Reference:oyster-perpetual

Rolex Oyster Perpetual family

Rolex Oyster Perpetual family

The Oyster Perpetual combines an Oyster case with automatic winding. The name also appears on Rolex watches with their own model names. This page covers the lineages that carry the Oyster Perpetual name directly and have not split into their own hub: the 1950s flat-caseback generation, the four-digit time-only models, and the Date-equipped 1500 series. Early manual-wind Oysters are covered on the Bubbleback and early Oyster hub. Bubbleback and Air-King are close relatives on the same case architecture and have their own family hubs.

References in scope

Reference	Production	Movement	Notes
1069	Auction examples dated 1920s and circa 1930; span unproved	Manual-wind; lot-specific caliber descriptions	Early cushion-case Oyster, including Solar Aqua/Anti-Magnetic dial
2136 / 2574 / 3139 / 3358 / 3359 / 4220	1930s–1940s	manual-wind	Early Oyster / Oyster Royal / Speedking generation, before the Perpetual rotor became standard across the line
6098 / 6085 / 6084 / 6564 / 6580	1950s; see individual references	Varies by reference	The 1950s flat-caseback group. Catalogues document 6085 in steel, gold, and a steel-and-gold example, with waffle, black, silvered, and cloisonné Dragon dials; these are individual watches, not a complete specification. Reference 6084 is described as a transitional "Semi-Bubbleback" case; 6564 is an 18k gold example with an early "Brevet" patent marking; 6580 has documented steel honeycomb-dial examples.
6106	Auction examples dated 1951 and circa 1952	Antiquorum identifies Cal. 645; Monaco Legend uses A260, a size-family code shared with Cal. 645	Steel 34 mm examples with several dial layouts, including a 3-6-9 dial described as Explorer-style. Production span and dial originality are not established	6502	Auction examples mostly dated to the 1950s; case 994893 has a circa-1964 auction date that conflicts with its circa-1954 serial-chart estimate	Cal. 1030 in auction catalogues and Watch-Wiki	No-date, gold Oyster Perpetual, 34–35 mm in catalogues. The article consolidates duplicate case 36675 and explains the disputed 6502/6603 attribution for case 36701
6556	Auction catalogues report introduction in 1954; examples dated 1955–circa 1962 do not establish the production end	Cal. 1040; examined lots catalogue 26 jewels	Oyster Perpetual Tru-Beat; also called Metropolitan in some markets. Steel predominates in Antiquorum’s account; 18K gold examples are documented. One Phillips lot identifies the exterior as 6558 and the inner caseback as 6556; it does not establish a separate 6558 production reference. The U.S.-exclusive dial claim remains unverified
6567	Auction examples dated circa 1954–1960	Cal. 1030 in the Field Manual and multiple Antiquorum lots; Ineichen lists Cal. 1050 on one example	Mid-size, no-date Oyster Perpetual documented in gold, steel and mixed-metal cases. Catalogue movement attributions conflict; its placement within the flat-caseback group remains uncertain
6548	Individual catalogue dates circa 1942/43–1969; early estimates conflict	Auction lots attribute cal. 1130, 1160 and 1161; the dates do not establish a changeover	Small no-date Oyster Perpetual; catalogue diameters 28–32 mm; steel, gold, two-tone and platinum examples. Dorotheum and Jones & Horan list Cal. 1130 on serials 230584 and 230918, but assign dates circa 1942/43 and 1957 respectively. Dorotheum Jones & Horan Ranfft Sotheby’s Farsettiarte Cambi Christie’s Field Manual
1002 / 1003 / 1005 / 1007 / 1008 / 1009 / 1018	Group: 1959–mid-1980s; 1009 catalogue examples dated 1968, 1969 and 1972	Cal. 1560 and 1570 across the group; 1009 lots identify Cal. 1570	The classic 4-digit line, organised by bezel: 1002 smooth, 1003/1007/1008 engine-turned, 1005 fluted; 1009 auction catalogues describe graduated, linen-textured examples, while The Vintage Rolex Field Manual calls the bezel engine-turned. 1018 is the 36mm model in this group
