The Vault › All references › Oyster Perpetual
Oyster Perpetual · 1962 to 1981
“Date 1500”
Grade B · 70/100Today's call: Value buy
B: solid, selective. Ranked #92 of 129 references in The Crown Index vault.
| Original retail (1970) | $180 |
|---|---|
| Market today | $2,800 – $4,200 |
| Vs original retail | +1844% |
| 1-year trend | +5% |
The best first vintage Rolex money can buy: a chronometer movement, a proper Oyster case, and 1960s charm for the price of a fashion watch's service bill.
34mm wears unisex by modern standards, and the variety of dials means there's always a clean one hunting at the bottom of the range.
The Date 34 is what most people's grandfathers actually wore, not the Submariner the movies remember. Honest, chronometer-rated, and sized for an era when watches were jewelry, not armor.
The 1500's spread of dials and bezels (smooth, fluted, engine-turned) means no two collections match. At under $4,000 for honest examples it remains the best 'real vintage Rolex' answer in the catalog, and the rally in small watches is slowly finding it.
Our verdict: B: the entry ticket to vintage Rolex ownership. Buy the cleanest dial you can find; at this price, condition costs nothing extra to wait for.
| Sizes | 34mm |
|---|---|
| Case & bracelet material | Oystersteel (stainless) |
| Factory bracelet | Oyster |
| Factory bezels | Smooth; Engine-turned; Fluted (1503 in gold) |
| Notable dials | Silver; Champagne; Blue; Gray sigma dials |
| Caliber | 1560 / 1570 |
| Production | 1962 to 1981 (discontinued) |
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