Why This Watch Matters The perfect less-is-more Rolex, no self-winding movement no problem, we can wind our own mainspring. The Full Story The Oyster Precision is one of the most straightforward watches Rolex has ever built. The watch is truly about representing the essentials only, with no added distractions. This example is fitted in a 34mm stainless steel case with a smooth bezel, so it actually wears a little larger than its measurement might seem. Vintage collectors often get caught up in the infinitesimal details that intrigue further and further as you dive in. Yet sometimes, a watch jumps up and hits us in the face with pure, simplistic, undeniable greatness. The stainless steel Oyster case is already an iconic vintage look, but when you add in an interestingly finished dial, and a manually-wound movement, the watch suddenly becomes something to write home about. Translating from Rolex, the "Precision" branding indicates a manually-wound movement, just as "Perpetual" points to a self-winding or automatic movement powering the watch. Rolex watches like this one are consistently compelling, never going out of style. The dial is classic, with a silver sunburst finish and a satin touch, along with baton markers for precise legibility. One thing that's great about the dial is the full, round lume plots with a creamy color that match the handset and the subtle "T SWISS T" indication at the bottom of the dial. And let's not forget the symmetry allowed by the lack of a date window. This example is fitted with a classic and comfortable Rolex folded-link Oyster bracelet. It's a watch you could wear daily without ever getting tired of it, featuring a timeless design with attractive and well-balanced simplicity. A fun fact about this model is that it shares the same reference number as the rare and highly sought-after Rolex Commando. The Fine Print Maker: RolexModel: Oyster PrecisionReference: 6426Year: 1973Case No: 3526181Material: Stainless steelDimensions: 34mm diameter; 9.3mm thicknessCrystal: PlexiglassLume: Yes, tritiumCaliber: Rolex, manually-wound, caliber 1225Bracelet/Strap: Rolex, stainless steel, folded-link Oyster ref. 7835 bracelet with 357 end links (7.5in / 191mm)Lug Width: 19mmBox/Papers: No What We Love And What You Should Know Things We Love: - Silver sunburst finish on dial- Manually wound movement- Flatter, well-wearing Oyster case Things To Know: - Scratches on case and bracelet- Minor fracture in bezel This Rolex is in excellent, honest overall condition. The case is strong with scratches and few light nicks. The underside of the lugs shows some scratches from the bracelet. The bezel has a small fracture on the nine o'clock side. The numbers are clearly visible between both sets of lugs. The dial is in great condition with a very light patina overall. The lume plots are all-around full, with an attractive patina. There is some more noticeable patina on the dial near the lume plots. The lume in the hands have developed some patina. The hour markers and hands have developed patina. The inside caseback is stamped with the reference number "6426" and IV.72 indicating it was made in 1972 which makes sense for the 1973 case production. There are some scratches on the crystal. The bracelet is an earlier addition, dating to 1971 and is in good condition with light scratches and light stretch between the links. The dial, crown, case, movement, and bracelet are all signed by Rolex. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist.
