Rolex 1065

The Rolex Caliber 1065 was a key chronometer-grade automatic movement from the brand’s pivotal 10xx series of the mid-1950s. It served as a versatile workhorse, evolving from the time-only Caliber 1030 by incorporating a date complication. This movement was instrumental in populating Rolex’s expanding Oyster Perpetual Date and Datejust lines. It is also notable for its use in early Submariner Date models, bringing a new layer of everyday functionality to the professional diver’s watch. Technically, the 1065 featured the efficient bi-directional winding system and robust construction characteristic of its family. Watches equipped with this caliber are often recognizable by the “roulette” date wheel, which featured alternating red and black numerals, a charming hallmark of the era. The 1065 laid the groundwork for the more complex 1066 (GMT) and was a direct predecessor to the highly successful 15xx series of movements that would replace it at the end of the decade.