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Kingyfisher · 20 September 2009, 06:03 PM

My father was a Fighter Pilot in the Britsh Air Force in WW2.
He flew Spitfies,Hurricanes,& Mosquitoes,& has been decorated several times.
I believe that he brought the above Rolex at some time during the war,during 1943/44 he was a Night Fighter Pilot & I think he got it at this time as it has red / Radium painted hands.
Oddly it also had a German made Stainless strap,but I do not know if this is original.
Can anyone help me to put a value on this watch ?
ANY HELP IN IDENTIFYING IT WOULD BE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED

Lol-x · 20 September 2009, 07:10 PM

Please post some focused photographs.

Kingyfisher · 20 September 2009, 07:17 PM

Geez they are shocking , "Sorry about that Chief".
Taken with my mobile Nokia E 71.
Must read the instructions sometime...
Is the 294 a model number or a date eg.1940 month 2
Does the serial number indicate the date of manufacture?
Are the numbers on the outside of the casing back significant
,or should the serial numbers be between the lugs ?

Kingyfisher · 20 September 2009, 08:21 PM

I will post some much sharper pics tomorrow.
When did Rolex stop using Radium painted hands for the
flouescent /night time watches? I have already had an offer of $6000 sight unseen for this watch based on it's provenance.

Kingyfisher · 21 September 2009, 05:44 PM

my thanks to Tom .
The model is 2940

Kingyfisher · 21 September 2009, 05:49 PM

it is possi ble to make out the ,'self winding' in a half moon shape on the lower 1/2 of the original dial & hands.
There is a 24 hr inner dial in red.

Kingyfisher · 22 September 2009, 09:07 AM

A couple more photos ,it is keeping quite good time and the self winding mechanism works too.

Saxon007 · 22 September 2009, 09:58 AM

Does your camera have a macro function? If so that would improve your photos immensely.

Kingyfisher · 22 September 2009, 04:07 PM

I tried the 'Close Up ' setting to take the pics above !
Sorry they are such poor quality

tomvox1 · 23 September 2009, 12:55 PM

...I know what you'll be asking for for Xmas (think Canon Powershot!

)
Very practical military watch with the 24-hour dial. And 2940s came with a multitude of dial variations, in any case.
Can you tell us what the dial nomenclature says--just "Rolex Oyster Perpetual" or "Chronometre" as well somewhere?
BTW, as I often remind peopel in this big watch era, real manly men like fighter jocks in WWII wore Bubbleback-sized watches as a rule. Sure didn't seem to hurt Chuck Yeager's early career any.

Congrats on such a great family piece & all the best,
Tom

Kingyfisher · 23 September 2009, 09:52 PM

Thank you Tom.
There is no chronometre printed on the dial.
I have the name of a skilled craftsman recommended by
Rolex in Sydney Australia,and I shall take it to him to restore.

20 September 2009, 07:10 PM	#2
Lol-x Facilitator Join Date: Nov 2005 Real Name: Steve Location: Omnipresent Posts: 33,241	Please post some focused photographs. __________________ *Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.* ~Abraham Lincoln Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy ROLEXploitation - yeah I'm a victim

20 September 2009, 07:17 PM	#3
Kingyfisher "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Chris Location: Sydney Australia Watch: 1940 Vintage Rolex Posts: 11	Hocus Focus ! Geez they are shocking , "Sorry about that Chief". Taken with my mobile Nokia E 71. Must read the instructions sometime... Is the 294 a model number or a date eg.1940 month 2 Does the serial number indicate the date of manufacture? Are the numbers on the outside of the casing back significant ,or should the serial numbers be between the lugs ? Last edited by Kingyfisher; 20 September 2009 at 08:14 PM.. Reason: Correction

20 September 2009, 08:21 PM	#4
Kingyfisher "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Chris Location: Sydney Australia Watch: 1940 Vintage Rolex Posts: 11	New Photo's Tomorrow I will post some much sharper pics tomorrow. When did Rolex stop using Radium painted hands for the flouescent /night time watches? I have already had an offer of $6000 sight unseen for this watch based on it's provenance.

22 September 2009, 09:58 AM	#8
Saxon007 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 2,002	Does your camera have a macro function? If so that would improve your photos immensely. __________________ Licensed to kill time.

23 September 2009, 12:55 PM	#10
tomvox1 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New York Posts: 982	Great old Rolex with a great history! And... ...I know what you'll be asking for for Xmas (think Canon Powershot! ) Very practical military watch with the 24-hour dial. And 2940s came with a multitude of dial variations, in any case. Can you tell us what the dial nomenclature says--just "Rolex Oyster Perpetual" or "Chronometre" as well somewhere? BTW, as I often remind peopel in this big watch era, real manly men like fighter jocks in WWII wore Bubbleback-sized watches as a rule. Sure didn't seem to hurt Chuck Yeager's early career any. Congrats on such a great family piece & all the best, Tom

21 September 2009, 05:49 PM	#6
Kingyfisher "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Chris Location: Sydney Australia Watch: 1940 Vintage Rolex Posts: 11	it is possi ble to make out the ,'self winding' in a half moon shape on the lower 1/2 of the original dial & hands. There is a 24 hr inner dial in red.

22 September 2009, 04:07 PM	#9
Kingyfisher "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Chris Location: Sydney Australia Watch: 1940 Vintage Rolex Posts: 11	I tried the 'Close Up ' setting to take the pics above ! Sorry they are such poor quality

23 September 2009, 09:52 PM	#11
Kingyfisher "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Chris Location: Sydney Australia Watch: 1940 Vintage Rolex Posts: 11	Thank you Tom. There is no chronometre printed on the dial. I have the name of a skilled craftsman recommended by Rolex in Sydney Australia,and I shall take it to him to restore.

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