1920s silver cushion vintage Rolex Oyster watch
An early silver cushion vintage Rolex Oyster watch. The case measures 32 x 32 mm with a knurled bezel to the front. The case is signed Rolex 20 World’s Records, RWC Ltd (Rolex Watch Company Limited) and hallmarked Glasgow 1928. The Rolex Prima manual wind movement has 15 jewels, timed to 6 positions, for all climates. The early ‘onion’ crown is signed with the Oyster Patent. The silvered guilloche ‘engine turned’ ‘sunburst’ dial has black Roman numerals with a subsidiary seconds dial and fine blued steel cathedrale hands. The dial is signed Rolex Oyster above the centre.
A truly stunning early example of the iconic Rolex Oyster wrist watch!
The Rolex Oyster
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.
