THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 6502
YEAR: 1958
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 34mm
CASE MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: LEATHER
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC
Part of the allure of vintage Rolex collecting is that, regardless of your taste, there’s almost always something that will draw you in. In the early days of the vintage Rolex community, bubblebacks were everything. Fast forward to the last 20–30 years, and the sports watch range took over—Submariner, GMT, Daytona, Explorer—becoming the backbone of the market alongside their modern counterparts. In recent years, however, there has finally been more attention given to the dressier precious metal pieces.
The reference 6502 here is niche. It’s neither a Day-Date nor a Datejust, but comes from the Oyster Perpetual range. There’s nothing “average” about this seemingly humble 34 mm watch, however. In fact, this is easily the hardest Rolex for me (Tommy) to let go of in recent weeks. Dating back to 1958, the watch features an 18k yellow gold case and a unique “two-piece” sandwich dial. The central portion features an applied Rolex crown, applied hour markers, and the Rolex Oyster Perpetual signature at 12 o’clock, along with the “Officially Certified Chronometer” text at 6 o’clock. The minute track and lume plots, however, sit on an outer ring surrounding the central dial. The unique construction gives the watch incredible depth despite being time-only.
The case is in great condition, as is the dial, which has aged to a lovely off-white patina. All of the lume plots are intact—they glow brightly under UV before quickly fading. The original Brevet crown and butterfly rotor are both present.
Based on our research, fewer than five examples of this watch have surfaced publicly. This exact example was sold at auction around a decade ago, and later by Amsterdam Vintage Watches a few years on. When it found its way to us via a gentleman whose job we are all quietly jealous of, the boys here at Falco quickly fell in love.
The movement runs beautifully at +3 s/day, with an amplitude of 268° and a beat error of 0.3 ms. The original 18k yellow gold buckle is still in place.
Simply amazing.