1038	Auction estimates circa 1965–1970; Dr. Crott says early 1970s. Hodinkee Shop's circa-1986 listing reports an inside caseback stamped 1002; case identity is unresolved	Cal. 1570 in three catalogues; Christie's names a 26-jewel movement without caliber	Oyster Perpetual Zephyr; steel with gold bezel and 14K-gold cases; sector, black baton and printed-index dials documented; 33.7–35 mm catalogue sizes
1022	Auction and dealer examples circa 1961–1964; production limits unknown	Cal. 1560 in five sale/dealer records; Watch-Wiki and Time Connection list 1570, but no reviewed specimen confirms it	34 mm gold examples with Florentine, textured, satin/polished, or fluted surfaces; two records report 1005 inside the caseback
1023	ART Jewellery & Watches lists 1023/9 and 1023/83 for 1964–1971; catalogues date individual examples circa 1964–1969. Waddington’s serial 902827 is in Pergola’s 1962 band; Heritage's circa-1986 attribution for serial 933953 conflicts with the other date clues. Production limits unknown	Cal. 1560 in Gardiner Houlgate; Cal. 1570 in other listings. Time Connection lists both; sequence unknown	Mid-size, no-date; 14K and 18K gold; fluted, milled, Florentine, textured, bark, and paille bezel terms. Inner caseback/case no. 1005 reported
1024	auction examples circa 1965/66–1985; production limits unknown	Cal. 1560 and 1570 in auction records	Gold-covered steel examples; polished smooth bezel per the Field Manual; catalogue sizes 33–36 mm; caseback stamps include 1024 and 1025
1006	Ineichen dates one catalogue entry to circa 1962; production span unknown	Ineichen names Cal. 1560; the Field Manual lists Cal. 1570	Ineichen describes a 34 mm steel watch, case 838,983. Its low-resolution photo appears to show an engine-turned bezel; the Field Manual lists a polished smooth bezel. The catalogue image does not show the between-lugs reference stamp
1010	Two joint 1010/1011 auction lots date to 1960 and 1962; three individually listed 1010s date circa 1962, 1967 and 1968. Worldwide Watches lists a separate 14k example dated 1963	Cal. 1560 in auction records and the Field Manual; Cal. 1570 in an individual circa-1968 auction lot	Antiquorum contrasts the smooth-bezel 1010 with the faceted 1011. Worldwide Watches lists a 14k underline-dial example dated 1963; the 1stDibs Cal. 1560 report has a conflicting 1011 title
1011	Antiquorum dates an Eaton’s example broadly to the 1950s; other catalogue examples are dated circa 1957, 1960, circa 1962 and circa 1965	Cal. 1530 (17, 25 and 26 jewels), 1560, 1570 and 1520 (26 jewels) appear in individual records; the Field Manual also lists 1570	Cited cases measure 32–34mm. Descriptions include faceted, fluted, milled and smooth bezels. Loupe This photos show a 1530-stamped movement in a case marked 5590 on the flank and 5590/1011 inside. Its Eaton’s dial may match Antiquorum’s 1996 lot; Antiquorum 2007 and Finarte 2024 also catalogue Eaton’s watches as 5590/1011.
1500 / 1501 / 1503	Group examples circa 1962–1980; 1501 steel lots dated 1962–1977 and an 18K-gold lot circa 1973; 1503 includes a 1974 dealer-listed blue Shantung dial; production limits unknown	Cal. 1560/1570 auction labels; Rolex parts catalogues list date components under Cal. 1565/1575	Oyster Perpetual Date. The 1500 has a documented smooth bezel; 1501 records include steel and an 18K-gold example with engine-turned bezel descriptions; 1503 catalogues and the Field Manual show gold cases and fluted bezels. Dealer listings add a blue Shantung dial, a plain-bezel outlier, and an outside-1503 / inside-1500 caseback pairing. The Christie’s caseback attributions remain unresolved; the linked pages explain the evidence.
