Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref. 1009 'Zephyr' - Champagne 'Crosshair' Dial French Import Unpolished
If you boil Rolex down to its purest form, what do you get?
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual. This is truly the genesis for the entire Rolex brand. The very first Rolex models were called ‘Oysters’ which was owed to their innovative three part case that all screwed into each-other. This watch represents an evolution of that, when these were still semi-bubble back watches.
The piece that we have here, an Oyster Perpetual, is a descendant of those early watches, though is probably not what first comes to mind when your hear Oyster Perpetual...
Dating to circa 1964, this 34mm piece is possesses some incredibly attractive and charming characteristics that were soon lost to the brand after right around this time period. The case constructed out of solid 18k yellow gold and features a stunning 'florentine' finishing on the top of the lugs, as well as on the matching 'engine-turned' yellow gold bezel. Inside, the champagne dial is devoid of both applied or printed indices and instead has a simple black 'crosshair' and a non-luminous 'alpha' handset.
Additionally, flip this piece over and there is a cluster of hallmarks on the caseback that suggest this piece was a French import. Very rare!
Despite being ‘entry-level’ these vintage OPs offer a ton of character and remain an overlooked part of the important history of Rolex on their journey to the powerhouse brand that they are today. Don't let the case size fool you, these 34mm Rolex models are chronically slept on and present great value next to its more well-known siblings, while truly embodying the essence of Rolex.
And the Zephyr in particular, is an especially tasteful slice from the vintage Oyster Perpetual pie.
Condition Report & Details
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Shipping, Returns, & Warranty
Every Oliver & Clarke timepiece comes with a one-year mechanical warranty starting from the date of delivery. We ensure all watches are in wonderful working condition and are ready for daily wear. Many have been fully serviced by our team of watchmakers.
Please note:
- Due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, they may not keep time as accurately as when new, nor as precisely as quartz or electronic devices.
- We do not guarantee water resistance and do not warranty against moisture or water damage. Deliberate exposure to water or steam is not recommended.
- Warranty does not cover internal or external damage caused by accidents, mishandling, abuse, modifications, or services performed by anyone other than our authorized personnel.
- Our warranty is non-transferable.
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Our Guarantee:
- Each timepiece is thoroughly evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our expert team before it is offered for sale.
- We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise stated.
- The authenticity of each watch is guaranteed in perpetuity.
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