Rolex. A fine two-colour 18K yellow and white gold rectangular wristwatch with jumping hour and box

Advertised by Rolex at the time as "The Watch for Men of Distinction", the present timepiece is from the celebrated reference 1491HS series, distinguished by the flared sides and called "Brancard" from the French word for stretcher, and the Heures Sautantes (HS) or Jumping Hours. The architectural layout, displaying the actual hour through a small aperture, minutes and seconds on enlarged subsidiary dials, harmonized perfectly with the purely decorative Art Deco style, seen as elegant, functional, and ultra-modern.

An unusual and curious feature of the present watch is the model name "Sporting Princess" enhancing the dial. The "Sporting Princess" model is well known of course as a folding purse/travel watch. However, the "Sporting Princess" model was not made as a jumping hour watch and therefore it would appear that the present watch was perhaps made as a particular request. The dial is well preserved and nicely patinated with hard enamel numerals and clear signature.