Vintage Oyster Precision 6426 or not?

[Bunny4jeff]

Hi, I recently bought a cute-looking Rolex Oyster Precision, ladies model, which surprises me as it has a design number of 6426. Which, I read, belongs to a mans steel bracelet model, dating from the '60s. The serial number between the lugs starts with 166 which is correct for the 6426. However as can be seen, mine looks totally different, in more ways than one lol. It had no box or papers, alarm bells I know, but naturally it was a very reasonable cost, it works, and I like it...call it female logic if you no doubt will..
Does anyone have an answer to this puzzle, ie. does, or did, Rolex ever attribute differing styles of watch to their design numbers? The watch I have also looks much older in design, than the mans model attributed to the 6426. Mine looks from the 40s or 50s but that makes no sense to me. Photos attached.
Anything useful would be useful to me. Thanks in advance. [ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[erlendh]

How big is it? The 6426 is 34 mm in diameter, not including crown, and that is not a ladies model. Rolex ladies models were a lot smaller back in the days.

So if it's 34 mm, you've got yourself a great vintage men's model Oyster Precision (and that is a size that works very well as a ladies watch today). But if it's smaller than 34 mm, it's not a 6426 (in that case I have no explanation why it would have that ref. engraved between the lugs, but the 6426 is 34 mm, that's for sure).

The 6426 should have the cal. 1210 or 1220 iirc. The correct bracelet is 78350 with 557 end links.

If the dial is original or a re-dial, I wouldn't know, I'm not an expert on those things.

[Bunny4jeff]

Mine is 28 mm across, if I'm measuring correctly (could be 29) without incl the crown. This mystifies me also as I realise it should be bigger.The mystery deepens! The width of the lugs gap is 18 mm. I will be sending it for a service. As its got a few question marks, hopefully these will be resolved.

[MILGAUSS88]

It is a man's watch.
A small one, but still a man's watch.

[MILGAUSS88]

I believe they did re-use reference numbers.
I believe early Explorers and some Air Kings share reference numbers with un-named models.
Watch looks like it is from 40's, possibly early 50's.

[Bunny4jeff]

Originally Posted by MILGAUSS88

I believe they did re-use reference numbers.
I believe early Explorers and some Air Kings share reference numbers with un-named models.
Watch looks like it is from 40's, possibly early 50's.

Hi, many thanks for that, it makes more sense now. However, the serial number starts with 166 which dates to the '60s..?!

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Bunny4jeff

Hi, many thanks for that, it makes more sense now. However, the serial number starts with 166 which dates to the '60s..?!

Depends how many digits. If six, then it could be early/mid 40s or mid/late 50s (rolex reset the serial sequence around 1954). If seven digits, then 1967-ish.

[Bunny4jeff]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Depends how many digits. If six, then it could be early/mid 40s or mid/late 50s (rolex reset the serial sequence around 1954). If seven digits, then 1967-ish.

There's definitely seven digits. Maybe its a re-issue of an older model? Thank you, guys, for your help and tips, it is appreciated, even so it remains an enigma to me, as I can't figure why it has a much older-style shape, dial, etc. than the serial suggests.

[Bunny4jeff]

Not being sure of its value, I decided to grant it the benefit of any doubt and send it off to William Rice Watches, recommended in the Vintage forum, for a service and their valued opinion etc. They received it today, and so far have informed me that it was originally supplied with a leather strap, so I will get them to fit a new genuine Rolex strap. Even if the eventual value is not worth much more than my total spend, it will give me lots of pleasure, and many more years of great time :-) However I would still be interested, if anyone has an idea, what its value might be once it is serviced, and the strap is replaced.
Thanks for all the advice.

[Bunny4jeff]

Originally Posted by MILGAUSS88

I believe they did re-use reference numbers.
I believe early Explorers and some Air Kings share reference numbers with un-named models.
Watch looks like it is from 40's, possibly early 50's.

Found I needed to get a service on the watch, as it was gaining a couple of hours a day. I bought it at a low price on ebay...possibly the beginner's fave route..? so figured it was worth spending on a good service. I chose William Rice watches in Yorkshire, as highly regarded by you guys. For a very reasonable cost, Bill and Heather really looked after my pride and joy, and were able to date it to Feb 1956. I had thought it originally had a metal strap, but no, it was leather, so I decided to do it proud and replace the old non-Rolex leather strap with the real thing. Of course, Bill as always, treated it sympathetically, no over-polishing, just a good clean and re-oil. The mainspring needed replacing, as somewhere in its lifetime, it had been fitted with one that was too large...! As it was a like-for-like exchange, I didnt have to pay for the replaced spring. The watch now looks marvellous, even if it has all added up to close or possibly more than its actual worth, to me it is well worthwhile to be able to wear it now as it should be, with pride :-D. I do have a couple of other vintage Rolex's, from the 60's, but this one is my favourite. Well, it does have a very cute face... Any ripple effects appearing on the dial is down to lighting, nothing like that on the actual dial. There is definitely something very appealing about vintages! Added are a couple of pics, after the service.

[adam78]

That's a very interesting dial and hands combo. Enjoy wearing it!

[Bunny4jeff]

Originally Posted by adam78

That's a very interesting dial and hands combo. Enjoy wearing it!

Thanks, Adam, I absolutely do! So far I've had nothing but surprise at its unusual style, and charming looks :-). It may not be a beauty queen in the usual sense...but it has plenty of style and character!