Community Stories

Rolex Oysterdate Precision 6694 case?

Lotus_Eater8815
Posts
284
Likes
334
My father has always been a watch enthusiast and I was thinking about getting him a Rolex for his 65th birthday. He is partial to black dials with gold furniture and the piece that automatically came to (my) mind was a 1972 Oyster Date 6694. I have built my budget over the course of the year and have began hunting. These two specimens came up for consideration.

The first one looks like a fine example, except I can’t shake the feeling that the case and the crown seem wrong. The seller does not appear to be a collector - and I don’t want to annoy him in case the watch is the real mccoy - so I have decided to consult the collective wisdom of the forum before I ask the seller to post shots of the movement, case and bracelet serials, etc.

(Second watch in the next post since I can’t figure out how to seprate the photos).
Edited:
 
232979D0-4AB9-4356-9F93-DFCA504AFAA5.jpeg 17044785-61A1-48AA-9D6E-A2152D4FFF59.jpeg 3ED5A00F-4B62-4236-AE94-B697E370539C.jpeg 56B94150-76E4-4527-9FCA-2D0D4957F842.jpeg BD5605F0-37EA-4663-B384-0B27821C1934.jpeg
Dan S
Posts
20,308
Likes
47,022
Do you at least have photos from between the lugs?
 
Lotus_Eater8815
Posts
284
Likes
334
Second watch seems like the case, crown, and bracelet look correct, but the dial looks relumed? And the case looks slightly polished. And is “t swiss made t” correct? I thought they only used “t swiss t.” And these rivet bracelets, can any watchmaker resize them? I had read that these have to be pried open and closed, to be handled only by competent jewellers/watch technicians.

I am aware that vintage rolexes, particularly the likes of the 6694 that has seen a long run, are a minefield. A service dial is okay, as long as its not a redial and the lume matches.

Any help and advice is immensely appreciated.
 
8EBC39E6-3B38-4EAD-B196-5221430E1728.jpeg E50CE862-A7CB-437D-A96B-DBDE5DDC141A.jpeg 4C60E40E-DB4A-4FC6-9A32-7988906C6F5F.jpeg A15CAAA5-A98F-41EC-9B48-BC4FDE505023.jpeg F5675EB0-1D29-432B-A67B-945CCBDEF9EE.jpeg 8EBF4B74-C74A-4548-8331-B887EA27E9E3.jpeg 6673929B-B330-449D-A325-A3E864D3BB3F.jpeg 388CF0E5-BD59-40A3-80FC-D47D8550DC05.jpeg
Dan S
Posts
20,308
Likes
47,022
Both of the watches you show have T SWISS MADE T dials. Most people say that they are from the 1980s.

Edit: Actually, I just noticed that your first batch of photos shows two different watches with different dials.
 
Lotus_Eater8815
Posts
284
Likes
334
Dan S Dan S
Both of the watches you show have T SWISS MADE T dials. Most people say that they are from the 1980s.

Edit: Actually, I just noticed that your first batch of photos shows two different watches with different dials.
Pardon the confusion. I didn’t know how to separate the two batches of photos in a single post. Your reply came in while I was writing the second post.

The first looks like a good dial but I’m unsure about the case. Asking price is US$1,865. While the second one looks like it has a good case but I’m unsure about the dial. Asking price is US$2,060.

I’m trying to decide between the two, but if both aren’t worth it, the hunt continues.

[Edit: my bad! Photos corrected accordingly!]
 
Lotus_Eater8815
Posts
284
Likes
334
Dan S Dan S
Both of the watches you show have T SWISS MADE T dials. Most people say that they are from the 1980s.
The seller doesn’t have the tools to open the watch or remove the bracelet. But he did send me the receipt. Serial number looks to be 6 mil which puts it in the 1980s?
 
