Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref. 1514 'Décor Moiré' - Satin Champagne Dial W/ Extensive Documentation
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, simply know as 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 1978, this Reference 1514 is an incredibly rare reference, featuring one of Rolex's famed 'special finishes' on the bezel and bracelet. More on that later. It remains in fantastic overall condition, with a strong, symmetrical Oyster case, an immaculate sating champagne dial inside, and a standout yellow gold bezel with defined 'Décor Moiré finishing. Similar to Morellis finishing, Décor Moiré features more pronounced horizontal hash marks, done entirely by hand.
The real highlight of this piece, however, is the rare and wildly cool yellow gold 'woven' bracelet with matching Décor Moiré finishing. By some miracle, unlike so many watches with special gold bracelets from this era, this one has somehow been spared being cut to a small size and remains long. It also features a more traditional blade-style clasp with micro-adjustments so that it can be perfectly sized for its lucky new steward.
Last but not least, this piece is accompanied by an almost nauseating amount of documentation. Included with the watch is its outer box, inner box with sticker from Hamilton Jewelers, cleaning cloth, booklets, service folder, service booklet, service card dated 11/22/2011, service invoice dated papers from Hamilton Jewelers dated 11/22/1985, service receipt and invoice dated 11/1/11, purchase receipt and invoice dated 11/22/1985, and no fewer than five appraisal invoices spanning the life of the watch.
And don't let that 34mm case size fool you, this piece can suit a larger wrist size than you might think thanks to the visual presence of that stunning bracelet.
This then, is a brilliant example of Rolex displaying a more artistic side, all while very much being a Rolex at heart, with that water-resistant Oyster case and a robust automatic-winding movement within. Hard to beat.
Condition Report & Details
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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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At Oliver & Clarke, we meticulously vet each watch to ensure its authenticity and quality. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and our mission is to help you find the perfect timepiece. If you have any questions, we are here to assist you promptly.
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.
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