Offered since the 1920s, the Oyster has come to define Rolex aesthetic and technical achievements in just about every way possible. Initially offered as the watch that gave Rolex the hermetically sealed and waterproof case design that would underpin their catalog ever since, the Oyster has grown into the foundation of everything Rolex produces. Now the starting point of so many other collections, it is the Oyster that marks each collection’s beginning. With a long and storied past, it serves as no surprise that the Oyster has sported an incredible litany of case designs, dial designs, construction materials, and everything else that could vary in a watch. As such, what we have here is the Oyster Precision ref 6422. Made of stainless steel and measuring 34mm in diameter, it sports a gorgeous black dial complete with applied gold indices, gold hands, and gilt inscriptions that really set off its luxurious aesthetic. Harboring vintage appeal through its dial and size, the Oyster Precision ref. 6422 feels perfectly contemporary on the wrist for those used to 34mm watches, such is the Oyster’s staying power and the consistency of its blueprint in Rolex’s catalog over the several decades it has been around.

Robust and utilitarian, the manual-wind Oyster Precision has always been built to last, but in splendid condition, this ref. 6422 is a shining example of what collectors can get from the world of vintage Rolex that modern timepieces just cannot emulate.