Vintage Rolex watches

37 references · 25 with a published range · 8616 sold prices on file

These are the 37 discontinued Rolex references in our catalog whose production began before 1990, oldest first. We publish a pre-owned range for 25 of them, from $3,400 for the Air-King 6552 up to $146,000 for the Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman” 6239. Vintage prices depend heavily on originality, so read each reference page before you compare offers.

All 37 references

37 references. Column buttons sort the table.

Air-King 4925	1945–1953	34 mm	Stainless steel	Not enough data yet	None yet
Air-King 4365	1945–1953	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not enough data yet	20
Air-King 4499	1946–1953	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not enough data yet	20
Triple Calendar Moonphase 8171	1949–1953	38 mm	Steel	Not enough data yet	5
Air-King 6552	1953–1957	34 mm	Not recorded	$2,200–$4,550	10
Explorer 6350	1953–1954	36 mm	Not recorded	Not enough data yet	1
Explorer 6610	1955–1963	36 mm	Not recorded	Not enough data yet	14
Day-Date 6510	1956–1957	36 mm	Not recorded	Not enough data yet	None yet
Day-Date 6511	1956–1957	36 mm	18k gold or platinum	Not enough data yet	1
Air-King 5500	1957–1989	34 mm	Stainless steel	$2,300–$4,800	683
Day-Date 6611	1957–1959	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not enough data yet	4
Air-King Date 5700	1959–1988	34 mm	Stainless steel	$2,700–$4,500	62
GMT-Master 1675	1959–1980	40 mm	Stainless steel; also 18k gold and steel-and-gold versions	$9,600–$21,600low confidence	313
Datejust 1601	1960–1981	36 mm	Not recorded	$3,350–$5,600	1877
Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman” 6239	1963–1969	Not recorded	Stainless steel or yellow gold	$94,600–$254,000low confidence	9
Explorer 1016	1963–1989	36 mm	Stainless steel	$7,550–$15,700	71
Cosmograph Daytona 6240	1965–1969	Not recorded	Not recorded	$33,000–$68,500	8
Cosmograph Daytona 6264	1970–1972	Not recorded	Stainless steel; rare yellow gold examples	Not enough data yet	None yet
Explorer II 1655	1971–1984	Not recorded	Stainless steel	$13,600–$28,300	60
Submariner 5517	1972–1978	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not enough data yet	None yet
Datejust 1630	1975–1977	Not recorded	Not recorded	$4,100–$8,450	17
Oyster Perpetual 1530	1975–1977	Not recorded	Not recorded	$7,000–$17,100low confidence	5
Datejust 16030	1977–1988	36 mm	Stainless steel	$3,600–$5,950	522
Day-Date 36 18038	1977–1988	36 mm	18k yellow gold	$12,700–$21,100	422
Explorer II 16550	1985–1988	40 mm	Stainless steel	Not enough data yet	21
Cosmograph Daytona 16520	1988–2000	Not recorded	Stainless steel	$17,000–$35,400	76
Datejust 16234	1988–2004	36 mm	Stainless steel with 18k white gold bezel	$4,550–$7,600	451
Day-Date 36 18238	1988–2000	36 mm	18k yellow gold	$15,200–$25,300	214
GMT-Master 16700	1988–1999	40 mm	Stainless steel	$9,200–$15,400	193
Submariner Date 16610	1988–2010	40 mm	stainless steel	$6,850–$11,400	1112
Air-King 14000	1989–1999	34 mm	Stainless steel	$3,350–$5,600	377
Explorer 14270	1989–2001	36 mm	Stainless steel	$4,500–$7,500	164
Explorer II 16570	1989–2010	40 mm	Stainless steel	$5,700–$9,500	390
Explorer II 16570 (Polar dial)	1989–2010	40 mm	Stainless steel	$6,350–$10,600	403
GMT-Master II 16710	1989–2007	40 mm	Stainless steel	$9,300–$15,500	499
GMT-Master II 16713	1989–2007	40 mm	Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel and crown	$7,800–$13,000	157
Sea-Dweller 4000 16600	1989–2009	40 mm	Stainless steel	$6,550–$10,900	435

Every reference our catalog records as discontinued with production starting before 1990, oldest first.

