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Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref. 5018 - 'Bombe' Lug Bubbleback

SOLD

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, utilizing a water-resistant Oyster case, an automatic-winding movement, and nothing else. No frills — purely a functional timekeeping device.

Dating to circa 1967, this reference 5018 is one of the rarest Oyster Perpetuals ever produced. These featured beautiful and elegant twisted ‘bombe’ lugs and lovely stylized-indices that are sadly not really seen in any Rolex models these days. This case has seen a light previous polishing at some point in its life, but retains thick, symmetrical lugs with visible factory finishing. The dial has aged to an attractive eggshell color with patinated luminous plots, some of which show loss, and are complimented by a matching 'alpha' handset.

Despite being ‘entry-level’ these 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.

Stainless Steel 1967 Automatic Dress

"As collectors themselves, Oliver and Clarke are on a mission to make buying vintage watches as painless as possible."

"The company focuses on good prices for its pieces, elite customer service and full transparency."

"The appointment-only space is inviting, with comfortable seating areas and exposed brick walls."

From Rolex & Patek Philippe, to Cartier & Audemars Piguet. As collectors first, we love the small details that separate the Submariner from Daytona and Calatrava from Royal Oak. This is why you'll find our curated assortment spans decades of generations of models and brands. We believe that watches don't just tell time, they tell history - and life is too short to wear a boring watch.

Oliver & Clarke

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