The Top 5 Small Vintage Rolex Watches For Women

By Abbie Harris

I am often asked which watch is the best for a women. Whether it is from men looking for a watch for their wife or daughter, or a lady looking for their first watch. There are countless options to choose from, but I’m always confident in guiding people towards a success by stating “Go with a Rolex and make sure it is a vintage one!”

1) Rolex Datejust Reference 6824 (31mm)

My first vintage watch was one of the most exciting objects I had ever been given. It was a Rolex Datejust reference 6824 in stainless steel. The watch dates to circa 1983. When looking for a vintage watch for yourself, or as a gift to someone you care about, do not get caught up on the date of production as an important criteria. There is a topic called birth-year watches, and this is the wrong approach to collecting. You should prioritize the era, price range, the metal, model/brand, and most importantly the condition. The first thing that I appreciate about the reference 6824 is the size. It is not particularly small at 31mm but somewhat sporty with the solid Oyster bracelet. The other aspect to the watch that makes it a perfect everyday watch is the steel case. It is not too flashy or delicate. I can wear it in the rain without concern. For the Datejust reference 6824, there are a great amount of these with busier dials. I personally prefer the more traditional dial layout in my personal watch above.

2) Rolex Ladies Datejust Ref 6917 (26mm)

The Rolex Ladies Datejust reference 6917 is a 26mm Datejust with the classic champagne dial and “President” bracelet reserved for the iconic Day-Date model. This bracelet is the quintessential “Rolex” look, yet the Datejust reference 6917 is several thousand dollars less than the price of an Rolex Day-Date reference 1803 or Rolex Day-Date reference 18038 (the 36mm variants). These larger Day-Dates are by no means too large for women. In fact, many women opt for the larger diameter for the aesthetic and legibility. However, there is something special about the dainty version of a gold Rolex.

3) Rolex Ladies Datejust Reference 69178 (26mm)

The Rolex Ladies Datejust reference 69178 is the same model as the reference 6917 - except this version has a quickset date feature allowing the wearer to change the date of the month in a faster fashion. The upside to a Datejust reference 69178 is that you can also find these models with a bit more variety in the dials - champagne, blue, black and even diamond-set variants which are exciting. In my opinion, the diamond-dial Datejust reference 69178 is such a sleeper. It is incredibly value compared to a 36mm variant, and these are often looked over due to the size alone.

4) Rolex Ladies Datejust Reference 6702 (26mm) & Rolex Ladies Datejust Reference 6900 (26mm)

One of the most underrated features on a Rolex is texture. Texture is somewhat of a lost element in Rolex, in that most contemporary models are covered in a mirror finish surface without character. When you see textured bracelets and bezels it is an incredible deviation from the traditional Rolex design. These are essentially inspired by jewelry and often leave people stunned at the uncommon aesthetic. I personally love the Rolex Datejust reference 6702 and reference 6900 because they feature an incredible finish throughout the bracelet giving a completely different vibe that looks like something Rolex would be too afraid to do today.

5) Rolex Oyster Perpetual Reference 67198

By now you have probably learned I am a gold-watch girl. I may be biased, but the ultimate small vintage model is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual reference 67198 - my daily watch! The time-only simplicity of this watch is out of this world and the warm-gold dial makes me so happy to look down and admire. Additionally, it has the iconic President bracelet. I love the fluted bezel. It is not over the top at its size of 26mm but has a lot of presence from the 18k yellow gold case and bracelet. If you purchased this 30 years ago, you chose a perfect watch. If you purchase this 30 years from now, it will be relevant and stylish 30 years from that day. I am not even 30 years old, but I can tell you this with absolute certainty! It is literally impossible to go out of style- it is timeless.