A Rolex Oyster Royal Ref.6444 from the 1950s. The Oyster Royal was Rolex's hand-wound Oyster of the period, built in the same screw-down Oyster case as the self-winding Oyster Perpetual. The main appeal of this example is its guilloché dial, cut with a fine woven pattern. Inside is the hand-wound Cal.1210, a 17-jewel movement beating at 18,000 vph, and it is currently running to within about nine seconds a day. We paired it with a dark brown leather strap, so it sits as comfortably with a suit as with a knit.
The case is gold-tone with a stainless steel screw-down back. There are fine scratches from use, mostly on the back, but no major damage. It measures 31mm across excluding the crown and 38.5mm from lug to lug, with a 17mm lug width. The compact case sits low on the wrist and slips easily under a shirt cuff.
The cream guilloché dial carries gold applied baton indices, gold dauphine hands and a blued centre seconds hand. In direct light the pattern glitters in fine detail, and in shade it settles into a soft, even cream. The thin blue seconds hand is the only touch of colour, and it gives the dial a quiet 1950s charm.
- wrist size in our picture is 17cm circumference -
Specifications
Specifications and condition
Brand
ROLEX
Ref.
6444
Year
1950s
CONDITION
Timegrapher +9s/d 277°
good overall condition, showing traces of use.
DIAL
cream guilloché dial
gold applied baton indices, gold dauphine hands
blued centre seconds hand
STRAP & BUCKLE
dark brown leather strap fitting up to 19cm (not original to the watch)
17mm lug width
CASE
gold-tone case with stainless steel screw-down case back
31mm(excluding crown) / 38.5mm(lug to lug)
MOVEMENT
Hand-wound Cal.1210, 17 jewels, 18,000 vph
BOX & PAPERS
"PRINCIPE PRIVÉ" certificate of authenticity documentation card
