Amongst the characteristics that make Rolex watches excellent timepieces, their precision is certainly one of the most important, to the point of giving the name to one of the company’s collections. This collection includes manual wind mechanical watches with an Oyster case, acrylic crystal and almost always a leather strap, apart from some models with steel Oyster bracelet with solid or riveted links.
The first Precision models appeared on the market in the 1930s with case and lugs in steel/gold and stainless steel with reference 3003.
The model reference 4560 with very large, particular lugs, nicknamed ‘claw lugs’ for their resemblance to crab claws, was produced solely in the 1940s.
In the 1960s however the model number 9659 was produced, made of 18kt pink and yellow golds and included amongst the “elite watches”. This reference was also available on the Italian market from 1960 until 1972. Whilst from 1962 up until 1966 the reference 9919 was in production, a rare and elegant non-Oyster model with a screw down case and characterised by a particular fluted bezel. In some 1960s advertisements the same model appears with subsidiary seconds at the 6 o’ clock position, in which case the reference of the watch is 9522.
The first model with a date aperture is the reference 6066 in steel, nicknamed ‘roulette’ for its bicoloured numbers: black odd and red even.
Lacking a date aperture however are the references 6426 in steel with a 1210 calibre movement and 6422 available in the Rolex catalogue from 1958 with a smooth bezel and a Flush-fit bracelet (modelled in such a way as to fit the rounded shape between the lugs) in 9 or 14kt gold.
Models produced at the end of the 1980s, starting with the Oysterdate Precision 6694, carried a date aperture. This model, very commercially successful, was at first fitted with a 1215 calibre movement then 1225. Several versions carried the coat of arms of various sultanates, a result of ad hoc personalisations.
Amongst the other references (6466, 6094, 6294), reference 6494 has certainly been the most popular model, especially in the second half of the 1980s, due to its more affordable price and the versions proposed by dealers with an aftermarket dial, reprinted in red, green or yellow, unusual compared to the classic white, black or silver dials. The general public in those days was evidently more intrigued by the uniqueness of the dials than the rigorous dictates of collectors.
The following are some references of the models produced:
Steel | Steel and gold | Gold | |
Cyclops plexiglass crystal | Tropic plexiglass crystal | ||
The colour yellow represents gold in all its variants: Rose, White and Yellow. For more information contact our experts: drg@dellaroccagioielli.com |
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CASE MATERIAL |
CRYSTAL |