Took a chance on this

[Dan S]

Photos not very good, so I can't be 100% sure everything is legit, but this appears to be a 36mm Oyster Precision, which has a 20mm lug width, and therefore a 12-link 7206 bracelet, in need of some TLC of course. What's life without some risk?

[BigBlue1]

ThTs a pretty watch. I had one similar and I miss it. I should of kept it. It was comfortable

[Dan S]

TBH, I was mainly looking at the bracelet, but I do like these 36mm watches with no-date dials. Not sure why the Explorer was pretty much the only Rolex in that category for so many years.

[tkc324]

Love it. Fortune favors the bold!
It’s going to be a nice project for sure. Hope everything checks out Dan

[Ascari_2]

Didn't realize they has 36mm Oysters back then. Thought they were all 34mm. What's the reference number on this one?

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Ascari_2

Didn't realize they has 36mm Oysters back then. Thought they were all 34mm. What's the reference number on this one?

Ref 6424, I believe. Alpha hands and tritium should be mid-60s. Not popular because of the hand-winding & screwdown-crown combo.

[art1810]

Originally Posted by Ascari_2

Didn't realize they has 36mm Oysters back then. Thought they were all 34mm. What's the reference number on this one?

The 36mm OP Superlative Chronometer of the early 1960's onwards, is the reference 1018.

The reference is sometimes referred to as: oversize, Big Oyster, or Business Explorer.

I had mine restored in the early 1990's with new Rolex parts. At about the same time I fitted a NOS Rolex Oyster bracelet as the original folded link Oyster bracelet had literally disintegrated from link wear.

In my biased opinion, this us an absolutely stunning watch.

[MrBlobby]

Good luck with it. I think it will end up being very nice.

Do you see there is a broken link on the right hand side? I don’t think that’s the sort of thing people fake so I believe you’ll have made a good choice.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by MrBlobby

Good luck with it. I think it will end up being very nice.

Do you see there is a broken link on the right hand side? I don’t think that’s the sort of thing people fake so I believe you’ll have made a good choice.

Yes, the bracelet definitely has some issues, which would not be common for a fake bracelet. There were some other things that also looked legit about it. I was planning to send it to Rolliworks for a rebuild.

[MrBlobby]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Yes, the bracelet definitely has some issues, which would not be common for a fake bracelet. There were some other things that also looked legit about it. I was planning to send it to Rolliworks for a rebuild.

Looking forward to seeing the results.

[Juhuatai]

Any more pics Dan? Nice pick up, sometimes these get listed for the price of a 7206, so you're getting a watch for free!

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

Any more pics Dan? Nice pick up, sometimes these get listed for the price of a 7206, so you're getting a watch for free!

It was an auction and I had to pay about $2500 USD for it. So not dirt cheap, but unless something is badly wrong, I should be ok. I will definitely update the thread with some good photos when I have it in hand. I have never handled one of these in person, so I'm curious to see it.

[baumare]

Originally Posted by Dan S

It was an auction and I had to pay about $2500 USD for it. So not dirt cheap, but unless something is badly wrong, I should be ok. I will definitely update the thread with some good photos when I have it in hand. I have never handled one of these in person, so I'm curious to see it.

Congratulation, looks very nice, curious to see it with a clean plexy,
Also sounds like a good deal, especially looking at the prices of a 20mm 7206 alone…

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by Dan S

It was an auction and I had to pay about $2500 USD for it. So not dirt cheap, but unless something is badly wrong, I should be ok. I will definitely update the thread with some good photos when I have it in hand. I have never handled one of these in person, so I'm curious to see it.

Hiya Dan I believe this is the model with drilled lugs on only one side. If my memory is correct then the bracelet head links are rare and peculiar to this model only.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by janice&fred

Hiya Dan I believe this is the model with drilled lugs on only one side. If my memory is correct then the bracelet head links are rare and peculiar to this model only.

Hi Fred, thanks for the comment. Yes, the end-links appear to be the ones with the big half-moon openings allowing them to be used with blind lug holes. I have them on another 7206, and they are #75, so I suspect these are the same.

There are no through lug holes on the crown side for sure. I don't have a definitive photo from the other side, but it doesn't look like there are lug holes there either.

[TimeLord2]

Very cool Dan, it's quite pretty. Is it an expandable bracelet?

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2

Very cool Dan, it's quite pretty. Is it an expandable bracelet?

Doesn't look to be expandable. I think it is just a regular Swiss rivet.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Doesn't look to be expandable. I think it is just a regular Swiss rivet.

I’m not sure about that Dan.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Andad

I’m not sure about that Dan.

Well that would be a nice bonus if it turned out to be expandable.

[Stephe]

This is a lovely watch, very nice. Enjoy it!

[Dr.Smellody]

Love it!!

[Phrank]

Who Dares Wins!

With your expertise, it's be on your wrist in no time fully restored.

[1675-David]

Great pick up Dan! These old hand wound models have such charm and that bracelet, what’s not to like. In snooker we call this ‘a shot to nothing’’

[rootbeer7]

Great watch. These old 36mm watches are charming and in my opinion 2mm makes a big difference. I made the leap to 38mm with my Tudor and it really does feel relatively large. Congratulations.

[TimeToGo]

.
Very well done and nice price, you are covered..

[TuRo]

Nice free head Dan ! I had exactly the same luck (well it's not luck is it...it's a tiny payback for the half million hrs we have all put into this nonsense) on a jumbo with a free head !

[brandrea]

Congratulations. Understated and classic, enjoy it.

[swish77]

Very nice! Congrats! Would love to see it when it's all cleaned up.

[Toronto Soup King]

I think you got a better deal than I did and I thought I'd done well! Yours has the older hands and indices, nicer IMO. And bracelet.

Of all the Rolex side-case profiles in my collection it is the slimmest, and very pleasing to the eye. The lines are lovely. Well done OP.

[btinl]

Nice 7206 pick up!