Early Rolex valuation

[Kingtmc]

Hi,
I was wondering if anybody could help me put a valuation on this early watch.
I purchased it from Watchestobuy originally( not sure how many years ago).
It fascinated me when I saw it, and I would love to know a bit more about it.

Thanks for reading this.

[1665fan]

Wow, that’s original. Not sure about the price but I would say whatever a pocket watch and some extra silver is....because I assume it’s more like a home made conversion...but I might be wrong

[Kingtmc]

Here is one more photo.

[Kingtmc]

From studying it, I can see no signs of it being a conversion.

[Hilts]

It looks like a Huguenin Freres case - lugs may have been added at a later date as the other cases I have seen have not had them (although they may well have just snapped off the others).

By any chance does it have JF stamped in there as well? Maybe as well as 89276?

[Kingtmc]

It has a mark which appears to be HF and also the number 150247.
Also 925 and what looks like JW.

[R.W.T.]

Dial is refinished. Appears to be an early "hermetic" pre cursor to the oyster.

[Vlad]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

Dial is refinished. Appears to be an early "hermetic" pre cursor to the oyster.

Are you sure? "hermetic" was a double cased Rolex, but I thought it had a number of gaskets to make it water tight (I don't want to say water proof) - this one does not even attempt to be water resistant.

I would like to see the movement, as of right now, I'm not sure that this watch has to do with a Rolex, except for a redone dial.

But, I'm not an expert in very early Rolexes

[Kingtmc]

Appears to have 150247/ 925 / maybe HF and JW.

[R.W.T.]

Originally Posted by Vlad

Are you sure? "hermetic" was a double cased Rolex, but I thought it had a number of gaskets to make it water tight (I don't want to say water proof) - this one does not even attempt to be water resistant.

I would like to see the movement, as of right now, I'm not sure that this watch has to do with a Rolex, except for a redone dial.

But, I'm not an expert in very early Rolexes

Good Call Vlad! Yep Scratch that. Chalk it up to not enough coffee.

That case style is similiar to what they did with the hermetic but of course not a screw case or back...DOH!

[Kingtmc]

I have opened the watch for you to see.

[Kingtmc]

Movement looks amazing. SR/ ROLEX 15 JEWEL SWISS MADE
Thanks again.

[Vlad]

Tommy knows these movements better then anyone else, but looking at the movement, I don't really recognize that as something that I have seen on other real early Rolex watches. bridges are different, layout is different, ...

[offrdmania]

Looks like an Aegler Rebberg 13 movement

[330ci]

W&d markings put this prior to 1915 I believe. Definitely an early dustproof attempt. The JW stamp is likely the case maker, appears they made quite a few pocket watch cases

[springer]

I saw the same type of watch in an antique store in Dallas several years ago. I didn't know what it was and referred to it as the "golf watch."

I did take a few pics of the watch but they weren't the best.

[Vlad]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Looks like an Aegler Rebberg 13 movement

Check the position of the balance relative to the stem. Look at the bridges.

it's not the same movement.

As a side note, did you write "ROLEX 15 Jewels" on that movement? :)

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by Vlad

Check the position of the balance relative to the stem. Look at the bridges.

it's not the same movement.

As a side note, did you write "ROLEX 15 Jewels" on that movement? :)

You are absolutely right. At first glance it looks the same until you really tear it down. Thats when you see the differences.

[Kingtmc]

This is the first time I have removed the case from the movement��

[Hilts]

If there was a JF in there it would be Jean Finger - who produced hermetic cases for a number of brands (including Rolex).

The HF stands for Huguenin Freres (watch case makers) - produced full hunter trench watch cases etc.

The JW possibly stands for James Weir (assay agent).

.925 will be the silver content - any other hallmarks?

[Kingtmc]

Hi,
JW AND W&D

[Kingtmc]

W&d

[Claven2]

What is written on the visible movement gears? Can't make it out in your photo.

[Kingtmc]

Sr 15 jewel rolex swiss made

[330ci]

Originally Posted by Kingtmc

W&d

That’s wilsdorf and Davis. The earliest Rolex marking out there

[Kingtmc]

Thank you for the Information you’ve provided.
What I was hoping to know also was is it genuine, and what would be an approximate value?
Thanks again for taking the time to comment.