Today we talk about left-handed Rolex models! A few days have passed since the end of Watches and Wonders 2022 but, enough to have begun to “metabolize” the new models released. As often happens, when a new watch is presented, the “hot” impressions are the ones that make the most noise of all.

Among these first “noisier” impressions, the one that was undoubtedly shared and discussed by almost all fans, concerns a model presented by Rolex: the GMT with winding crown on the left.

To learn more about this new model, I leave you the link to the article created by Benedetta Valcastelli.

As soon as this new GMT was presented, it was criticized by almost everyone (myself included) but, one thing I noticed, is that many have defined the winding crown on the left as a novelty, unwelcome. To be precise, the real novelties of this watch are the date at 9 o’clock and the colors of the bezel. Otherwise, this is by no means the first Rolex with a winding crown on the left.

In this article I will take you to discover some of the Rolexes of the past that were born for left-handed people or, more simply, for those who prefer to wear the watch on the right.

The left-handed Rolex models of the past: Datejust

As the first model to be produced by Rolex, in the 1950s, with the crown on the left, we find the Datejust.

One might think that these are a few examples or even special orders but, instead, thanks to the help and availability of Stefano Mazzariol, whom I thank again, I was able to discover advertisements from the 1950s in which the Datejust with winding crown on the left.

From this discovery, we can deduce that it was a real model of ordinary production and therefore in the catalog.

This means that in the 1950s, if you were left-handed or wanted to wear the watch on the right for convenience, you could buy your Datejust with the winding crown on the left.

It should be noted that, currently, these are very rare watches as, although they were in the catalog like other models, they were certainly made and sold less since it was unusual to have the winding crown on the left.

What interests me to reiterate is that, thanks to the advertisements shown above, we can consider these Datejust as the very first models, from Rolex, to be cataloged as “left-handed”. A curiosity about these models is that the serial and reference numbers, engraved between the lugs at 12 and 6 o’clock, are reversed compared to the Datejust with the crown on the right.

This means that, to create the Datejust with the crown on the left, a “traditional” case was “simply” turned 180 degrees (which is different, however, for the unique models that we will see in the course of the article).

The left-handed Rolexes of the past: Rolex King Midas

It is a model with a unique design, always with the winding crown on the left, which Rolex decided to produce for a very select audience able to deviate from the classic round shape of the watch.

This model, present in the Rolex catalogs, was made in a few examples, a feature that makes it, to date, highly sought after and coveted even if, in my opinion, still underestimated.

Beyond the characteristic design, able to give it uniqueness compared to other models, a further factor of rarity and curiosity is given by the presence of the winding crown on the left, precisely.

Anche questo orologio, prodotto tra gli anni 60-70, lo possiamo quindi classificare tra i “mancini” di casa Also this watch, produced between the 60s and 70s, we can therefore classify it among the “left-handed” by Rolex. To learn more about this model, I leave you the link of the arctic that we have dedicated to it.

The unique Rolexes for left-handed people: GMT 6542 steel; 6542 yellow gold

Instead, we come now to talk about what we can classify as “unique models” with the winding crown on the left. It is, we could say, the two founders of the new GMT as we are talking about the same model but with the reference of the past: 6542.

One in steel and the other in yellow gold, these two watches were auctioned by Phillips for € 250,000 for the steel model and € 200,000 for the yellow gold model. Unlike the two models described above, these two 1959 GMTs would appear to be unique and not featured in any Rolex catalog or advertisement.

The hypotheses regarding these two GMTs are that they are two models made for a production error. Another hypothesis (which I agree with) is that these are two Rolexes made on request by left-handed customers.

In confirmation of this second hypothesis, since Rolex produced the Datejust with the crown on the left at the beginning of the 1950s, we can say that this was not a novelty for them and that therefore, as often happened, for very wealthy people, Rolex was willing to create particular and unique models.

A further element of confirmation of the second hypothesis, to the detriment of the production error, is that the reference and serial numbers are correctly reported between the loops at 6 (serial) and 12 (reference), as in all other models. that Rolex produced with the winding crown on the right.

We can therefore say that the new GMT is by no means the first Rolex GMT with a left-hand crown.

The unique left-handed Rolex models: Submariner 6536/1

Also for the Rolex Diver line, in the past there was no lack of a model with a crown on the left. In fact, at a Sotheby’s auction in 2019, a Submariner with ref. 6536/1, produced in 1956, with “backwards” crown.

Also in this case, to confirm that it was produced on request and, that it is not an error, we find the reference number and the serial number correctly engraved between the lugs (the reference at 12 o’clock; the serial number at 6 o’clock ).

The unique left-handed Rolexes: Day Date Stella ref. 1803

It is a Day Date in white gold, Stella dial, diamond indexes and winding crown on the left. Also in this case we are in the presence of a unique model made on request and produced in 1969.

The unique left-handed Rolexes: Sea-Dweller 16660

This Diver model from the Casa Coronata also features an unusual winding crown on the left. This is a COMEX-era Sea-Dweller which, despite not having the “classic” signature, was ordered by a left-handed COMEX diver who wanted to wear the watch on his right wrist.

Conclusions

Surely the winding crown on the left, on the new GMT, is something that we will have to get used to and that, slowly, we will metabolize, perhaps.

I believe that this Rolex move could represent the beginning of a new trend, already present in other Maisons, in order to guarantee even more choice among their models, especially for left-handed people.

For those who have “screamed” at the scandal for this crown, if I may say so, it must be pointed out that Rolex has never been a Maison that likes to present something truly new and, to confirm this, the new GMT represents the example in that, the Casa Coronata, to create this new model, certainly went to fish out a characteristic of the past already seen on its watches illustrated in this article.

On the other hand, Rolex’s winning strategy is represented by remaining faithful to its design with classic shapes in such a way as to keep alive the tradition that each model carries with it. If I had to express myself on this topic, I would say that I am not a fan of watches with a crown on the left and, making a clarification, in the new GMT the date would have positioned it at 3 o’clock.

I just can’t see it at 9 o’clock, every time I look at this watch it seems to me the other way around, primarily thanks to the crown but, I repeat, the date window at 3 o’clock would certainly have diminished this effect. And what do you think of these Rolex “on the contrary”? Were you aware of past models or are you aware of other models?

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