1920s 9ct rose gold cushion vintage Rolex Oyster watch

Date:           1928

Case:            9ct rose gold, 32 x 32mm

Movement: Rolex Prima

Dial:             White enamel, with Roman numerals

Lugs:            18mm

A rare, early Rolex Oyster watch from 1928, as shown on the Rolex History Website. A stunning example retailed by Asprey!

A 1928, rare, early 9ct rose gold cushion vintage Rolex Oyster watch. The case measures 32 x 32mm, 18mm lug size and an Oyster Patent winding crown. The case is signed Rolex, 20 World’s Records, Great Britain Patents and marked 9C. The manual wind, Prima movement is signed Rolex, Timed to 6 positions, For All Climates with 15 jewels. The white enamel dial, with sunken centre, has black Roman numerals with a subsidiary seconds dial and fine blued steel ‘Romaines Doubles’ hands. The dial is signed Asprey above the centre, with Rolex Oyster above the seconds dial.

The Rolex Oyster watch

Following the end of World War I, global trading resumed and Rolex watches were being sent abroad, particularly to the the hot and humid tropical countries of the British Empire. Many of the watches were found to have rusted on arrival following a long damp voyage!

Hans Wilsdorf (co-founder of Rolex) was determined to produce a ‘water-proof’ watch and commented;

“We must succeed in making a watch case so tight that our movements will be permanently guaranteed against damage caused by dust, perspiration, heat and cold. Only then will the perfect accuracy of the Rolex watch be secured.”

The Rolex Oyster watch was produced a few years later in 1926 with a ‘three-piece’ case, (the front and back screwing into the body). An iconic design that has become probably the best selling waterproof wristwatch.