I've long considered myself an Omega Man since receiving a rather funky Polaris Seamaster for my 21st birthday in 1990 back when the UK was on the up and up and before our political system developed a self harm problem.

Since then I've collected about a dozen or so Omegas including eirlooms from fathers and grandfathers.

I also have a soft spot for less well known 34mm automatics form the 60s and 70s and my Polerouter, Zenith and Enicar's get plenty of wrist time

But during lockdown I developed an itch. A Rolex itch.

After some months of patient research and careful financial consideration I came to two key conclusions:
1. I should have started started the quest at least 5 years ago.
2. I was definitely fishing at the budget end of the market

Fortunately a combination of my daity 6.5" wrists and preference for a clean, utilitarian but elegant style lead me toward the rather more affordable 34mm Oyster Perpetuals

And so fellow members I would like to openly and gratefully thank OF and fellow forum member @jerryct for parting with this rather wonderful example of the 1500. I can only assure you that she is lovlier in the flesh and that the case is sharper and the grey starburst sigma dial crisper than the picture does justice.

Well worth the 5 weeks of anxiety as the UK Customs and Postal systems processed the parcel 20mins up the road from me at Gatwick - it having taken just 5 days to get all the way from Singapore to the UK.

All's well that ends well.

Happy New year all

 

Congratulations! These are such lovely watches. I bought my 1501 in august. Also being my first Rolex after going through Omegas and Cartiers.
Right now it’s in an even fight with my 2767 for most wrist time. I’d say it’s a dead race atm.

 

The 1500 is one of my favorites- a purists Rolex for sure. It encapsulates the design ethos of Rolex with no frills,

 

I do like the 1500 it has a charm some of the larger, brasher models lack. Here is mine in solid 14K gold from 1979:

 

Four-digit Rolexes are imho collectable, wearable, robust vintage watches with more than enough dial, hand, bezel and bracelet variations to keep a collector interested for a good long while.

Yours is a beauty, well done!

 

Thanks for all the

Spooky - I've been wearing my KO 2627 bumper for many weeks - until the 1500 arrived! I like the way they remind you what's inside when you walk down stairs...

 

Now that's the kind of gold watch I'd be happy to receive on my retirement! Any idea why my plain 1500 has a sigma dial whereas your solid gold does not?

 

I know this thread is about Rolex, but I am motivated to permit my Omega 2627, date at 6:00, calibre 355 bumper automatic send New Year’s salutations to @GarethS ‘s handsome submission. This one spent over 40 years sequestered in a lozenge tin, in pieces, until I discovered it. Movement dates from the 1950s, cross hair “waffle” dial with quadrilateral shaped calendar window is original and unrestored. Modern NOS Omega 2627 case thanks to OB member @Tritium from Madrid, Spain. All those years ago, a previous owner of this watch which needed repair, considered it unworthy, and walked away from it! For shame! I have what I assume is this one’s original case on another Omega, calibre 351.

 

That is an interesting observation. Sigma marks are quite rare on 1500s from what I‘ve read and weren't seen throughout production, mostly in the early to mid 70s only. There were other minor dial changes throughout production, eg mine has no dashes either side of the text but some watches including yours do. I've just done a quick search on gold 1500s and haven't as yet found one with sigmas, maybe they never had them. That isn't to say the indices or even dial aren't gold, they might be but it wasn't noted on the dial consistently. Some sources suggest the gold variants have different model numbers, 1507 for 18K, 1503 for 14K but this again apparently wasn't applied consistently, mine and many other gold ones say 1500 on the inner caseback.

 

While not the 1500, my first affair with Rolex was driven by the lust of a birthyear specimen. I too prefer elegantly simple with a timeless sense of style and managed to meet this 5500 at just the right moment.

 

The AK is also 34mm I believe so I personally give you a pass there. It's really a Date-No Date.

 

Basically all you need in a collection is a Rolex date and a bumper omega, that’s it. Evidence right here.

 

As every (amateur-) astronomer knows: Observation not Age brings Wisdom !

 

I honestly see the relevance of about a third of what you post Phill, its always clever but is it always in the place you intended?

 

This 1500 is a real solid piece! Here’s a photo before it went to Gareth. And yes… that nerve wreaking 5 weeks stuck in UK was memorable.