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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Oyster Perpetual}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Oyster Perpetual}}
{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Oyster Perpetual — Reference Guide to Every Model & Year | Rolexopedia
|title=Rolex Oyster Perpetual — Reference Guide to Models and Years | Rolexopedia
|description=The Rolex Oyster Perpetual is the founding line the case, crown and self-winding rotor all trace back to. From the 1930s early-Oyster references through the classic 4-digit line of the 1960s-70s and the 1950s flat-caseback generation. Family hub for every published plain-OP reference — Bubbleback and Air-King have their own hub pages.
|description=Reference guide to Oyster Perpetual lineages that keep the name directly, from the 1950s flat-caseback references through the classic four-digit time-only models. Bubbleback and Air-King have separate hubs.
|keywords=Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, family, history, references, 1002, 1018, 6098
|keywords=Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, family, history, references, 1002, 1018, 6098
|image=Oyster Perpetual family hero.webp
|image=Oyster Perpetual family hero.webp
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}}
}}


The Oyster Perpetual is the reference point every other Rolex sports and dress line borrows from — the waterproof Oyster case (1926) and the self-winding Perpetual rotor (1931) combined into one plain, no-complication watch. This page covers the lineages that carry the Oyster Perpetual name directly and have not split into their own hub: the early manual-wind Oyster of the 1930s-40s, the 1950s flat-caseback generation that closed out the Bubbleback era, and the classic 4-digit line of the 1960s-70s that the modern Datejust and Oyster Perpetual both descend from. [[Reference:bubbleback|Bubbleback]] and [[Reference:air-king|Air-King]] are close relatives on the same case architecture and have their own family hubs.
<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Oyster Perpetual family hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex Oyster Perpetual family|Rolex Oyster Perpetual family]]
</div>
 
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 and the four-digit time-only models of the following decades. Early manual-wind Oysters are covered on the Bubbleback and early Oyster hub. [[Reference:bubbleback|Bubbleback]] and [[Reference:air-king|Air-King]] are close relatives on the same case architecture and have their own family hubs.


== References in scope ==
== References in scope ==
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! Reference !! Production !! Movement !! Notes
! Reference !! Production !! Movement !! Notes
|-
|-
| [[Reference:2136|2136]] / [[Reference:2574|2574]] / [[Reference:3139|3139]] / [[Reference:3359|3359]] / [[Reference:4220|4220]] || 1930s–1940s || manual-wind || Early Oyster / Oyster Royal / Speedking generation, before the Perpetual rotor became standard across the line
| [[Reference:1069|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
| [[Reference:2136|2136]] / [[Reference:2574|2574]] / [[Reference:3139|3139]] / [[Reference:3358|3358]] / [[Reference:3359|3359]] / [[Reference:4220|4220]] || 1930s–1940s || manual-wind || Early Oyster / Oyster Royal / Speedking generation, before the Perpetual rotor became standard across the line
|-
|-
| [[Reference:6098|6098]] / [[Reference:6085|6085]] / [[Reference:6084|6084]] / [[Reference:6564|6564]] / [[Reference:6580|6580]] || c.1950–1955 || cal 1030 || The flat-caseback generation that closed out the Bubbleback era. 6085 is the precious-metal, honeycomb-dial sibling of 6098; 6084 is the transitional "Semi-Bubbleback" case profile; 6564 is the 18k gold example with early "Brevet" patent marking; 6580 fills out the steel honeycomb-dial spread. A separately attested reference, 6567 (gold, fluted bezel), is a probable sibling on the same platform but not independently confirmed
| [[Reference:6098|6098]] / [[Reference:6085|6085]] / [[Reference:6084|6084]] / [[Reference:6564|6564]] / [[Reference:6580|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. Reference 6567 (gold, fluted bezel) is separately attested, but its place in this group remains uncertain
|-
|-
| [[Reference:1002|1002]] / [[Reference:1003|1003]] / [[Reference:1005|1005]] / [[Reference:1007|1007]] / [[Reference:1018|1018]] || 1959–mid-1980s || cal 1560 then 1570 || The classic 4-digit line, organised by bezel: 1002 smooth, 1003/1007 engine-turned, 1005 fluted (bezel always gold, case in steel or gold). 1018 is the 36mm outlier and the direct case donor for the 1016 Explorer
| [[Reference:1002|1002]] / [[Reference:1003|1003]] / [[Reference:1005|1005]] / [[Reference:1007|1007]] / [[Reference:1018|1018]] || 1959–mid-1980s || cal 1560 then 1570 || The classic 4-digit line, organised by bezel: 1002 smooth, 1003/1007 engine-turned, 1005 fluted (bezel always gold, case in steel or gold). 1018 is the 36mm model in this group
|-
|-
| 1006 / 1008 || undated, same era || cal 1560/1570 per the Watch-Wiki caliber concordance || Named as siblings of the 1002/1005 pair by the caliber concordance and this family survey; no auction lot or dealer example for either has surfaced, so neither has its own article yet
| 1006 / 1008 || undated, same era || cal 1560/1570 per the Watch-Wiki caliber concordance || Named as siblings of the 1002/1005 pair by the caliber concordance and this family survey; no auction lot or dealer example for either has surfaced, so neither has its own article yet
|-
| [[Reference:114300|114300]] || 2015–2020 catalogue period || cal 3132 in Rolex product material || Oyster Perpetual 39 in Oystersteel. Rolex documented dark rhodium, red grape, blue, black and white dials; Phillips later catalogued individual lots with a conflicting 3230 attribution, which does not establish a factory-wide change
|}
|}


