Rolex. A fine and rare white metal rectangular curved doctor's wristwatch with two-tone silvered dial and box
Lot 322

Rolex. A fine and rare white metal rectangular curved doctor's wristwatch with two-tone silvered dial and box

SIGNED ROLEX, PRINCE, CHRONOMETRE, PRINCE BRANCARD MODEL, REF. 1490, CASE NO. 1699, CIRCA 1935

Closed15 November 2010

Price Realised

CHF 10,000

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Rolex. A fine and rare white metal rectangular curved doctor's wristwatch with two-tone silvered dial and box
Signed Rolex, Prince, Chronometre, Prince Brancard model, Ref. 1490, case no. 1699, circa 1935
Rectangular nickel-finished Observatory Quality lever movement, 15 jewels, two-tone silvered dial, Arabic numerals, large subsidiary seconds, rectangular satined case, flared sides, raised polished bezel, curved snap on back, stainless steel Rolex buckle, case, dial and movement signed
26 mm. wide & 43 mm. overall length

Specialist note

With Rolex contemporary brown leather presentation box.

Introduced into the market in 1928, the legendary "Prince" with its elegant Art Deco case design has ever since been popular amongst aficionados of the period. The models, always fitted with rectangular cases of different shapes, were advertised as "The Watch for Men of Distinction".

The strategic placement of the winding and balance wheels to each end allowed the use of a larger balance, resulting in a longer autonomy and increased accuracy. It furthermore enabled a dial design with an enlarged subsidiary seconds dial below the hour dial. From this layout derived the designation "doctor's watch" as the larger seconds dial was practical for functions such as the reading of the pulse.

The present watch is from the celebrated reference 1490 series, distinguished by the flared sides and called "Brancard" from the French word "brancard" for "stretcher".