114300	2015–2020 catalogue period	cal 3132 in Rolex product material	} This index concentrates on early, four-digit and published 39 mm plain-name references. Rolex’s current catalogue uses newer Oyster Perpetual references, including 124300 (41 mm) and 124200 (34 mm); their current specifications belong to Rolex’s product pages rather than to the vintage rows above. Where it sits across Rolex The Air-King and Explorer use related Oyster cases and movements. Compare the specific references: shared components do not make watches with different sizes, dial markings or chronometer status interchangeable. Related families Air-King — related time-only Oyster references, with their own dial and movement variants. Bubbleback — the earlier curved-caseback generation this line's flat-caseback references replaced. Explorer — related time-only watches, including the 36mm 1016. Shared references Serial numbers by year — serial ranges and the limits of dating Movement reference — the calibers used across the line Bracelet & clasp guide — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes Sources Waddington’s, 12 June 2018, lot 134, ref. 1023/8B Hess Fine Auctions, 6 December 2025, lot 12570, ref. 1023 Watch.de archive, ref. 1023 Rolex Forums, wtp123’s 2022 ref. 1023 listing Gardiner Houlgate, 20 May 2025, lot 73, ref. 1023 Kaplans Auktioner, 2 October 2021, ref. 1023 serial 2186841 Time Connection II, ref. 1023 parts row Reddit, r/rolex, collector identification of a paille bezel ART Jewellery & Watches, production-year guide, 1023/9 and 1023/83 Heritage Auctions, 2007 lot 39217, serial 933953, circa-1986 attribution Phillips, Geneva Watch Auction FOUR, ref. 6556, 18K gold Phillips, Geneva Watch Auction XI, ref. 6556, steel Antiquorum, ref. 6556/0, 2020 Antiquorum, ref. 6556, yellow gold, 2021 Christie’s, ref. 6556, case 112846 Christie’s, ref. 6556, case 138'822 Sotheby’s, ref. 6556, case 731422, 2024 Antiquorum, ref. 6556, 2023 Christie’s, ref. 6556, Tru-Beat/Metropolitan naming, 1997 Monaco Legend Auctions, ref. 6556 described as Metropolitan WatchPool24, ref. 1503/8 Shantung dial, 1974 listing Vintage Gold Watches, ref. 1503 plain-bezel listing, 1969 Vintage Gold Watches, ref. 1503/1500 caseback comparison, 1979 Antiquorum, ref. 6106, 2003 lot 374 Monaco Legend, ref. 6106, 2024 lot 47 Monaco Legend, ref. 6106, 2024 lot 91 Tennants, ref. 6106, 2025 lot 2191 Burstow & Hewett, ref. 6106, 2023 lot 1000 Antiquorum, ref. 6567, 2006 lot 63 Antiquorum, ref. 6567, 2013 lot 420 Antiquorum, ref. 6567, 2010 lot 180 Christie's, ref. 6567, Geneva lot 33 The Vintage Rolex Field Manual — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra Ineichen, 25 May 2013, Oyster Perpetual ref. 1006, lot 203 Phillips, ref. 6085 Oyster Perpetual Craft & Tailored, ref. 6084 Hodinkee, ref. 6564 Hodinkee, ref. 6580 Rolex, Oyster Perpetual 39 product sheet for ref. 114300 Rolex, Oyster Perpetual 41 product sheet for ref. 124300 Adams Auctioneers, 2025, ref. 1022, case 768587, Cal. 1560 