Day-Date 6511

In Context

At 36 mm it is classically proportioned: the size a dress watch was understood to be for most of the twentieth century, and small enough to sit under a cuff. The case back is closed, so the movement stays out of sight, and the plexiglass crystal scratches easily but polishes back out at home, which sapphire does not. 50 m covers rain and hand-washing comfortably; it is not a watch to swim in.

The movement winds itself from the motion of your wrist. At 18,000 vph the seconds hand advances 5 times a second, the slower and more audible rate of an older design.

6511 stands on its own in this catalogue — no other reference here shares its base number. It pairs a silver dial with a yellow gold case. Beyond the time it carries a day-date.

First Rolex Day-Date movement. Introduced 1956/1957