The 5-digit and 6-digit Oyster Perpetual generations (14203/14233/etc., 116000/116034/etc.) and the post-2020 current-production line fall mostly outside the pre-2020 discontinued focus here; individual references are admitted case-by-case as research surfaces real collector demand.
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 ==
== Where it sits across Rolex ==


The Oyster Perpetual is the case and movement donor for both the [[Reference:air-king|Air-King]] (34mm, non-chronometer, entry tier) and the [[Reference:explorer|Explorer]] (36mm, chronometer, EXPLORER dial text) — the 1018's 36mm case is shared with the 1016 Explorer, and the 5500 Air-King's case middle carries a period-correct inside "1002" stamp from sharing tooling with the Oyster Perpetual line.
The [[Reference:air-king|Air-King]] and [[Reference:explorer|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 ==
== Related families ==


* [[Reference:air-king|Air-King]] — the entry-tier branch that split off the same case architecture and never rejoined.
* [[Reference:air-king|Air-King]] — related time-only Oyster references, with their own dial and movement variants.
* [[Reference:bubbleback|Bubbleback]] — the earlier curved-caseback generation this line's flat-caseback references replaced.
* [[Reference:bubbleback|Bubbleback]] — the earlier curved-caseback generation this line's flat-caseback references replaced.
* [[Reference:explorer|Explorer]] — the 36mm sibling built on the 1018's case.
* [[Reference:explorer|Explorer]] — related time-only watches, including the 36mm 1016.


== Shared references ==
== Shared references ==


* [[Reference:Serial-numbers|Serial numbers by year]] — date any Oyster Perpetual from its serial
* [[Reference:Serial-numbers|Serial numbers by year]] — serial ranges and the limits of dating
* [[Reference:Movements|Movement reference]] — the calibers used across the line
* [[Reference:Movements|Movement reference]] — the calibers used across the line
* [[Reference:Bracelets|Bracelet & clasp guide]] — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes
* [[Reference:Bracelets|Bracelet & clasp guide]] — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes
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* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080515/284 Phillips, ref. 6085 Oyster Perpetual]
* [https://www.craftandtailored.com/products/rolex-big-bubble-back-oyster-perpetual-ref-6084 Craft & Tailored, ref. 6084]
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/shop/vintage-rolex-oyster-perpetual-ref-6564 Hodinkee, ref. 6564]
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/shop/vintage-rolex-oyster-perpetual-ref-6580 Hodinkee, ref. 6580]
* [https://content.rolex.com/dam/media/brochures/oyster-perpetual/m114300-0004.pdf Rolex, Oyster Perpetual 39 product sheet for ref. 114300]
* [https://assets.rolex.com/api/brochure/en-us/oyster-perpetual/m124300-0002.pdf Rolex, Oyster Perpetual 41 product sheet for ref. 124300]


[[Category:Oyster Perpetual]]
[[Category:Oyster Perpetual]]
[[Category:Family Hub]]
[[Category:Family Hub]]

Latest revision as of 03:26, 30 September 2026


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 and the four-digit time-only models of the following decades. 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. Reference 6567 (gold, fluted bezel) is separately attested, but its place in this group remains uncertain
1002 / 1003 / 1005 / 1007 / 1018 1959–mid-1980s cal 1560 then 1570 The classic 4-digit line, organised by bezel: 1002 smooth, 1003/1007 engine-turned, 1005 fluted (bezel always gold, case in steel or gold). 1018 is the 36mm model in this group
1006 / 1008 undated, same era cal 1560/1570 per the Watch-Wiki caliber concordance Named as siblings of the 1002/1005 pair by the caliber concordance and this family survey; no auction lot or dealer example for either has surfaced, so neither has its own article yet
114300 2015–2020 catalogue period cal 3132 in Rolex product material Oyster Perpetual 39 in Oystersteel. Rolex documented dark rhodium, red grape, blue, black and white dials; Phillips later catalogued individual lots with a conflicting 3230 attribution, which does not establish a factory-wide change

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

Sources