Let’s get right to it. What makes vintage watches worthwhile are the feelings it can evoke and the innate beauty that comes from knowing the design, character, and details will never be replicated again. The watch becomes truly special if there is a story behind it or has taken on a pleasant patina- something that can only be earned through the patient passage of time. In this case, we are going to look at a Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1005. The Oyster Perpetual is a rather unassuming barrier of entry into the Rolex brand. They are classic and timeless in design, and can be had at a rather modest price-all things considered. As a result, they don’t carry the cache of, say, a submariner or a Daytona. But before you write it off as the kind of watch you pause for a second only to say “neat” or “that’s nice,” let’s look a bit closer at this example. It’s the details that matter.

On the surface, this example reads like many others: a two-tone watch with a modest case size of 34mm, a 19mm lug width and powered by a 1560 movement. However, one glance and it’s immediately noticeable that the 14k gold bezel on this particular Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1005 has taken on a beautiful rosy patina with hints of blue and purple. Taking a closer look, one will notice there is an extra line of text on the dial: “Serpico Y Laino” (a Venuzalian jeweler). On the reverse, the case back is inscribed “Serpico Y Laino 14k”, although a keen eye is needed as time and polishing has made it a tad difficult to make out. Sometimes, one needs to view the totality of qualities in a watch. In this case, those details being that the watch is double signed, has a case back retailer inscription and an attractive patina. It’s the small details that add up to make a big difference, which can make the ordinary something truly special.