Here's What Makes the Rolex 'Star Dial' So Special (Stelline, Galaxy)

I recently came across a closed listing of a Rolex ‘Galaxy’ (ref. 6098). I immediately fell in love with the charm of this watch. The white honeycomb dial, yellow gold Oyster case, and matching star-shaped indices scratched an itch in my brain that I simply can’t describe.

Naturally, this listing led me down a rabbit hole of research: scouring every ‘Star Dial’, ‘Stelline’, and ‘Galaxy’ Rolex I could find (more on this terminology in a bit). As I would find out, Rolex made a number of these star-dialed watches between the ‘40s and ‘60s. The charming and now-collectible Rolex Star Dial is emblematic of the time in which it was born.

Image Source: Hodinkee

Introduced in the late 1940s, Rolex’s playful star motif reflects the era's optimism, symbolizing hope and a brighter future following World War II. The intricate and whimsical details of these dials capture that post-war spirit of renewal: the collective desire to celebrate life’s finer moments.

Today, I’d like to highlight three of the most interesting Star Dial Rolexes I came across, sharing what makes each one so special.

Rolex Precision ‘Galaxy’ (ref. 6282) in Steel

Image Source: Bonhams

This is a Rolex Oyster ‘Precision’ ref. 6282. My apologies for the image quality; this seems to be the only picture of this example that exists. The ‘Precision’ moniker first appeared in the 1940s, indicating a watch that is not COSC-certified. This reference, the Oyster-cased 6282, hails from the early 1960s. In my opinion, it embodies the beauty of a mid-century time-only Rolex Oyster. 

Inside this watch’s waterproof steel case (which was pretty nifty in the ‘60s) is a black honeycomb dial. Rolex hasn’t manufactured this dial texture in decades, adding to the romance and appeal of this example. The silver-toned (likely steel) dial furniture includes teardrop indices, a 12 o'clock coronet, and of course, star indices. The dauphine handset feels well-balanced and proportioned, as well.

This 34mm watch falls under the ’Galaxy’ family: a line of time-only Rolex watches with Star Dials made between the 40s and 60s. I just can’t get enough of this watch. The everyday appeal (a steel Oyster case) and the playful, artful dial design is so emblematic of the time in which this watch was born. As Star Dial Rolexes go, this has to be one of my favorites.

Rolex 6062 ‘Stelline’

Image Source: Hodinkee

This reference is the most widely-known Rolex with stars on the dial. The ref. 6062 was introduced in 1950. On the heels of their new Datejust, Rolex decided to lean into complications, introducing a handsome, wearable, 36mm triple calendar moonphase. The 6062 came in yellow gold, pink gold, and steel. From what I understand, all of these materials could be had with ‘Stelline’ (‘Little Stars’ in Italian) dials. Like ‘Galaxy’, ‘Stelline’ is a marketing term used by Rolex; it’s not a collector nickname like ‘Star Dial’. The star-decorated ‘Stelline’ dial is the most common 6062 dial type (per Hodinkee).

Image Source: Hodinkee

What’s cool about the 6062 ‘Stelline’ – regardless of case material – is the matching moonphase art style. This triple calendar watch features a moonphase complication: an astronomical readout that’s often accompanied with some artistic embellishment, most often stars. The 6062’s anthropomorphic moon has a creepy little side-eye and is surrounded by stars that match those on the dial. The whimsy meter is pinging off the charts.

Rolex 6088 ‘Galaxy’

Image Source: Watches by SJX

This is a 1960s Rolex ref. 6088 in yellow gold. It’s one of the rarer ‘Galaxy’ references in existence. Unlike the first watch on this list, this time-only ‘Galaxy’ features a glossy black gilt dial. Like the second watch on this list, the 6088 is 36mm: a bit larger and better-proportioned than Rolex's Bubblebacks from a few years prior.

Simply, this watch melds what I love about the first two. It shares the time-only Oyster-case blueprint of the 6282, but leans into the opulence and whimsy of the 6062 with its gold case and indices. The cherry on top? That 36mm case diameter. If I owned this watch, I’d never take it off.

Final Thoughts

There is a sea of Rolex Star Dials out there, and many can still be had for reasonable prices. The watches featured in this article are just a few of my favorites. What is your favorite Rolex Star Dial? Have you seen any in person? Let us know in the comments below.