This Watch

This is a stunningly presented 1959 Rolex Oyster Perpetual, Model 6564, housed in the timeless 34mm stainless steel Oyster case with a polished smooth bezel.

The centrepiece of this watch is the beautifully restored crosshair dial. Restoring a dial is an art form, and in this instance, it has been executed to a high standard to bring the watch back to its original visual glory. The eggshell coloured dial must have been restored at least 30 years ago ad it has aged beautifully and at first we were not convinced it had been restored. It features the distinctive "crosshair" design—fine lines intersecting at the centre—which was a sought-after aesthetic of the late 1950s. It is finished with sharp, applied gold baton hour markers and elegant gold Dauphine hands, creating a warm contrast against the steel case.

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

The 34.5mm, 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 6564 is distinguished by its smooth stainless steel bezel, giving it a cleaner, more streamlined look compared to its engine-turned or fluted siblings (like the 6565 or 6567). The dial bears the text "Officially Certified Chronometer", a testament to the high-precision standards Rolex was already setting in this era.

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 6564 a versatile daily wearer. The restored crosshair dial pops beautifully on the wrist, offering a "new vintage" experience. It is crisp, clean, and undeniably classy.

Spec Stuff