Admin: New reference article: 6564 (Oyster Perpetual, 18k gold, cal 1030, Brevet-marked early example)

2026-08-10T21:37:47Z

New reference article: 6564 (Oyster Perpetual, 18k gold, cal 1030, Brevet-marked early example)

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6564}}
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6564 — 18k Gold, Circa 1955 | BezelBase
|description=The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6564, circa 1955 — an 18k yellow gold cal 1030 automatic from the flat-caseback generation, with early "Brevet" patent markings on case, crown and movement.
|keywords=Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, 6564, cal 1030, vintage Rolex, 1955, Brevet
|image=Ref 6564 hero.webp
|image_alt=Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6564 in 18k yellow gold
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}

<small>[[Reference:oyster-perpetual|Oyster Perpetual]] -> '''6564'''</small>

[[File:Ref 6564 hero.webp|thumb|right|300px|Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6564, circa 1955, 18k yellow gold, "Brevet" patent marking.]]

The 6564 is a mid-1950s Oyster Perpetual built in 18k yellow gold around the cal 1030 automatic, the same flat-caseback movement family that powers [[Reference:6098|6098]], [[Reference:6085|6085]] and [[Reference:6580|6580]]. A documented early example carries "Brevet" — French for patent — stamped on the case, crown and movement, along with a meters-first depth rating under the dial signature, both details specialists read as early-production tells for this reference.

== Core facts ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! detail
! value
|-
| reference
| 6564
|-
| family
| Oyster Perpetual
|-
| production
| 1955 launch (documented example dated to the same year)
|-
| case
| 34mm x 12mm, 18k yellow gold
|-
| crystal
| Plexiglass (acrylic)
|-
| movement
| Caliber 1030, self-winding — Rolex's first bidirectional automatic-winding movement, also used across contemporaneous Submariner references
|-
| dial
| Gold-tone dial with even patina; early examples marked "Brevet" and depth rating meters-first under the signature
|}

== Where it sits in the line ==

The 6564 is the gold-case member of the same cal 1030 flat-caseback generation that produced the steel [[Reference:6098|6098]] and [[Reference:6580|6580]] and the gold-and-steel spread of [[Reference:6085|6085]]. A separately attested reference, 6567, is described in dealer listings as a gold Oyster Perpetual Chronometer of the same era with a fluted bezel — a plausible sibling on the same case and movement platform, though its own case dimensions and dial were not independently confirmed for this article and it is flagged here as a lead rather than asserted as fact.

== Production outline ==

A documented example, case number 141XXX, dates to 1955 and carries "Brevet" (patent) markings on the case, crown and movement — a detail associated with the earliest run of the reference. No Rolex-published production window exists; the reference sits inside the broader mid-1950s window shared with its flat-caseback siblings.

== Movement notes ==

Caliber 1030 is Rolex's first bidirectional self-winding movement, introduced in this generation and carried forward into contemporaneous Submariner references. No jewel count or beat rate was recovered from the located source.

== Dial map ==

The documented example shows a gold-tone dial with an even, consistent patina. Distinguishing early-production features include the "Brevet" case/crown/movement marking and a depth rating printed meters-first beneath the signature — later production is understood to have dropped these in favour of standard catalogue text, though the exact cutover has not been independently dated.

== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==

The case is 18k yellow gold, 34mm across and 12mm thick, fitted with a Plexiglass crystal. The documented example's crown carries the same "Brevet" patent marking as the case and movement.

== Related references ==

* [[Reference:6098|6098]] and [[Reference:6580|6580]] — steel siblings on the same cal 1030 platform.
* [[Reference:6085|6085]] — the precious-metal-capable honeycomb-dial sibling of the same generation.
* [[Reference:oyster-perpetual|Oyster Perpetual family index]]

== Shared references ==

* [[Reference:Serial-numbers|Serial numbers by year]]
* [[Reference:Movements|Movement reference]]
* [[Reference:Bracelets|Bracelet & clasp guide]]

== Sources ==

* [https://shop.hodinkee.com/products/1955-rolex-oyster-perpetual-reference-6564 Hodinkee Shop — "1955 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Reference 6564"]
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra

[[Category:Oyster Perpetual]]
[[Category:References]]

Reference:6564 - Revision history

Admin: New reference article: 6564 (Oyster Perpetual, 18k gold, cal 1030, Brevet-marked early example)