Rolex GMT Ref. 1675 Steel Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Munich, Bavaria
., d=40mm MOVEMENT caliber Rolex 1570, automatic, hack seconds, chronometer, 24-hour-indicator, date, second time zone DIAL original Tritium.dial and hands BRACELET fo...
Rolex GMT Ref. 1675 Steel Wrist Watch
By Rolex
Located in Munich, Bavaria
., d=40mm MOVEMENT caliber Rolex 1570, automatic, hack seconds, chronometer, 24-hour-indicator, date, second time zone DIAL original Tritium.dial and hands BRACELET fo...
Rolex Stainless Steel "Hacking" Explorer Wristwatch Ref 1016 circa 1970s
By Rolex
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
This stainless steel Rolex Explorer features a mint condition case, hacking mechanism and soft patina on the dial.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Explorer I Wristwatch Ref 1016
By Rolex
Located in Miami Beach, FL
This particular watch comes with a hack feature. This Rolex Explorer I comes on an original Rolex heavy oyster style bracelet.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Explorer Wristwatch with Hack Feature Ref 1016 circa 1966
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Explorer wristwatch, Ref. 1016, 36mm case with smooth bezel serial number 1.3 million, circa 1966.
Stainless Steel
ROLEX Stainless Steel Explorer Wristwatch Ref 1016
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex SS Explorer 1 ref 1016, 2.95 million serial # circa 1971. 36mm diameter case with smooth bezel, acrylic crystal, calibre 1570 self winding movement with sweep seconds and hack ...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Steel Explorer I ref. 1016 circa 1970s
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Self winding chronometer rated calibre 1570 movement with sweep seconds and hack feature. With Rolex SS heavy Oyster bracelet with deployment clasp.
Stainless Steel
Rolex SS Explorer II ref # 1655 circa 1974
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex SS Explorer II ref # 1655 circa 1974 original matte black dial with evenly faded luminous indexes and matching faded luminous hands fixed 24 hour dual time zone bezel self w...
Rolex SS Submariner Tiffany & C ref #1680 c.1978
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Calibre 1570 self winding movement with hack feature. Rolex SS heavy Oyster bracelet with flip lock.
Rolex Stainless Steel Submariner Chronometer Automatic Wristwatch Ref 16800
By Rolex
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Submariner Ref. 16800 CASE heavy case, screwed case, steel, sapphire crystal, rotating bezel, screw-down crown, d=40mm MOVEMENT caliber Rolex 3035, automatic, hack seconds, c...
Rolex Stainless Steel Explorer Wristwatch Ref 1016 circa 1975
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Calibre 1570 self-winding movement with hack feature. With Rolex USA stainless steel riveted link bracelet.
Stainless Steel
Rolex SS Submariner ref # 5513 circa 1977 so called "maxi" dial
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Calibre 1520 self winding movement with hack feature. Rolex trip lock crown. On your choice of fine leather strap.
Stainless Steel
RARE Vintage 1973 Rolex Submariner "Red Sub" in Stainless Steel REF 1680
By Rolex
Located in Miami, FL
Now commonly referred to by its defining characteristic, a single line of red text at six o'clock stating the model name, Rolex made the "Red" Submariner until approximately the 4.0 ...
Stainless Steel
1965 Rolex GMT-Master Pepsi Gilt Dial Stainless Steel 1675 Wristwatch
By Rolex
Located in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
The movement is stamped 1570, which was the latest GMT calibre from Rolex, with a “hacking” feature. This calibre was introduced in 1964, and the so-called hacking feature allowed th...
Stainless Steel
While the rise in popularity of vintage Rolex watches is of no surprise to aficionados, collectors and industry experts, when it comes to contemporary luxury wristwatches, Rolex is also often the first brand that springs to mind. Not only is the company revered for its precision timekeeping and impeccable craftsmanship, but its name was designed to be memorable.
Rolex's enviable worldwide recognition can be credited in part to the genius of company founder Hans Wilsdorf. When the German-born watch dealer and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, set up their London enterprise, in 1905, they called it Wilsdorf & Davis, according to the traditional formula.
But Wilsdorf was determined to come up with another name that was short, would look good on a watch dial and was easy to say and remember in several languages. In 1908, he trademarked the name Rolex, and by 1920, he had moved the company to Geneva and redubbed it as Montres Rolex S.A.
But the main reasons for the brand’s success are its aforementioned commitment to precision and unflagging pursuit of innovation. In 1926, the company introduced the aptly named Oyster model. With a screw-down crown and case back, both fitted with rubber gaskets, this was the first truly waterproof watch.
Five years later, Rolex upped the ante with the Oyster Perpetual. That model’s patented Perpetual movement contained a rotor mechanism enabling it to self-wind. In another trendsetting move, in 1945, the brand debuted the Datejust, with a date window prominently displayed on the dial.
The company’s two most iconic models are sports watches. Although the Submariner, which debuted in 1953, was developed as a dive watch, its waterproof case, solid construction and good looks made it a favorite of adventurers and urbanites alike, including James Bond, who wore it in classics like Dr. No and Goldfinger. The Daytona, the racing chronograph made famous by Paul Newman, is especially sought after by collectors. Newman’s personal Daytona, which hit the auction block in 2017, sold for $17.8 million.
Find vintage Rolex watches, bracelets and more on 1stDibs.
Antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches have captured the hearts and minds of all manner of watch collectors as well as the watchmakers themselves — it's time you found your own.
Certain vintage watches for men and iconic watch designs for women are sought after not only because of their graceful proportions or innovative materials but also because of the illustrious histories of the houses that created them, histories that they stylishly embody.
Bulgari’s legendary Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional wristwatches.
Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist.
In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.
Are you shopping for a wristwatch? It’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors.
Find antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches for sale on 1stDibs.
A fresh palette of dial colors and technological advances have elevated this classic watch model.
The watch has transformed several times over, but it’s still undeniably a classic.
This is perhaps the least subtle version of the Submariner.
If you think this looks like the Rolex Kermit, you're correct.
This model was designed for lefties.
Learn the devious techniques that counterfeiters use to sell inauthentic pieces at authentic prices. Of course, you don't have to worry about that on 1stDibs, where every seller of Rolex watches is highly vetted.
From understanding the models to choosing among vintage, pre-owned and new watches, here’s our expert advice on finding the best Rolex for you.
As the cache goes on display at London’s Design Museum, we speak to its enigmatic owner about some of his rarest acquisitions.