4
| silvered, with crossing lines
| Dial visible in the lot photograph
|-
| Christie's, lot 5493400
| gilt brushed, divided by two crossing lines
| Catalogue description
|-
| Leonard Joel, lot 25 (2024)
| champagne crosshair
| Catalogue description
|-
| Grailzee lot 10265228214404, via EveryWatch
| white
| Seller field; no serial, and the archive page shows both Sold and Unsold
|}

Catalogues describe silvered, gilt and champagne dials on individual watches. The white dial appears in a separate seller listing with no serial for comparison. The order of these colors is unknown.

[[File:Ref 1510 dial-detail.webp|thumb|right|220px|alt=Crosshair dial and textured bezel on the Phillips ref. 1510|Phillips, Geneva 2019, lot 4.]]

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

Christie's and Monaco Legend list 34–35 mm cases in 18K yellow gold. Christie's describes screw-down backs and crowns; the Monaco Legend caseback photograph shows an inside stamp reading "1503" on a watch catalogued as ref. 1510. Phillips separately titles its 1510 "caseback stamped 1503." Both records report the 1503 stamp, while the watch is catalogued externally as a 1510. The meaning of the inside stamp remains unknown.

Bezel terminology varies. Phillips says textured or frosted; Monaco Legend says hammered; collectors use "Morellis"; Shellman uses the Japanese term "Mimolette"; Robert Maron calls its example "toscanized." These are source descriptions; a Rolex factory name remains undocumented. Several catalogued examples pair the patterned bezel with a similar bracelet, though original delivery is unconfirmed.

The Phillips and Monaco photographs show the bezel and case surfaces on individual watches. Christie's describes an acrylic crystal on serial 2,860,900, but Gazette Drouot assigns that serial to a hand-wound watch from 1955–58. Treat the crystal description as part of a disputed lot record, not a reference specification.

[[File:Ref 1510 caseback.webp|thumb|right|220px|alt=Inside caseback marked 1503 on a watch catalogued as ref. 1510|Monaco Legend Auctions, lot 140.]]

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

Several catalogued 1510s have textured yellow-gold bracelets matching the bezel. Phillips records a textured Rolex bracelet and deployant clasp stamped "65 2"; the Monaco Legend photographs show the bracelet on the watch. Leonard Joel describes a detachable smooth-link gold bracelet. Its original delivery with the watch head is unconfirmed.

Phillips gives detailed records for this watch: its COSC certificate is dated 3 November 1968, its guarantee booklet is stamped by Joyeria Ricciardi and dated 8 September 1969, and the retailer number appears under a lug. The clasp stamp dates the bracelet clasp, not the watch head. None of the retrieved descriptions identifies an end-link number or bracelet reference. Boxes and papers belong to that sale record; the sources give no standard 1510 package.

[[File:Ref 1510 bracelet.webp|thumb|right|220px|alt=Textured yellow-gold bracelet on a Rolex ref. 1510 shown with sale papers|Phillips, Geneva 2019, lot 4.]]

==Special branches==

Phillips catalogs one watch signed Joyeria Ricciardi S.A. Its guarantee booklet carries the retailer stamp, and the retailer number is engraved beneath a lug. The dated COSC certificate and guarantee booklet accompany the same watch. The re-offered catalogue carries a conflicting case number. No military or factory-designated branch appears in the records.

[[File:Ref 1510 retailer-mark.webp|thumb|right|220px|alt=Retailer number engraved beneath the lug on the Phillips ref. 1510|Phillips, Geneva 2019, lot 4.]]

