There’s a reason why I’m within talking to you about Rolex reference 6694. Most of you will look at this review as one of the many about Rolex watches that you might find on the internet or read through specialised magazines; we have not been the first, nor will we be the last ones. The Rolex Oysterdate Precision 6694 boasts more than one reason to be kept into account: first, it has all those requirements needed to be regarded to as a vintage timepiece since it is from the 80’s and, as we already declared in a recent article, it belongs to this category, in our humble opinion, any timepiece that is at least been produced in the 90’s:
The Precision line up has always represented the Rolex entry level range, sporting a small case, the usual Oyster case with a thick plexiglass that stands out of the bezel, the cyclope glass placed at three o’clock that let people shout “Rolex” even ten meters far, and a manual wind calibre. The road to getting your hands-on a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 may start from here. Even if, from a vintage collector’s perspective, it is not as refined and sought-after as a Rolex 5513.
The Rolex 1225 caliber.
And the movement itself is what distinguishes this Rolex from the rest of the range and thus enhances its vintage touch. This timepiece is powered by the manual wind 1225 calibre, a reliable and nicely finished movement, with the balance wheel that oscillates at 21600 vph. A few more details about this caliber: caliber Rolex 1225 is an upgrade of caliber Rolex 1220, which represents a dramatic evolution of caliber Rolex 1210. Caliber Rolex 1220 shares the same mechanical platform of caliber Rolex 1210 with the exclusion of the Breguet spring. The balance wheel oscillating frequency increases from the original 2,5Hz (18000 vph) to 3Hz (21600 vph). Caliber Rolex 1225 is a Rolex 1220 caliber with the addition of a date module. The caliber’s thickness moves therefore from the original 4,27mm of caliber Rolex 1220 to the 5,07mm of caliber Rolex 1225.
What makes a Rolex Oysterdate Precision 6694 so appealing.
What makes this watch so attractive is the champagne coloured dial (but it is easy to find it with an antracite dial by the way) so neat that, thanks to its reasonable 34mm case wide, that extends to 38mm including the winding crown, let this Rolex be extremely classic and fit for both him and her. Add then, the matchless pleasure of the manual wind and the plexi glass and…that’s it!
Tritium treated indexes.
If you take care, by reading through the dial, the 1225 calibre is not a certified chronometer. Besides there’s a small “T Swiss T” lettering at 6 o’clock. That means that the luminous dots on its dial are made out of Tritium. Priceless! One of the most eagerly wanted Rolex out there by those who are approaching Rolex watches, vintage timepieces and fine watches collecting as well. Also because a Rolex Oysterdate Precision 6694 is not for the few with its price point on the marketplace starting at nearly 1000€; all you have to do is to protect yourself from buying one with a fake dial.
(Photo credit: Google; Horbiter®’s original photo shooting)
Gaetano C. @Horbiter®
@Gaetano Cimmino