Bonhams, 2015, ref. 1022, case 692570, Cal. 1560 Pandolfini, 2014, ref. 1022, case 692564, Cal. 1560 Tajan, 2014, ref. 1022, case 1,060,089 HODINKEE Shop, 1963 ref. 1022, case 856369, inside stamp 1005 LV800 via 1stDibs, ref. 1022, case 856242, circa 1963, Cal. 1560 Watch-Wiki, Cal. 1570 reference list, including 1022 Time Connection II, 1022 case-parts row listing Cal. 1560 and 1570 Morton Subastas, ref. 1024, lot 100, Cal. 1560 Waddington's, ref. 1024, lot 5, Cal. 1560 Dorotheum, ref. 1024, lot 142, Cal. 1570 Phillips, ref. 1024, lot 904, Cal. 1570 Heritage Auctions, ref. 1024, 2026, lot 12012 Antiquorum, Hong Kong 2018, ref. 1038, lot 295 Antiquorum, Geneva 2025, ref. 1038, lot 224 Ineichen, 25 June 2026, ref. 1038, lot 14 Christie's, ref. 1038, lot 238 Gardiner Houlgate, 20 September 2023, ref. 1038, lot 36 Dr. Crott, 101st Auction, 16 November 2019 Hodinkee Shop, circa-1986 listing identifying ref. 1038 Sanderson & Son, 2013 listing for a watch dated 1968, ref. 1038 Anglia Car Auctions, ref. 1024, 2025, lot 33 Antiquorum, Air-King 5520/1024, 2006, lot 188 Antiquorum, 2006, ref. 1010/1011, case 576171, lot 22 Antiquorum, 2009, ref. 1010/1011, case 933961, lot 465 Heritage Auctions, 2010, ref. 1010, case 646320 Bonhams, 2015, ref. 1010, case 1659430, lot 315 Antiquorum, 2020, ref. 1010, case 1,960,000, lot 19 Worldwide Watches, ref. 1010, 14k, underline dial, 1963 Monochrome, 2016 interview on the “Bombay”/“Bombe” case nickname 1stDibs item description identifies ref. 1010, while title says 1011 Antiquorum, 2006, ref. 1011, case 546423, lot 45 Christie’s, circa-1957 ref. 1011, lot 379 Christie’s, circa-1962 ref. 1011, case 692498 Waddington’s, circa-1965 Eaton’s ¼ Century Club ref. 1011, lot 74 Antiquorum Milan, 1996 Eaton’s ref. 1011, Cal. 1530 Loupe This lot 2475, photo of Cal. 1530 in case marked 1011 Antiquorum Geneva, 2004, Eaton’s ref. 1011, 17-jewel Cal. 1530 Antiquorum New York, 2003, Eaton’s ref. 1011, Cal. 1520 Antiquorum New York, 2011, Eaton’s ref. 1011, 26-jewel Cal. 1530 Antiquorum New York, 2007, Eaton’s ref. 5590/1011, Cal. 1530 Finarte Milan, 2024, Eaton’s ref. 5590-1011, Cal. 1530 The Vintage Rolex Field Manual, Oyster Perpetual reference table: ref. 1011, Cal. 1570, fluted bezel Antiquorum, 2006, ref. 1009, lot 107 Phillips, 2016, ref. 1009, lot 7 Monaco Legend Auctions, 2023, ref. 1009, lot 176 Monaco Legend Auctions, 2023, sale 32 catalogue Antiquorum Geneva, 2026, ref. 1501 case 2,171,365, sale-history date only Antiquorum Geneva, 2026, ref. 1501 case 761,220, Cal. 1560 Dr. Crott, 99th auction, 2019, lots 231 and 245, refs. 1501 Antiquorum, 2022, ref. 1501 gold attribution, caseback stamp unreadable Cambi, Milan, 2022, ref. 1501 gold watch with case-number prefix and guarantee The Vintage Rolex Field Manual, refs. 1500, 1501 and 1503 Rolex Cal. 1565 parts catalogue Rolex Cal. 1575 parts catalogue Watch-Wiki, Cal. 1565/1575 reference lists, including ref. 1501 Phillips, HK Auction NINE lot 903, exterior ref. 6558 / inner stamp 6556