Ladies Rolex Cocktail Watch 9ct Gold on Original Bracelet, 1926

Description

It is not so well known that Rolex was actually founded in the U.K in London in 1905 and it was not until 1919 that the company transferred its base of operations to Geneva, Switzerland. The company’s founders Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis simply used their initials W&D until around 1910, when they began to use the name Rolex.

Here we have a wonderful example of a restored Ladies Rolex cocktail watch in 9ct gold from 1926 with an original, unrestored dial. The dial is in excellent condition for its age and so we have left it alone to retain the charm and originality of the watch. This watch is fully Rolex signed on the case, movement and dial and is on its original 9ct signed bracelet which has been re-sprung and is suitable for a wide range of wrist sizes.

The Case

The original, solid 9ct yellow gold case measures 21mm in diameter, excluding the correct Rolex crown. Opening the hinged case-back reveals the case is all correctly marked and as expected: signed ‘RWC Ltd’ for Rolex Watch Company with Glasgow U.K 9ct hallmarks and the case serial number 30924. The hallmarks date this watch to 1926.

The case has been carefully inspected for signs of fatigue or other damage and none can be found. It is in superb condition, indicating the watch has seen only light careful use. Only under very close examination can some small marks be found, commensurate with the age of this piece.

As ever, our standard advice applies: Vintage watches should be kept clean and dry at all times.

The Dial

The original guilloche effect dial carries ‘1 – 12’ standard Arabic numerals and is signed ‘Rolex’ and ‘Swiss Made’ at the very bottom of the dial. The dial has a yellow/gold guilloche style finish which catches the light beautifully. The dial is complete with the original ornate blued steel Breguet hands which have been restored.

This dial is original and unrestored and has been left this way by our restoration team due to its extraordinary good condition for its age. Usually, we restore the dials of the watches we sell, however we felt in this case, due to its condition, it was best to retain some of its originality and charm. If however, you would like to purchase this watch and you would prefer the dial restored, we will do this free of charge.

It has been very hard to capture the full effect with the camera but suffice to say it looks much better in real life.

The Movement

The original hand-wound movement is signed ‘Rolex’ and ’15 Jewels’ and has been fully overhauled and serviced by our vintage Rolex specialist watchmaker who reports it to be in excellent condition so we are happy to offer this watch with our 12 months’ warranty*.

This is the higher grade Cal.260 ‘Timed in 6 Positions’ ‘For All Climate’, as shown on the movement.

Although Rolex watches of this period have movements which are relatively accurate and reliable, these watches do need to be treated with extra care, so while perfect for special occasions, we do not recommend this watch for everyday use. Accuracy within 1 to 2 minutes per day is typical for a watch of this type and age.

Please note – our 12 months’ warranty is only applicable if the full list price is paid.

The Bracelet

The watch is fitted with its original, 9ct gold signed expandable bracelet which has been fully dismantled and completely re-sprung. This bracelet will expand to make it a perfect fit for a wrist size of between 15cm – 17cm, or 6″ inches to 6.75″ inches i.e. for most ladies with a small to medium wrist size, or slightly larger.

The Box and Papers

Although there is no original paperwork with this watch, the reference numbers, markings, signatures and hallmarks are all correct and date the watch to circa 1926. Detailed particulars will be included with the receipt, along with our 12 months’ warranty*. A separate insurance valuation for the replacement value will also be provided at the time of sale and our ‘Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee’ which states: “If this watch proves to be anything less than totally authentic, or not as described, Vintage Gold Watches of London will offer you a full refund at any time”.

This watch comes complete with the original jeweller’s presentation box, as shown.

In Conclusion

A rare, useable ladies evening wear dress watch from horology’s most famous name which will provide both an excellent financial investment as well as be something of beauty to use, treasure and enjoy! It will make an excellent investment or family heirloom piece and even though vintage gold Rolex prices have continued to rise markedly in the past 3 years, we still feel fine examples such as this are still undervalued. As each year goes by and the world market for vintage gold Rolex watches continues to expand, prices are surely destined to climb ever higher!

We are happy to accept PayPal as this is the quickest method of payment. However, if you would like to pay by U.K cheque or by U.K bank transfer we will be pleased to assist you with this and pass on a 3% saving to you. Similarly, if you wish to pay by International SWIFT or Bank Wire Transfer we will provide you our BIC / Swift number and our IBAN number.

If you have any questions please call us on 0207 727 7095 or if calling from overseas on +44 207 727 7095.

We await your call! We will be happy to answer any questions and offer advice about this or any of our watches listed for sale. If you would like some general advice regarding any aspect of vintage watches, including buying, selling, or collecting, we will also be very happy to hear from you.

Finally, please enjoy some time spent viewing our other fine Vintage Gold Watches!