91
Rolex
An early silver wristwatch with enamel dial
- Estimate
- CHF2,000 - 4,000€2,200 - 4,300$2,500 - 4,900
CHF22,860
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1915
- Case No
- 267'971
- Material
- Silver
- Calibre
- Mechanical, 15 jewels
- Dimensions
- 35.5mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial and movement signed, case further signed Dennison Watch Case Co. with London import hallmark
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
This early Rolex is a charming watch in very well-preserved condition. Prior to Rolex manufacturing their Oyster cases, the cases were outsourced - in this case, the British company, Dennison, whom Rolex worked with as early as 1915. Dennison specialized in making threaded front and back cases such as the present example. This Dennison case is reminiscent of an Oyster case, which enabled fingers to tighten the case with more precision due to the threaded edges.
The white enamel dial with large military numerals packs a visual punch.
The white enamel dial with large military numerals packs a visual punch.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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