Ladies Rolex 18ct White Gold, Platinum, & Diamond Art Deco Cocktail Watch c1930

Rolex

It is not so very well known that Rolex was actually founded in the UK in London in 1905 and it was not until 1919 that the company transferred its base of operations to Geneva, Switzerland. It is also a misconception that the world of luxury watches is a gentlemans one, as the first recorded wristwatch was actually designed for a lady. In June 1810, Abraham-Louis Breguet made a watch for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples. For many decades, women have proudly worn Rolex watches and have been integral to the brand’s success.

Description

A simply stunning ladies white gold, platinum, and diamond art deco cocktail watch. Thirty individual diamonds surround the bezel and these are matched by a further twenty, on a white gold bracelet – ten on each end of the bracelet. This adds significantly to the drama of this wonderful timepiece. The watch has an infinitely adjustable white gold bracelet which allows it to fit any ladies size wrist.

This Rolex model reference 705 watch is all correctly signed by Rolex on the dial, movement and case. It was produced in circa 1930 and carries the higher grade Rolex Prima ‘timed in 6 positions’ movement.

Discreet, pretty and full of charm, this watch will make a perfect special occasion, dinner or cocktail party piece.

The Case

Platinum cased Rolex are very rare, particularly from the 1930s, and although we have seen one or two examples in the past, this is the first time we have had one in stock. Platinum was usually reserved for only the most expensive watches due to the higher cost of the precious metal and the additional time and expense required to work in platinum.

The stunning, diamond-studded case has beautiful hand-engraved sides and remains in tip-top condition. As one would expect, this is a high-quality case, which from all appearances seems to have been very well cared for since there are no signs of wear, over-polishing, dings, scratches or other damage, visible to the naked eye.

The case is all correctly signed ‘RWC Ltd’ for Rolex Watch Company and is correctly stamped ‘Platinum’. The case also carries the external Rolex model reference number 705 and the serial number 46005.

The case is 15mm wide excluding the crown, and 24mm in length. The total length of the watch including the lugs is 44mm. The watch is quite slim at 7mm, including the lens which stands slightly proud of the case. The case itself and hinge area in particular, have been carefully inspected for any weaknesses and none were found. We can therefore guarantee the structural integrity of this watch case. This, along with the general condition of the case, leads us to believe this watch has led a charmed life and seen very little use.

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

The Dial

The wonderful art deco dial has an almost whimsical charm.  The  ‘1 – 12’  art deco style numerals are complimented by original ‘Breguet’ blued steel hands and also make the time easy to read for such a small watch. The dial is signed ‘Rolex’ with ‘Swiss Made’ at the bottom.

This dial, surrounded by diamonds and set in a Platinum case, really does mean this otherwise discreet watch is something quite special.

This is the original Rolex dial which has been restored to the very highest standards by the best dial restorers in the UK.

The Movement

The Rolex Calibre.250 Prima, 15 Jewel movement is original to this watch. It is signed ‘Rolex’, ‘Prima’, ’15 Rubies’ and ‘Swiss Made’. The watch movement has been fully overhauled and serviced by our watchmaker who reports it to be in excellent condition and we are therefore happy to offer this watch with our 12 months warranty*.

Note: This watch is perfectly suited for evening wear and special occasions, but not for everyday use. Watches of this age, even with this quality of movement may gain or lose up to 2 minutes per day due to their age. They will, however, run for at least 24 hours and are wonderful to wear, and own.

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

The Bracelet

The watch is on a period, white gold loop bracelet with a sliding locking clasp which makes the bracelet adjustable for any size of wrist. The bracelet is also in perfect condition. This watch may have originally been sold on a black silk strap but it is more secure, better balanced and was more popularly worn as shown.

The Box and Papers

Although there is no original paperwork with this watch, the reference numbers, markings, signatures and hallmarks are all correct, dating the watch to circa 1930.

Detailed particulars are included with the receipt, along with our 12 months’ warranty* and a separate insurance valuation for the replacement value will be provided at the time of sale. This will also include 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 presentation box, as shown.

In Conclusion

We have here a beautiful, rare, usable and highly collectable, vintage gold ladies cocktail watch, from horology’s most famous name which is something of beauty, to use, wear, treasure and enjoy!

This watch will also make an excellent investment and family heirloom piece. Even though vintage gold Rolex prices have continued to rise markedly in the past 2-3 years, we still feel fine examples such as this are undervalued. As each year goes by and the world market for vintage gold Rolex watches continues to expand, availability will become more limited, so prices are surely destined to climb ever higher!

A word about our prices – We always try our hardest to acquire the very highest quality watches we can find, before restoring them to the highest possible standards. We then offer these at the fairest prices we can, taking into account our pre and post sales care and service. This approach means we will never be the cheapest, but nor will we be the most expensive. Indeed there are some well-known stores in West London which are very successful, charging between two to three times the price you see here. We therefore consider our prices to be very fair, given the quality of watches we have to offer.

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

Please note, we also welcome part exchanges, along with outright purchases of similar watches for us to restore, service and list. We can also offer Watch Service, Watch Repair & Watch Restoration, please see here.

If you have any questions please call 020 7727 7095 or if calling from overseas on +44 2077277095.

We are here, ready, available and awaiting your call!

Finally, please enjoy some time spent viewing our other fine vintage gold watches.

Thank you.