Rolex 1011 Oyster Perpetual
Oyster Perpetual → 1011
Ref. 1011 is a time-only Oyster Perpetual with center seconds. Auction catalogues describe gold cases and several bezel profiles, while the Eaton’s ¼ Century Club version replaces the usual hour markers with a retailer’s presentation dial. Auctioned examples identified as ref. 1011 date from 1957 to circa 1965; the records do not set the reference’s production limits.
Core facts
| detail | value |
|---|---|
| reference | 1011 |
| family | Oyster Perpetual |
| dated examples | 1957, 1960, circa 1962 and circa 1965; other auction examples are undated |
| case diameter | 32mm (Christie’s 1957), 33mm (Antiquorum 1960 and Christie’s circa-1962), and circa 34mm (Dorotheum 2018) |
| case materials | 14k yellow gold and 18k pink gold; other records say 18k or 750 gold without naming the color |
| bezel | Auction text describes faceted, fluted and milled bezels; Waddington’s photo shows a smooth bezel on its Eaton’s example |
| movement | Cal. 1560, 1570 and 1520 are identified in individual auction records; the records do not establish a transition sequence |
| display | Time only, center seconds |
| case and crown | Screw-down backs and crowns appear in the cited catalogue descriptions |
Where it sits in the line
Antiquorum’s 2006 catalogue calls ref. 1011 the faceted-bezel counterpart to the polished-bezel ref. 1010 and says collectors call the pair “Bombay.” Christie’s describes fluted and milled bezels on other ref. 1011 examples. Waddington’s photo shows a smooth bezel on its Eaton’s watch.
Production outline
Christie’s dates one 14k gold example to circa 1957; Antiquorum dates an 18k pink-gold example to 1960; Christie’s dates an 18k gold watch to circa 1962; Waddington’s dates an Eaton’s presentation example to circa 1965.
Movement notes
The catalogued fitments span Cal. 1560, 1570 and 1520, with no supported changeover date. Heritage identifies a 25-jewel Cal. 1560 in a 14k yellow-gold example. Christie’s lists a 26-jewel Cal. 1570 in its circa-1962 18k gold watch. Waddington’s identifies a 26-jewel Cal. 1520 in the circa-1965 Eaton’s presentation watch. See the movement index.
Dial map
The catalogued dials are silver or gold-colored, with applied baton or triangular markers. Christie’s describes a silvered matte dial with applied batons and dauphine hands in its circa-1957 watch; Antiquorum’s 1960 example has a matte silver dial, gold batons and luminous dots; the circa-1962 Christie’s watch is described with a silvered matte dial and applied gold batons. Heritage’s 2012 example has a gold dial and raised triangular markers.
Waddington’s circa-1965 example has an Eaton’s-signed dial with raised “¼ Century Club” lettering in place of hour numerals. Waddington’s says the Canadian department store gave these watches to employees at their 25-year service milestone. This is a retailer-presentation branch of ref. 1011.
Case, bezel, crystal, and crown
The catalogue language varies. Antiquorum calls the 1960 bezel faceted; Christie’s calls the circa-1957 bezel fluted and its circa-1962 bezel milled; Heritage also describes a fluted bezel. Waddington’s identifies the 1965 Eaton’s case as ref. 1011, and its photograph shows a smooth bezel. Read each description with its own lot: the cited cases measure 32–34mm, and the available records do not establish one required bezel profile. Crystal type is inconsistently reported.
Bracelets, clasps, and packaging
The Antiquorum, Christie’s and Heritage examples are shown or described on leather straps, with gold Rolex buckles named in some catalogues. Waddington’s presentation watch was offered without a strap. These sale configurations do not establish original delivery or bracelet fitment.
Auction record
| watch date | source | catalogued configuration | result |
|---|---|---|---|
| circa 1957 | Christie’s, lot 379 | 14k gold, 32mm, silvered matte dial, fluted bezel; 26 jewels, caliber not named | Not stated |
| 1960 | Antiquorum Geneva, The Mondani Collection, lot 45 | 18k pink gold, Cal. 1560, case 546423, 33mm; faceted bezel | CHF 9,440 |
| circa 1962 | Christie’s, case 692498 | 18k gold, Cal. 1570, 33mm; silvered matte dial, milled bezel | Not stated |
| circa 1965 | Waddington’s, lot 74 | Eaton’s ¼ Century Club dial, 14k yellow gold, Cal. 1520, 33mm, case 1,301,143 | Not stated |
| undated | Heritage Auctions, lot 74030 | 14k yellow gold, Cal. 1560, 33mm; gold dial, raised triangular markers, fluted bezel | US$1,500 |
| undated | Dorotheum, lot 408 | 18k gold, gold-colored dial, circa 34mm | EUR 2,500 |
Gallery
-
Waddington’s, circa 1965: Eaton’s ¼ Century Club presentation example -
Antiquorum, 1960: case 546423 with faceted bezel
Sources
- "Antiquorum The Mondani Collection lot 45 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1011, case 546423", Antiquorum, 2006-05-14
- "Christie's Important Watches and Wristwatches, New York lot 379 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1011, circa 1957", Christie's
- "Christie's Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1011, case 692498, circa 1962", Christie's
- "Heritage Auctions lot 74030 — Rolex ref. 1011, 14k gold Oyster Perpetual", Heritage Auctions, 2012-06-26
- "Dorotheum lot 408 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1011", Dorotheum, 2018-11-30
- Dara Vandor, "Waddington's — The Canadian Rolex: Eaton's 1/4 Century Club Watch, lot 74", Waddington's, 2024-04-11