This Watch

This is a stunningly presented 1957 Rolex Oyster Perpetual, Model 6532, housed in the timeless 33mm stainless steel Oyster case with a polished smooth bezel.

The eggshell coloured dial must have been restored at least 30 years ago and it has aged beautifully and at first we were not convinced it had been restored. It features the distinctive  an all-Arabic layout that has been previously restored (likely around 25–30 years ago) and has since mellowed beautifully. Rather than looking “fresh”, it’s taken on a warm, even ageing that sits comfortably with the rest of the watch, giving you the best of both worlds: clean legibility with a genuinely vintage feel.  A sought-after aesthetic of the late 1950s. It is finished with sharp, applied gold Arabic Numerals and elegant gold Dauphine hands, creating a warm contrast against the steel case.

There’s something about mid-1950s Rolex that just works: purposeful, clean, and built to be worn every day. This 1957 Rolex Oyster Perpetual is a brilliant example of that era — simple on paper, but full of the small details that make these early automatic Rolex pieces so collectable.

The watch is the Oyster Perpetual model 6532 in stainless steel, powered by Rolex’s calibre 1030 — one of the key movements that helped define Rolex’s post-war “reliable daily wearer” reputation. The case has that classic 1950s profile: smooth bezel, strong lugs, and a nicely proportioned dial opening that makes the watch feel bigger on the wrist than the numbers suggest.

The watch is fitted with a High grade leather 19mm strap featuring a Rolex-style buckle, completing the classic vintage look.

The 33mm, stainless steel, three-piece, Oyster case is a comfortable wear for both men and women.  The watch has the signature Rolex Oyster, screw-down crown as well as a domed crystal and polished bezel, drawing your eyes into that amazing dial.  Inside is the automatic Rolex caliber 1030, fully serviced by us and running strongly. 

Powering this timepiece is the famous Rolex Calibre 1030. Introduced in 1950, the 1030 was a landmark movement for Rolex—it was their first complete in-house calibre and featured the "Butterfly" rotor, a bi-directional winding mechanism that set the standard for automatic watches.

The Model 6532 is distinguished by its smooth stainless steel bezel and compact size case giving it a cleaner, more streamlined look compared to its engine-turned or fluted siblings (like the 6565 or 6567)

Extra Points 

Hans Wilsdorf founded Rolex in 1905 at the age of 24, along with Alfred Davis in London. In 1919 they moved their operation to Geneva, Switzerland. This move was brought about by high wartime taxes on Gold and Silver in the UK after the Great war 1914-1918. They were now closer to their suppliers in Bienne. The Rolex Oyster case was released in 1926. Marketed as the world's first “waterproof” watch. The notches on the bezel and case back meant they could be screwed down to the middle case with a special tool invented and manufactured by Rolex to hermetically seal the case. In 1927 a young swimmer Miss Mercedes Gleitz swam the English channel wearing the “Oyster”. Later in 1933 the team of the first expedition to fly over Everest wore them. It was also famously worn by Sir Malcolm Campbell, “King Of Speed”, on the 4th September 1935. An advert of the time made a big splash with him saying “The Rolex watch is still keeping perfect time- I was wearing it yesterday when Bluebird exceeded 300 mph.” He broke the world land speed record 9 times between 1924 and 1936. 1931 saw the debut of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, their first self-winding watch that was also water-resistant and dustproof. 

This watch has been fully serviced with our on-site workshop and comes with a 12 month, non-waterproof service cover.

What we think

While many collectors hunt for "all-original" patina, there is a strong case to be made for a sympathetic restoration. This watch is perfect for the enthusiast who wants the look and feel of a crisp, new 1950s Rolex without the heavy weathering often found on pieces of this age.

The combination of the Calibre 1030—a piece of genuine horological history—and the sleek, smooth-bezel case makes the 6532 a versatile daily wearer. The restored dial pops beautifully on the wrist, offering a "new vintage" experience. It is crisp, clean, and undeniably classy.

Spec Stuff