Overhaul of a vintage Stingray dial Rolex Oyster 6426 watch, caliber 1210

Today, it's Rolex on the workbench.

A watch that stands in the shadow of the iconic models from the brand with the crown logo. Nevertheless, it remains popular with collectors because of its reasonable price and diameter, as well as its elegance and beautiful proportions.

 

The Rolex 6426 Precision. Oyster bracelet, Oyster case, manual-winding mechanical movement, and incredible patina! According to the serial number, this model dates from 1969. With a diameter of 34mm and a lug width of 19mm, it's a beautiful vintage watch for everyday wear.

 

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Current status

 

Mechanically, this watch is not in good shape. In fact, it takes two turns of the crown to wind it up, and you hear a *click*. Any idea what the problem might be?

Let's take a look.

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Disassembly

 

With the special tool, I can open the back. The seal is worn out, but the movement is in good condition. A Rolex 1210.

Under the bezel, it's not a pretty sight. A lovely mixture of grime and rust.

 

All movement parts are inspected before being cleaned.

As you may have guessed, what interests us is the barrel spring. It is what provides the driving force for the rest of the watch. The spring must be removed from the barrel in order to inspect it.

When removing it, you can see that it is broken at the flange. As a result, it cannot remain correctly in place in the barrel when reassembled. Replacement of the spring is unavoidable.

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Reassembly

The barrel spring is replaced with a new one.

 

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Conclusion

With its unbeatable precision, a simple overhaul is all it takes to restore this little 50-year-old Oyster to its former glory.

Paired with its Rolex Oyster 7835 steel folding bracelet, I now wear it (almost) every day.

 

This article is part of an ongoing exploration of vintage watches.
I offer independent analysis and private inspections for collectors.

Have a great time on the website!

Joshua Grillet