Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6106

The 6106 is a stainless-steel Oyster Perpetual documented in sale records from 1951 and around 1952. Catalogued examples show several dial layouts. Antiquorum identifies Cal. 645 in one watch; a second house labels another movement A260, Rolex’s size-family code shared by Cal. 645.

Core facts

detail	value
reference	6106
model name	Oyster Perpetual in the auction catalogues and the Field Manual
date	Individual examples catalogued to 1951 and circa 1952; production span not established
case material	Stainless steel in the catalogued examples
case diameter	34 mm in several auction records
bezel	Smooth, polished in the Field Manual reference table
movement	Cal. 645 is identified in one auction lot; another catalogue uses A260, its shared size-family code
dial	Silvered or matte, black with applied gold-colored markers, and a 3-6-9 layout are documented
collector term	“Big Bubbleback” appears in auction and dealer descriptions; the strongest catalogue titles call it an Oyster Perpetual

Where it sits in the line

The Vintage Rolex Field Manual lists the 6106/0 as a stainless-steel Oyster Perpetual chronometer with a smooth polished bezel. The reference also appears in the early-1950s auction record as a 34 mm center-seconds watch. “Big Bubbleback” is a later collector label used for some of these watches; Antiquorum's catalogue and Monaco Legend's lot 47 use Oyster Perpetual as the model name. Hodinkee's overview discusses Bubbleback as a collector term for the broader family.

Production outline

The dated examples cover 1951 and around 1952. Monaco Legend dates case 803115 to 1951 and case 803400 to 1952. Antiquorum describes another 6106 as circa 1952; Tennants dates case 803117 to 1952, and Burstow & Hewett dates case 802568 to circa 1952. These are catalogue dates for individual watches. They place the reference in early-1950s use but do not establish its first or last year.

Several catalogues describe steel watches around 34 mm. The Field Manual also lists the 6106/0 in stainless steel. Other metals and sizes remain undocumented in the available records.

Movement notes

Antiquorum’s 2003 catalogue identifies Cal. 645 in its 6106, with 20 jewels and a 10½-ligne movement. A separate 1stDibs listing also assigns Cal. 645 and 20 jewels. Monaco Legend labels the movement in case 803400 A260. The Movements page explains that A.260 is a size-family code shared by Cal. 645, so those two labels may describe the same movement class.

Jewel counts vary by record. Antiquorum’s earlier lots give 19; lot 374 and the 1stDibs listing give 20. Burstow & Hewett’s catalogue text says “2 jewel movement with calibre 76296,” while its photograph shows a rotor engraved “17 Jewels.” Tennants records movement number 41268 without a caliber. The Field Manual calls the 6106/0 a chronometer but does not name a movement. Keep each attribution with its watch; inspect the movement before identifying an individual example.

Dial map

Auction photographs and descriptions document several layouts; their sequence remains unknown. Antiquorum’s 1999 lot has a silver matte dial with applied indexes. Its 2000 lot shows a black dial with applied yellow-gold indexes. Monaco Legend’s 1952 example has a silvered dial with a sand-colored aged surface, applied gold dart markers, and a red “Officially” line. Burstow & Hewett records a white dial with arrowhead markers and red “Officially” text.

Monaco Legend also catalogued a 1951 example with a 3-6-9 layout and called it an Explorer dial. That wording records the auction house’s description; factory originality remains unproven. The reviewed records do not show when any of these layouts began or ended.

Dial of case 803400, including red Officially text — Monaco Legend Auctions
3-6-9 dial on case 803115, described as Explorer-style — Monaco Legend Auctions

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

The Field Manual lists a smooth polished bezel. Monaco Legend’s photographs of case 803400 show the smooth bezel and case flank. Its catalogue describes a Super Oyster patented crown. One dealer listing and a collector forum post also describe or show a Super Oyster crown on individual 6106 watches. These examples document the crown type on some watches; original crown status across the reference remains unproven.

Crystal material and any factory case finish beyond the smooth bezel remain undocumented in these records. Case serials belong to the individual watches: Monaco Legend records 803115 and 803400, Tennants records 803117, and Burstow & Hewett records 802568. The serial-number guide lists the auction dates beside those case numbers; they are lot-level attributions, not a 6106 production chart.

Bracelets, end links, and clasps

Antiquorum catalogues one 6106 on an Oyster expansion bracelet. Monaco Legend describes an Oyster riveted bracelet with case 803400; another seller listing also describes a bracelet and papers with one watch. The available records leave bracelet reference, end links, and original delivery unconfirmed. Each bracelet remains a lot-specific association until its stamps and provenance are checked.

Auction record

These descriptions cover individual watches rather than a census of the reference.

Sale record	What the source records
Antiquorum, 1998, lot 200	Steel 6106 from the 1950s; silver matte dial; 19-jewel movement.
Antiquorum, 1999, lot 277	Circa 1952; steel, 34 mm; silver matte dial; 19-jewel movement; memorial engraving on the back.
Antiquorum, 2000, lot 78	Circa 1952; steel, 34 mm; black dial with applied yellow-gold indexes; 19-jewel movement.
Antiquorum, 2003, lot 374	1950s steel 34 mm center-seconds watch; Cal. 645, 20 jewels, 10½ lignes; Oyster expansion bracelet.
Monaco Legend Auctions, July 2024, lot 47	Case 803400; dated 1952; steel, 34 mm; red “Officially” text; catalogue identifies A260.
Monaco Legend Auctions, July 2024, lot 91	Case 803115; dated 1951; steel, 34 mm; 3-6-9 dial described as Explorer-style.
Burstow & Hewett, 2023, lot 1000	Case serial 802568; steel, 34 mm; white dial and arrowhead markers. Text says “2 jewel movement with calibre 76296”; the photograph shows a rotor marked “17 Jewels.”
Tennants, 2025, lot 2191	Case serial 803117; movement number 41268; silvered dial with dagger markers; inside caseback stamped 6106.

Related references

Gallery

Case 803400, front view — Monaco Legend Auctions
Case 803400, side and case detail — Monaco Legend Auctions
Case 803400, dial detail — Monaco Legend Auctions
Case 803115, 3-6-9 dial — Monaco Legend Auctions