Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1010

The Oyster Perpetual 1010 is a time-only, center-seconds watch with a smooth bezel. Five auction records cover ref. 1010 and its joint listings with ref. 1011, dated 1960 to circa 1968; three identify ref. 1010 individually.

Core facts

detail	value
reference	1010
family	Oyster Perpetual
dated examples	Antiquorum’s joint 1010/1011 entries: 1960 and 1962; lots catalogued as ref. 1010: circa 1962, circa 1967 and circa 1968
case diameter	33mm in Antiquorum’s joint 1010/1011 entries and Heritage’s 1010; Bonhams lists 33.5mm for its 1010
case materials	Antiquorum reports steel and 14k/18k pink or yellow gold for the 1010/1011 pair; the individual 1010 lots reviewed here are listed in yellow gold
bezel	Polished, smooth bezel; Antiquorum contrasts it with the faceted bezel on ref. 1011
crystal	Acrylic on Heritage’s circa-1962 example
movement	Cal. 1560 in Antiquorum’s joint 1010/1011 entries dated 1960 and 1962, and in 1010 lots dated circa 1962 and circa 1967; cal. 1570 in an Antiquorum 1010 dated circa 1968
display	Time only, with center seconds
case and crown	Screw-down back and crown in catalogue descriptions

Where it sits in the line

Antiquorum describes ref. 1010 as the smooth-bezel counterpart to ref. 1011, which has a faceted bezel. Its 2006 catalogue says collectors call the pair “Bombay.”

Production outline

Antiquorum’s joint 1010/1011 lots date cases 576171 and 933961 to 1960 and 1962; their photographs omit the between-lugs stamps. Heritage, Bonhams and Antiquorum’s 2020 lot identify ref. 1010 individually, dating cases 646320, 1659430 and 1,960,000 to circa 1962, circa 1967 and circa 1968. The five sale dates anchor individual watches; production endpoints remain unknown.

Movement notes

Antiquorum lists caliber 1560 in its 1960 and 1962 entries, both catalogued jointly as 1010/1011. Heritage and Bonhams list caliber 1560 in individually identified 1010s dated circa 1962 and circa 1967; Antiquorum lists caliber 1570 in its individually identified circa-1968 1010. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual gives caliber 1560 for ref. 1010. The catalogue sample records both calibers but leaves the changeover year open. See the movement index.

Dial map

Antiquorum’s jointly catalogued 1010/1011 lot from 1960 has a matte silver dial with applied gold baton and dart markers, luminous dots and dauphine hands; the catalogue marks it restored. Antiquorum’s 2009 joint entry describes a satin silver dial with gold batons and luminous dauphine hands. Heritage’s circa-1962 ref. 1010 has a silver dial, gold dart markers and black minute marks. Bonhams records a sunburst champagne dial with gilt batons and black accents on its circa-1967 1010. Antiquorum’s circa-1968 ref. 1010 has a gold-color dial.

Antiquorum’s 1962 case 933961, catalogued jointly as ref. 1010/1011, with a satin silver dial.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

Antiquorum describes three-piece cases, screwed-down backs and crowns, concave or shaped lugs, and a polished bezel in its two joint 1010/1011 lots. They measure 33mm across and 11–11.5mm thick. Bonhams calls the circa-1967 1010 lugs faceted and gives a 33.5mm diameter. Heritage lists a 33mm case, curved lugs, acrylic crystal and Twinlock crown for its circa-1962 1010. These are catalogue specifications for the individual lots.

Bracelets, clasps, and packaging

The two Antiquorum photos show the joint-listed watches on leather straps; Heritage, Bonhams and Antiquorum’s 2020 listing describe leather or calfskin straps on individually listed 1010s. Four lot descriptions name Rolex buckles. These are sale configurations; original delivery remains unverified. Antiquorum’s circa-1968 lot included a fitted box, booklet and hang tag. Heritage lists a vintage box, guarantee papers, a pamphlet and chronometer papers with its circa-1962 example.

Auction record

date	house and lot	configuration	result
May 2006	Antiquorum Geneva, The Mondani Collection, lot 22	18k yellow gold, cal. 1560, case 576171; dated 1960; listed as 1010/1011	CHF 7,670
Mar 2009	Antiquorum Geneva, lot 465	14k yellow gold, cal. 1560, case 933961; dated 1962; listed as 1010/1011	Not stated
Dec 2010	Heritage Auctions New York, lot 60215	14k yellow gold, cal. 1560, case 646320; circa 1962	Not sold
Apr 2015	Bonhams London, lot 315	14k yellow gold, cal. 1560, case 1659430; circa 1967	Not stated
Nov 2020	Antiquorum Hong Kong, lot 19	18k yellow gold, cal. 1570, case 1,960,000; circa 1968	HKD 37,500

Gallery

Antiquorum, 2020: ref. 1010, case 1,960,000, circa 1968
Antiquorum, 2009: case 933961, joint 1010/1011 listing