The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wrist...

Geneva, May 14, 2006

LOT 32

Ref. 1768 ?Prince Railway? Rolex "Prince Railway", Ref. 1768. Case No. 010045. Made in 1932. Fine and rare, rectangular curved, stainless steel gentleman's Art Deco wristwatch.

CHF 10,000 - 15,000

EUR 6,500 - 10,000 / USD 8,000 - 12,000

Sold: CHF 17,700

C. Two-body, polished and brushed, stepped sides, straight lugs. D. Two-tone silver with painted Arabic numerals and baton indexes, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel ?Alpha? hands. M. 7 1/2 ''' T. S. 300, Observatory Quality, rhodium-plated, 15 jewels, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 6 positions, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 21 x 42 mm. Thickness 9 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-5-01

Good

Poor

HANDS Original

Notes

Besides their shape the Rolex Prince watches differ from most watches of this period by their duo-dial design, that is hours and minutes at the top and seconds at the bottom. This feature earned them the name ?Doctors? Watches?, as the clear separation of hours from seconds allowed for clear timings of pulse and respiration. The Rolex Prince line of watches was made in 9K 14K, and 18K white, yellow and pink gold, steel, silver, platinum and in combinations of these metals - steel and gold for example. The calibre 7 1/2 ''' T. S. 300 was made between 1932 and 1938. This watch is illustrated in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 2001 Edition, p. 37.