★★★ ROLEX ★★★ 14K Solid Gold Bezel & Stainless Steel “DATEJUST” — Original Dial with Three-Dimensional ROLEX Lettering Ref. 6605 In 1945, at the banquet celebrating the 40th anniversary of Rolex, the world’s first wristwatch with a self-changing date display through a small window was unveiled. Behind this revolutionary creation stood the profound emotions of Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex Geneva. That same year, he had suffered the devastating loss of his beloved wife, Florence Frances May Crotty—who also served as a director of Rolex Geneva—and his lifelong friend and business partner, Jean Aegler, founder of Aegler S.A. (now Rolex Bienne). It was Aegler’s partnership that had enabled the very birth of Rolex. The grief of losing these two monumental figures must have been beyond imagination. Yet from that sorrow arose an unshakable determination—a will that led Wilsdorf to create a succession of world firsts: The Oyster case of 1926, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. The Perpetual rotor-winding mechanism, the world’s first self-winding system. And ultimately, the world’s first wristwatch to display the date automatically at midnight—the legendary “Datejust.” Its debut at that 40th anniversary celebration symbolized Rolex’s philosophy: precision, reliability, and endurance as a tribute to the pioneers who shaped its destiny. The Evolution Toward the Modern Datejust It began with the first model Ref. 4467, powered by Caliber 740, followed the next year by Ref. 6075. Around 1952, the appearance of Caliber 745 expanded the Oyster Date family from Refs. 5030 to 6030, and the lineage then led to the true Datejust references 6105 and 6305. In 1950, Rolex introduced Caliber 1030, which allowed bi-directional winding for the first time—paving the way for Caliber 1055 (Day-Date) in 1954 and the Caliber 1065 in 1955. With this movement, the Datejust reached true modernity: a fully “Perpetual” system that remains the foundation of today’s Rolex. The Mechanical Revolution — Caliber 1065 The Ref. 6605 housed this groundbreaking Caliber 1065, a mechanism that completely transformed the date mechanism. By coupling the date wheel with a 24-hour rotating tube cannon and adding a front-side click spring to trigger the calendar disk precisely at midnight, while simultaneously using a half-moon cam on the reverse side to ensure instantaneous change, Rolex achieved the world’s first true instantaneous date jump. A special calendar-advance spring ensured perfect alignment of all 23 teeth, eliminating slippage. The dial design also evolved: by removing the dial feet and embedding the calendar disk into a 0.5 mm groove of the main plate, Rolex reduced misalignment and improved reliability—principles still used today. Additionally, separating the rotor coupling gear into an independent component made servicing easier and more efficient, while removing the traditional regulator arm reduced errors caused by vibration or shock. In every respect, Caliber 1065 was a complete reinvention—a new era beyond the DNA of Cal.620. And the Ref. 6605 Datejust that carried it was nothing less than the realization of Hans Wilsdorf’s true vision. The Aesthetic Legacy From around 1955 to 1959, the dial of the Ref. 6605 featured the only period in Rolex history when the “ROLEX” signature appeared in raised, three-dimensional letters—a hallmark of its exceptional quality and artistry. Our example has been professionally overhauled, preserving every original component to deliver one of the finest pieces available today. Specifications Year: Circa 1958 Condition: Vintage, excellent preservation (Accuracy: +22 s/day, amplitude approx. 250°, beat error 0.3 ms — values may vary depending on environment) Warranty: 3 months (for timekeeping within ±60 seconds/day) Factory Original Configuration (circa 1958) The strap and buckle are aftermarket. A genuine Rolex buckle is available separately for ¥12,000. ☆ Genuine 18K Solid Gold Engine-Turned Bezel (1958) Condition: Minor scratches only, no wear—superb preservation of original shape. ☆ Genuine Stainless Steel Middle Case (1958) Engraving: 6 o’clock – 413496 / 12 o’clock – REGISTERED DESIGN 6605 Condition: No major scratches or dents; lightly buffed to preserve metal thickness. Size: 36 mm (diameter excl. crown) × 40 mm (lug-to-lug) ☆ Genuine Stainless Steel Screw-Back Case (1958 IV) Engraving: MONTRES ROLEX SA GENEVA SWITZERLAND PATENTED STAINLESS 6605 IV 1958 Condition: Some edge marks from openers, but no effect on operation; case lightly buffed. ☆ Genuine Champagne Gold Dial (produced up to 1962) Engraving: ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED SWISS Condition: Original untouched surface with beautiful, even tropical patina—an artistic vintage tone. ☆ Genuine Gold Sword-Bar Indexes & Luminous Alpha Hands (up to 1962) Condition: Perfectly aged, harmonizing with the dial’s patina to express the finest vintage character. ☆ Aftermarket Crocodile Black Leather Strap & Buckle Condition: Brand new. (Genuine Rolex buckle available for ¥12,000 on request.) ★☆★ Caliber 1056 ★☆★ Frequency: 18,000 vph Jewels: 26 Power Reserve: Approx. 40 hours Regulation: Free-sprung balance (no regulator arm) Balance Spring: Breguet overcoil Balance Wheel: Screw-balance (temperature-compensated) Engraving: MONTRES ROLEX SA GENEVA SWISS TWENTY-FIVE JEWELS ADJUSTED TO FIVE POSITIONS AND TEMPERATURE 1056