The Rolex Datejust needs little introduction. Launched in 1945 to mark the brand’s 40th anniversary, it was the first automatic chronometer wristwatch to feature an automatically changing date. Over the years, countless references have appeared, but few capture the transitional spirit of the 1950s quite like the Ref. 6605.

Produced in the mid-1950s, the 6605 introduced a slimmer Oyster case thanks to the newly developed caliber 1065, Rolex’s first fully in-house automatic movement with date. This technical leap allowed the Datejust to shed some of the bulk of its predecessors while adding a refined profile that would become the blueprint for future generations.

The example we are offering dates to 1956 and features one of the most charismatic dial executions of the period: a black waffle-textured dial that plays with light in a way flat surfaces never could. The applied arrowhead indexes and dauphine hands add sharp mid-century elegance, while the roulette date disc (alternating between red and black numerals) provides a subtle but playful detail that has become a collector’s favorite.

Measuring 36mm, the stainless steel Oyster case retains the thinner, fluted bezel that gives early Datejusts their distinctive character. The watch is fitted with a riveted Oyster bracelet, completing the period-correct configuration.

This 1956 Ref. 6605 is more than a vintage Datejust. It embodies a pivotal moment in Rolex history: the marriage of new technical ambition with bold mid-century design. With its rare waffle dial and roulette disc, it offers a snapshot of Rolex experimenting before the model settled into the archetype we know today.