Why This Watch Matters

A jelly bean for your wrist, this one from Rolex!

The Full Story

Sure, Rolex is best known for Oyster cases, external and rotating bezels – the sports models – and we love them for that. However, that is not all the Crown has to offer. Rolex can do dress with the best of them, just look at watches like the King Midas, the entire Cellini collection, and, today, although to a lesser extent, the rainbow Daytona. The brand has a flair for the opulent and, when you take the time to look, watches like this reference 8126 can really surprise you.

Executed in 18k pink gold, this small in size but high in quality, this Rolex jumps off the page to us thanks to nearly pristine overall condition. As with any watch from the early 1950s in a non-water-resistant case, the dial shows some wear but otherwise, this watch is next to flawless with an extremely sharp case. It is always nice when a watch checks out completely. On this watch, the caseback is stamped with "285" and the inside of the bezel or the other piece of the case shows a matching "85" stamp, confirming that the two parts were born together. This little Super Precision has a nice weight and heft to it with the combination of a solid pink gold case and automatic movement inside, this baby packs a punch and we can almost guarantee that you won't run into someone else with this on. 

We paired this Rolex with our Sedona watch strap in a light beige color to play off of the slight patina seen on the dial.

The Fine Print

What We Love And What You Should Know

Things We Love:

Things To Know:

This Rolex is in overall excellent condition. The case is strong with scratches and is probably unpolished. The caseback has some scratches to the surface. The numbers and crown are clearly visible on the caseback. The different surface finishes on the case are clearly visible and the edges are sharp. The hallmark on the side of the case near 10 o'clock is clearly visible. The reverse side of the lugs have scratches from strap removal and placement.

The dial is in good condition and has developed patina throughout that is even. The edge of the dial and corners have a bit more patina. The pink gold hands and hour markers have developed patina. 

This example has retained its original unsigned crown. The inside of the bezel is stamped with "85" matching the last two digits of the case number stamped inside the caseback, "285." The crystal has some light scratches. The dial, case, and movement are all signed by Rolex. This watch was photographed on a 145mm/5.5inch wrist.