D24C0A97-9959-4B59-9E72-81333FF3A832.jpeg
ICONO
Posts
1,589
Likes
5,742
I have owned 8/9 Rolex Precisions, over the years

Really great little watches…tough as Hell

Both look fine to me…but both have been polished, and tidied

The rivet bracelet is well stretched
 
Lotus_Eater8815
Posts
284
Likes
334
ICONO ICONO
I have owned 8/9 Rolex Precisions, over the years

Really great little watches…tough as Hell

Both look fine to me…but both have been polished, and tidied

The rivet bracelet is well stretched
Which one would be a better buy? The first one is for US$1,865; the second one with the riveted bracelet is a bit more at US$2,060. The seller of the second one is a reputable seller, and I quite like the bracelet. Is the stretch on it that bad? The lume dots on the dial have not been redone, have they? The first one is cheaper and (to my novice eyes) looks less beat up. While the bracelet does not have much character, it might be easier to size.
 
ext1
Posts
1,134
Likes
1,689
How about a gilt dial 1501? That is the only Rolex simple oyster model I have and I'm very happy about it.
Admittedly I'm not an expert on the simple oyster models too but if you're looking for a black dial, then I would say you should check these out. Prices don't seem too bad as well.
62505319_1105106709677482_7639377326311997440_n.jpg
 
Lotus_Eater8815
Posts
284
Likes
334
ext1 ext1
How about a gilt dial 1501? That is the only Rolex simple oyster model I have and I'm very happy about it.
Admittedly I'm not an expert on the simple oyster models too but if you're looking for a black dial, then I would say you should check these out. Prices don't seem too bad as well.
62505319_1105106709677482_7639377326311997440_n.jpg
Thanks for the suggestion, but I’m getting the watch for my father, and he prefers the gold accents against the black dial.

You have a beauty there. My 15210 says hi 😀
 
8BC9A991-68BE-4F72-82BF-9CFDD2DA47CA.jpeg
ext1
Posts
1,134
Likes
1,689
Lotus_Eater8815 Lotus_Eater8815
Thanks for the suggestion, but I’m getting the watch for my father, and he prefers the gold accents against the black dial.

You have a beauty there. My 15210 says hi 😀

Glad to see a fellow engine turned bezel user!!
My example isn't the best glit dial, the gold font has aged to a lighter color. There are some other ones that have still stronger gold font, though.
 
Lotus_Eater8815
Posts
284
Likes
334
ext1 ext1
Glad to see a fellow engine turned bezel user!!
My example isn't the best glit dial, the gold font has aged to a lighter color. There are some other ones that have still stronger gold font, though.
Thanks! I haven’t looked at 1501’s and didn’t know til now 😀
 
Canuck
Posts
14,153
Likes
40,774
Both are manual winders, not auto wind. Is that what you want?
 
ICONO
Posts
1,589
Likes
5,742
Personally I would opt for the second example…it looks less polished…and I like the look of it

The bracelet being ‘stretched’, can be addressed by any competent Watchmaker

Rolex Precisions, may be manually wound…but so are Speedmasters !…I don’t see that, as a downside

They really are very rugged watches…with a comparatively simple movement…that just ‘render accurate, dependable service’ for ever

Your Father will be absolutely delighted !
 
Lotus_Eater8815
Posts
284
Likes
334
Just got back from a trip. Thanks to OF, and everyone for your help on this matter! 😀
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

southtexas

(RED.) ca 1963 Vintage Rolex 6694 Oysterdate Precision 34mm now $2100

southtexas Private Watch Sales
southtexas
southtexas
Posts
7
Views
7K
mzinski

1974 Rolex Oysterdate with Grey Dial ref. 6694

mzinski Private Watch Sales
mzinski
mzinski
Posts
3
Views
3K
mzinski

1959 Rolex Oysterdate Reference 6694

mzinski Private Watch Sales
mzinski
mzinski
Posts
8
Views
33K
kyle L

Vintage 1950s Rolex Oysterdate Precision 6094

kyle L Watches For Sale
kyle L
kyle L
Posts
7
Views
7K
Boony

REMOVED: 1984 Rolex Precision 6694

Boony Private Watch Sales
Boony
Boony
Posts
2
Views
3K
George.A

1964 Black glossy Rolex Oysterdate 6694

George.A Private Watch Sales
George.A
George.A
Posts
0
Views
2K