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Old 5 July 2020, 01:36 PM   #1
LyingFlat
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WW1 Rolex

One of my local classifieds has this Rolex listed for sale.

It's not a piece that I was looking at buying but it is quite interesting. Does anyone know this history of this model? The advertiser said that it is circa-1915, Sterling Silver case, case size 27.7mm, and lug-to-lug of 31.5mm.





Last edited by LyingFlat; 5 July 2020 at 01:43 PM.. Reason: Adding images
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Old 5 July 2020, 10:51 PM   #2
offrdmania
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It is a converted pocket watch, a very common practice when wrist watches were coming into style.
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Old 6 July 2020, 08:51 AM   #3
LyingFlat
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Thanks you!

Do you know if it was something converted by Rolex or was done after-market?
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Old 7 July 2020, 12:32 AM   #4
vintagewatch
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These watches often called "Trench" watches (Trench refers to wearing them in trenches during World War I) were made by Rolex as wristwatches at production. The W & D in the case back refers to Wilsdorf and Davis, the founding partners of Rolex.
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Old 7 July 2020, 03:59 AM   #5
MILGAUSS88
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"Converted" sounds like it was changed to a wristwatch at a later date.
Most likely this was watch left the shop as a wristwatch, although it is not much more than a pocket watch with a wire lug soldered on.
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Old 7 July 2020, 05:52 AM   #6
CTech
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One way to get a bit more information about whether these watches were converted after they left the factory is to look at the area around the crown (winder) to see if there has ever been a bow (loop for a chain) fitted.

Some of the conversions done by jewelers or owners seem to be fairly crude and they have just removed the bow, leaving two holes in the stem. Some have had the holes filled in, but you can sometimes see the results of this.

This watch does not have the extended stem where a bow would fit, so there is a good chance that this left the factory as a wristwatch
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Old 7 July 2020, 06:34 AM   #7
LyingFlat
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Thanks for the replies.

It's not something I was looking at buying - just had never seen one before. Very interesting to know more about one of Rolex's earlier pieces.
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Old 7 July 2020, 06:49 AM   #8
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As this is a rhetorical question, you’ll never really know which it is. I think this is possibly either a conversion or a pocket watch Rolex adapted themselves.

Interesting dial though...


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Old 7 July 2020, 08:15 AM   #9
Vlad
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I think it's all original - i.e. as it left the factory. What's the diameter of the watch? If the diameter is 40+, then it's definitely a PW conversion. If the diameter is 25mm or so, it was made this way.
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Old 7 July 2020, 09:21 AM   #10
LyingFlat
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vlad View Post
I think it's all original - i.e. as it left the factory. What's the diameter of the watch? If the diameter is 40+, then it's definitely a PW conversion. If the diameter is 25mm or so, it was made this way.
According to the seller the case is 27.7mm and lug-to-lug is 31.5mm
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Old 7 July 2020, 11:04 AM   #11
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Seems very small for an ex-pocketwatch.
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Old 9 July 2020, 10:49 PM   #12
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Yes absolutely.
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