Here we have a good original example of a 1951 Rolex ‘Super’ Oyster Royal reference 6044. It has the compact 32mm Stainless Steel Oyster case which is unpolished. It has a pleasingly patinated silver dial with the alternating raised arabic and arrow hour markers. It has the radium luminous in-fill to each markers. The hands are original with the gold tone and luminous in-fill, with the thermally blued second hand with lollipop counterbalance. To the right is the intriguing original ‘Super Oyster’ crown. The case back screws down with the coin edge. Inside it is signed Rolex Staybrite with the reference 6044. The movement is a manual wind 10 1/2’’’ hunter calibre, with 15 jewels and shock proofing. It has been recently serviced and is keeping very accurate time for the age.

The Rolex ‘Super Oyster’ crown was introduced for a short period of time, between 1951 – 1953. It was developed as an alternative to the traditional ‘Oyster’ screw down crown, which was patented in 1926. The original ‘Oyster’ crown had decades of success and marketing behind it, which led to people resisting the change. This is the reason for the short-lived run for the ‘Super Oyster’, making it something of a collectable feature on early 1950s Oysters. Many of the Super Oyster crowns were placed with the classic screw down during later services. This makes finding original examples with the crown rather difficult today.

The dial was a silver tone which has developed an off-white/cream tone with age. It has a light, even speckled patination to the lower section of the dial. There is the clear minutes track to the exterior, with detailed markers for the 1/5th of a second graduations. It has the alternating arrow and Arabic numerals, with the circular applied luminous plots to each Arabic numeral. This is a detailed and eye-catching dial with the mix of styles and use of texture. Below 12 O’clock it is signed with the cornet logo and the ‘Rolex Oyster Royal’ signing. Above 6 O’clock it is signed ‘Shock-resisting’, with the ‘Swiss made’ signing below. The area surrounding the hour markers has developed a lighter hue due to the way in which the radium has aged the dial. 
The handset is original with the gold tone leaf hands and the aged radium luminous in-fill. The central second hand is eye-catching with the thermally blued tone and the lollipop counterbalance.

The classic oyster case is formed of steel and measures 32mm x 31mm. It has the increased presence provided by the width including crown of just over 34mm and the lug-to-lug measurement of 38.5mm.
It has the scooped bezel, which is uncommon and can be described as the reverse of the domed bezel. The top of the case has the brushed finish remaining, as does the rear of the case and in-between the lugs. The sides of the case have the polished finish. To the right is the Super Oyster crown, a rare survivor from the period. Rather than screwing down, it seals tightly around the tube, allowing the watch to be wound in the neutral position, just like a standard watch.

Between the lugs it has the clear reference and serial number engraving. The case back has the well-defined coin edge finish with the face having the brushed finish. Inside it has the Rolex and Staybrite signing and the reference ‘6044’.

Inside is the Rolex 10 1/2’’’ calibre, which is manually wound. It is shock proof with a jewel count of 15 and a frequency of 18,000 BPH. Aesthetically it is in very good condition, with very few signs of ageing.  It has been well looked after and is keeping accurate time.
 
The watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference.

Dial:
The dial is original and is in good, patinated condition. It is a silver satin basin tone which has aged to a cream tone with the speckled patina to the lower half. It has the black signing to the dial which is in good, unworn condition. The hour markers are applied and have the original luminous plots. The numerals have developed a lighter area around them due to the radium, a pleasing and unique sign of aging.

Hands:
The hands are original and are in good lightly aged condition. The hour and minute hands are the gold tone with the original radium luminous in-fill. The central second hand is correct with the thermally blued tone and the lollipop counterbalance.

Glass:
The crystal is a good acrylic replacement which is in perfect condition.

Crown:
The stainless-steel Super Oyster crown is formed of steel. It is original and is in very good condition for the age. It has no obvious marks, with clear knurled edge and engraving to the face.

Case:
The case is stainless steel and is in good original, unpolished condition. It has the original brushed finish to the top of the lugs, in-between the lugs and rear of the case. The bezel and sides of the case have the polished finish. There are some light surface scratches associated with age, with the case remaining unpolished. The reference and serial numbers between the lugs are good and clear.

Caseback:
The Oyster coin edge screw back is stainless steel and is in good original, unpolished condition. It has the well-defined coin edge, with a brushed face which has light marking associated with age.

Strap:
The watch is presented on a new genuine leather strap which is non-Rolex, with a non-Rolex steel buckle.

Movement:
The movement is the Rolex 10 1/2’’’ calibre, which is manually wound. It has been recently serviced. It’s keeping time to within +/- 5 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 300 degrees and a beat error of 3.0m/s.
 
Case dimensions
Case width: 32mm
Case width with crown: 34.15mm
Case length: 31.15mm
Case length lug to lug: 38.5mm
Case depth: 10.5mm
Lug width: 17mm