Which one should I buy?

By case size

34 mm: 5 references, lowest published range $2,200–$4,550 (Air-King 6552).
36 mm: 11 references, lowest published range $3,350–$5,600 (Datejust 1601).
38 mm: 1 reference, no published range yet.
40 mm: 9 references, lowest published range $5,700–$9,500 (Explorer II 16570).

By case metal

Steel: 17 references, for example Submariner Date 16610, Air-King 5500, Datejust 16030.
Steel and gold: 5 references, for example Datejust 16234, GMT-Master 1675, GMT-Master II 16713.
Gold: 2 references, for example Day-Date 36 18038, Day-Date 36 18238.
Platinum: 1 reference, for example Day-Date 6511.

Most sold prices on file

Datejust 1601: 1877 sold prices
Submariner Date 16610: 1112 sold prices
Air-King 5500: 683 sold prices
Datejust 16030: 522 sold prices
GMT-Master II 16710: 499 sold prices

Originality comes first

With older references, two watches with the same reference number can be very different watches. A dial, hands or bezel replaced at a service, a heavily polished case or a non-original bracelet all change what a watch is worth to a buyer. Ask the seller to list what is original, and get a watchmaker to confirm it before the return period ends.

Papers and provenance

Original papers, receipts and service records help a sale, because they tie the serial to a date and a story. Their absence doesn't make a watch fake, but it narrows the buyers and usually the price, which is why our ranges cover every completeness level and each sale records whether papers came with it.

Which vintage reference to start with

Sort the table by range to see where sold prices sit, and by sold prices on file to see which references trade often. A reference with many sales gives you more evidence to compare an asking price against. The Explorer, Air-King and Datejust collections are good places to compare several generations side by side.

Before you buy

Check the reference and serial against the papers and against each other.
Ask for close photos of the dial and hands in daylight.
Compare the asking price with the individual sold prices on the reference page, not only with the range.

Frequently asked questions

Are vintage Rolex watches worth money?

The ones with enough recent sales have published ranges here, from $3,400 for the Air-King 6552 to $146,000 for the Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman” 6239. Individual watches vary widely with condition, originality and papers, so the range is a starting point, not a quote.

How much is an old Rolex worth?

Find its reference number, usually between the lugs or on the papers, and open its page here. If we publish a range, it shows what that reference has sold for; if not, the page shows how many sold prices are on file so far.

What counts as vintage on this page?

Every reference our catalog records as discontinued with production starting before 1990. The years column shows each reference's production years as the catalog records them, and the table is sorted oldest first.

What lowers the price of a vintage Rolex?

Replaced parts, such as a service dial, hands or bezel insert, a polished case, and missing papers. Sellers should state what is original; buyers should ask, and have a watchmaker confirm it.

Why do some vintage references show no price?

Some older references sell rarely, and we only publish a pre-owned range when enough recent, sourced sale results back it. Their pages still show the sold prices on file, and a range appears once there are enough.

How do I sell a vintage Rolex?

Don't polish it or replace parts before selling. Note the reference and serial, gather any papers, receipts and service records, and compare more than one offer. Our sell form takes four short steps, and we review every request.

Where to buy

Dealers. Choose one that offers a return period and puts the reference, serial and condition in writing.
Auction houses. Results are public after the sale, and a buyer's premium is added to the hammer price.
Private sellers. Meet somewhere safe, check the papers against the watch, and pay in a traceable way.

Wherever you buy, have a watchmaker confirm the movement and serial before any return period ends. Each reference page above shows the recent sold prices we have on file, so you can compare an asking price with what the same reference has sold for.

Selling or valuing one?

Don't know the reference? Start with the model family