==Historical market and auction record==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! watch date / sale date
! house and lot
! recorded example
|-
| circa 1965 estimate
| Christie's, lot 5841772
| 18K yellow gold, case 1,598,902, 35 mm, silvered crosshair dial, textured bezel and bracelet; Cal. 1570 as catalogued
|-
| manufactured 1967
| Christie's, lot 5493400
| case 1,691,443, 34.5 mm, gilt crosshair dial, textured bezel and bracelet; Cal. 1570 as catalogued
|-
| circa 1968; sold 2019
| Phillips Geneva, lot 4
| case printed as 1,901,206, movement D186394, Ricciardi retailer marks, 34.5 mm; CHF 15,000. Reoffered in 2026 with the same identifying details but case printed as 1,906,206
|-
| 1969; passed 2019
| Monaco Legend, lot 140
| case 2,223,098, 35 mm, hammered/textured bezel and bracelet; movement labelled Cal. 1570
|-
| circa 1970; sold 2024
| Leonard Joel, lot 25
| movement D061736, 34 mm, champagne crosshair dial, textured bezel, detachable smooth-link bracelet; case serial not available in the catalogue text
|-
| circa 1971; sold 2023
| Christie's online, lot 285
| serial 2,860,900, 35 mm, gold dial, warranty dated 1974; catalogue says automatic and records bracelet clasp dated 1970. Gazette Drouot uses the same serial for a hand-wound watch dated 1955–58; the identification and date remain disputed
|-
| 12–19 March 2026 listing
| Grailzee, via EveryWatch, lot 10265228214404
| 34 mm yellow gold, seller-reported white dial, papers dated 11 September 1970; no serial or caliber. Archive page shows both Sold and Unsold
|}

==Gallery==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 1510 hero.webp|Monaco Legend's ref. 1510, case 2,223,098
File:Ref 1510 dial-detail.webp|Crosshair dial and textured bezel on the Phillips watch
File:Ref 1510 retailer-mark.webp|Ricciardi retailer number engraved under a lug
File:Ref 1510 bracelet.webp|Phillips' ref. 1510 with its textured bracelet and Joyeria Ricciardi papers
File:Ref 1510 movement.webp|Movement photographed by Monaco Legend; marked 1570 and 26 jewels
File:Ref 1510 caseback.webp|Inside caseback on the Monaco Legend example, stamped 1503
</gallery>

== Sources ==

* [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-5841772 "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date ref. 1510, case 1,598,902, lot 5841772", Christie's]
* [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-5493400 "Rolex Date Zephyr ref. 1510, case 1,691,443, lot 5493400", Christie's]
* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080319/4 "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date ref. 1510, Ricciardi example, Phillips Geneva 2019, lot 4", Phillips]
* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/236697 "Rolex ref. 1510, Joyeria Ricciardi example, Geneva Watch Auction XXIV, lot 11", Phillips]
* [https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-15/lot-140 "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date ref. 1510, case 2,223,098, lot 140", Monaco Legend Auctions]
* [https://bidlive.leonardjoel.com.au/auction-lot/rolex-oyster-perpetual-date-zephyr-ref-1510-an-18_38D43E4BB5 "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Zephyr ref. 1510, Leonard Joel lot 25 (2024)", Leonard Joel]
* [https://everywatch.com/rolex/1510/watch-32129976 "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date ref. 1510, Grailzee lot 10265228214404", EveryWatch (Grailzee listing)]
* [https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/watches-online-geneva-edit/rolex-yellow-gold-oyster-perpetual-date-zephyr-ref-1510-285/183944 "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Zephyr ref. 1510, serial 2,860,900, lot 285", Christie's]
* [https://www.gazette-drouot.com/en/lots/25117066-rolex--22oyster-perpetual-date--- "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date ref. 1510, serial 2,860,900, lot 38", Gazette Drouot]
* [https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=837346 powerfunk, "All 15 bezel textures of 15xx OP Date models", Rolex Forums]
* [https://ftp.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?s=90971fafedc0bd2cab80bc46cedac20b&t=742488 powerfunk, "Rolex Zephyr models", Rolex Forums]
* [https://goldammer.me/blogs/articles/rolex-zephyr-guide-history Marcus Siems, "Fresh Wind from Rolex: The Curious Case of the Rolex Zephyr", Goldammer]
* [https://www.shellman-online.jp/view/item/000000003780?category_page_id=801 "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date ref. 1510, item D10580", Shellman]
* [https://robertmaron.com/product.php?productid=18095 "Rolex Date ref. 1510, archive SKU 18095", Robert Maron Watches]
* [https://www.clubderelojeria.com/comunicaciones/R/ROLEX/rolex1575/ROLEX%201575.pdf Rolex technical department, "Rolex — Calibre 1575 parts catalogue", Rolex]
* [https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0b5fdf83/files/uploaded/1.0%20RolexBook-23Mar.pdf Colin A. White, "The Vintage Rolex Field Manual — refs. 1500, 1501 and 1503 entries in reference and caliber tables", Morning Tundra]

[[Category:Oyster-Perpetual]]

Reference:1510 - Revision history

Admin: Create the collector-grade Rolex reference guide for 1510