By Rolex
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
This exceptionally rare and highly evocative First World War (WWI)
period (c1916) wristwatch by Rolex is housed in a 925 Sterling Silver Hinged Case
It’s a Trench Watch - an early wristwatch developed for military officers
(by their practical demands) during the First World War,
representing the transition from pocket watches to the wristwatches that transformed modern timekeeping.
The timepiece is extremely rare (especially in such fine original condition)
& proud to have ALL original parts (case, dial, movement, winder)
The hinged 33mm CASE is performed in 925 Sterling Silver,
bearing clear stamps & series of original hallmarks on inside:
these include the W&D mark of Wilsdorf & Davis -
the founding company behind Rolex,
together with 0.935 and 925 silver fineness marks,
Swiss assay stamps, the Rolex signature & number 707337.
Case is completed by an original winder
An elegant white porcelain DIAL features
blued steel Breguet hands and “sunk” sub-dial subsidiary seconds
Dial is adorned with hand-painted black & red (at 12) Roman Numerals
Timepiece is powered by the manually wound MOVEMENT,
signed Rolex & fitted with a high-quality Aegler "Rebberg" movement —
a robust Swiss calibre that powered many of Rolex's finest trench watches
Produced during the formative years of the Rolex brand
under Wilsdorf & Davis, these early trench watches represent
some of the company's earliest wristwatches and
are seldom encountered in such original configuration.
The combination of a fully hallmarked case, signed movement and cohesive originality
places this example firmly within the upper tier of collectability for early Rolex wristwatches
Such pieces appeal not only to horological collectors but also
to military historians, bridging craftsmanship with historical narrative.
In today’s market, well-preserved WWI Rolex trench watches...
Category
1910s Swiss Edwardian Vintage Victoria
MaterialsSilver, Sterling Silver