Important Collector's Watches, Pocket...

Geneva, Nov 11, 2007

LOT 253

Ref. 1490, Steel and Pink Gold Prince Brancard Rolex, "Prince Brancard, Chronometer", Ref. 1490. Case No. 55858. Made in the 1930s. Very fine and very rare, flared and curved rectangular, stainless steel and pink gold Art Deco wristwatch.

CHF 11,000 - 13,000

EUR 6,500 - 8,000 / USD 9,000 - 11,000

Sold: CHF 28,320

C. Two-body, bi-color, solid, polished and brushed, stepped pink gold sides and flared lugs. D. Three-tone pink gilt with Arabic quarters and outer hour/minute track, subsidiary seconds dial. Blued steel lozenge hands. M. Cal. 7??? 1/2, tonneaushaped, chronometer quality, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 7 positions, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 24 x 42 mm. Thickness 8.5 mm. From ?The Collection?


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

This example of the ?Prince Brancard Chronometre? is not only a stunning watch with its two-tone case and unrestored three-tone dial, it is also a true chronometer and would have been delivered when new with a Observatory Chronometer certificate. 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.
A very similar watch is illustrated in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 2001 Edition, pp. 35.