Rolex Ladies Cocktail Watch Manual Wind - Rare 1920s - Solid 9ct Gold - Tropical Guilloche Dial

Specifications

Year: 1925 - 1930
Box/Papers: No/No/Yes - TWW Authenticity Guarantee Card

Reference: 178 case number
Case size: 25.5mm (27.5mm with crown)
Movement: Rolex Manual Wind 
Crystal: Mineral
Strap Size: Stretch bracelet

History

This is a rare, early Rolex from the late 1920s Art Deco period with a solid 9ct octagonal three-piece hinged pocket-watch style opening case designed for the British market and made in London by and during the Wilsdorf & Davis era representing a fascinating transitional era in horological history, charting the evolution of Rolex from the early "Wilsdorf & Davis" partnership into a premier global luxury brand. In the 1920s, luxury watch cases were entirely hand-fitted and every single hand-carved case and hinged frame was micro-adjusted to fit one specific watch body. During this period, Rolex was beginning to establish its presence in the ladies’ watch market, and this piece predates the Rolex Precision line, introduced in the 1940s and subsequently produced throughout the golden era of ladies’ cocktail watches, which extended into the 1960s.

Decades later, during the post-WWII fashion boom of the 1950s, the watch was modernised and elevated with a premium, 9ct gold Rolex-signed expanding stretch bracelet. This elegant timepiece features a rare, authentic metal Guilloché dial featuring an intricate engine-turned pattern cut directly into the surface. Over the last century, the original protective clear lacquer has naturally oxidised, maturing into a highly collectible, metallic "tropical" brown patina. Remaining in outstanding condition for its age, the watch is running very well and keeping good time within specification.

Condition

Dial - The aged Tropical dial remains in remarkably beautiful vintage condition with all features still perfectly defined and unworn.

Case - The solid 9ct case is in fantastic shape for a watch of this age and shows just light common signs of wear. 

Crown - The large and easy to operate period crown remains in excellent used condition, working perfectly. Please note that this watch is delicate and the crown should be operated very gently and carefully. 

Movement - The watch encases its original Rolex manual wind movement which is working very well for its age and keeping good time within vintage specification.

Case back - The original 9ct gold, pocket watch style case back shows light common signs of wear, displaying it's British markings, hallmarking and numbering clearly.

Strap - This piece has a Rolex signed 9ct gold stretch bracelet, which is in excellent vintage condition and shows light common wear.

Crystal - The crystal is in very nice condition, with common signs of wear visible at closer inspection.

For a watch of this age, this piece is in spectacular order and is ready to wear!

If you have any further questions about this piece, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email or Instagram.

@thewristwatcher1

thewristwatcher1@gmail.com

Terms of sale

Please note these are vintage timepieces and their timekeeping abilities will never be the same as modern equivalents. We ensure that all of our watches are keeping time within vintage specification. We categorise watches as keeping good time when they’re running within +/- 60 seconds per day.

We are a registered limited company and can be found on Companies House and therefore are legally required to accept returns within 14 days and provide our customers with fully authentic timepieces.

We guarantee the full authenticity of all out of timepieces. Each piece is fully tested and inspected by our watchmaker to ensure both full functionality and authenticity.

International customers are responsible for customs charges when receiving a purchase.

We cannot guarantee any water resistance due to the age of these watches.

Returns

Customers may return their purchased item within 14 days of delivery date as long as the item(s) are returned in the same condition as received.

International buyers are responsible for customs charges that apply when returning an item.

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