Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6549
Oyster Perpetual → 6549
The 6549 is a small, no-date Oyster Perpetual. Auction records describe steel, steel-and-gold, and pink-gold examples from the 1950s and 1960s. Cambi, lot 57; U.S. Treasury, lot 146; Antiquorum, lot 540; Sotheby’s, lot 680
Core facts
| detail | documented examples |
|---|---|
| reference | 6549 |
| family | Oyster Perpetual; automatic, central seconds, no date (Cambi, lot 57; Dorotheum, lot 7) |
| dated examples | Auction catalogues date examples from circa 1958 to circa 1968 |
| case diameter | 29–33 mm (Millon, lot 69; Antiquorum, lot 540); Cambi, Dorotheum, Artcurial, and Sotheby’s catalogue examples measure 30–31 mm (Cambi; Dorotheum; Artcurial; Sotheby’s) |
| materials | stainless steel; steel with yellow- or pink-gold accents; 14 ct or 18 ct pink gold (U.S. Treasury; listing for serial 395XXX; Antiquorum; Sotheby’s, lot 680) |
| movements | Cal. 1130 and Cal. 1161 are recorded on separate examples |
| dial records | black gilt, silver, cream 3-6-9, white Roman, and grey |
Production outline
Jacek’s 2014 sale post gives serial 678XXX and a II.61 caseback stamp for a 31 mm watch with a silver dial. Millon dates case 678588 to around 1961 and describes a 29 mm watch with a cream dial. The serials are close; the listings differ on case size and dial. Jacek's Rolex Forums sale post; Millon, lot 69.
Cambi catalogued the same 1.311.xxx watch in 2022 and 2023, dating it first to around 1964 and then around 1966. Artcurial later catalogued a grey-dial steel watch as a 6549; its condition report notes erased engravings between the lugs. Cambi 2022, lot 163; Cambi 2023, lot 57; Artcurial, lot 97a.
Movement notes
Cal. 1130 appears in Antiquorum’s 1989 lot, the Treasury’s circa-1958 watch, and Cambi’s circa-1966 steel example. Dorotheum’s circa-1964 watch and Sotheby’s circa-1968 pink-gold watch carry Cal. 1161. Antiquorum, lot 540; U.S. Treasury, lot 146; Cambi, lot 57; Dorotheum, lot 7; Sotheby’s, lot 680.
Dial map
| example | catalogue description | record |
|---|---|---|
| Cambi, case 1.311.xxx | Black gilt dial, stick markers, "T SWISS T" at six | Cambi, 2023, lot 57 |
| Dorotheum, circa 1964 | White dial with Roman numerals and luminous indices | Dorotheum, lot 7 |
| case 1895473 | Cream 3-6-9 dial; the listing calls it an "Explorer dial" | Sale record, item D9737 |
| Jacek, serial 678XXX | Silver dial with dauphine hands, as described in the sale post | Rolex Forums, 2014 |
| Artcurial, lot 97a | Grey "T SWISS MADE T" dial | Artcurial, lot 97a |
Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes
The Treasury watch pairs a steel case with a 14 ct yellow-gold engine-turned bezel and a yellow-gold-tone crown. Cambi’s photographs also show an engine-turned bezel; Artcurial describes a smooth bezel. The Treasury catalogue specifies an acrylic crystal on its circa-1958 watch. Cambi, lot 57; Artcurial, lot 97a; U.S. Treasury, lot 146.
Bracelets and clasp stamps
Jacek’s 2014 sale post shows end pieces marked 51 and a bracelet stamped 2-62. The Treasury watch was fitted with a 7835/17 bracelet, 351 end links, and an E clasp; the catalogue dates that bracelet to around 1967, roughly nine years after the watch. Shellman’s 1960s example is listed with a bracelet stamped 1970-II and end link 251. Jacek; U.S. Treasury; Shellman, item D9737.
Artcurial lists a 78350/17 bracelet, 551B end links, and an R3 clasp on its 6549.
Auction and sale records
| sale date | catalogue record | details and result |
|---|---|---|
| 15 December 1989 | Antiquorum, lot 540 | 1950s, 33 mm, 18 ct pink gold; catalogue gives Cal. 1130. |
| 27 March 2014 | Dorotheum, lot 7 | Circa-1964, about 31 mm steel; Cal. 1161; white Roman dial. |
| 27 November 2014 | Sotheby’s, lot 680 | Circa-1968, 14 ct pink gold; Cal. 1161; paired with a ref. 6018 Bubbleback. |
| 6–21 April 2023 | Cambi, lot 57 | Circa-1966, 30 mm steel; black gilt dial; Cal. 1130. |
| 23 October 2024 | U.S. Treasury, lot 146 | Serial 394979, circa 1958; 31 mm steel and 14 ct yellow gold; Cal. 1130; later bracelet. |
| 2025 | Artcurial, lot 97a | 30 mm steel; Cal. 1161; grey dial; sold for EUR 1,986. |
Gallery
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Cambi, 2023, lot 57: circa-1966 steel example. -
Cambi, 2023, lot 57: dial, bezel and crown. -
Cambi, 2023, lot 57: case and riveted Oyster bracelet.
Sources
- "Antiquorum, Important Watches, Tokyo, 15 December 1989, lot 540 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 6549", Antiquorum, 1989-12-15
- "Artcurial, Horological Timepieces Online, lot 97a — catalogued ref. 6549", Artcurial, 2025-10-28
- "Bob's Watches, vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 6549, SKU 193347", Bob's Watches
- "Cambi, Orologi, lot 163 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 6549", Cambi Casa d’Aste, 2022
- "Cambi, Watches, lot 57 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 6549", Cambi Casa d’Aste, 2023-04-21
- "Dorotheum, Jewellery, 27 March 2014, lot 7 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 6549", Dorotheum, 2014-03-27
- "Millon, Horlogerie, 20 June 2023, lot 69 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 6549", Millon, 2023-06-20
- "Rolex Forums, Jacek, 1961 Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 6549 sale post", Rolex Forums, 2014-04-13
- "Shellman, Rolex ref. 6549 Explorer-dial Oyster Perpetual, item D9737", Shellman
- "Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 27 November 2014, lot 680 — paired gold watches including ref. 6549", Sotheby's, 2014-11-27
- "U.S. Treasury, Nationwide GP Auction, 23 October 2024, lot 146 — ref. 6549", U.S. Treasury, 2024-10-23