Rolex Ladies Manual Wind - Sub-Dial - Rare 1938 - Solid 9ct Gold - with Clamshell Box

Specifications

Year: 1938
Box/Papers: Yes/No/Yes - TWW Authenticity Guarantee Card

Case number: 2XXX

Serial: 3XXXX
Case size: 19mm
Movement: Rolex Manual Wind 
Crystal: Acrylic
Strap Size: Fits between 155mm/6.1 and 170mm/6.7 inches wrist size with adjustable clasp mechanism.

Importance and History

This is an exceptional and truly captivating vintage pre-war Rolex ladies’ cocktail watch, dating from 1938.

This elegant timepiece features a solid 9ct gold case marked “Rolex Geneva Suisse 25 World’s Records” and stamped RWC Ltd (Rolex Watch Company). It represents an important period in Rolex’s history: the brand’s transition from pocket watches to wristwatches, as well as the beginning of the Precision line. This watch would have been among the earliest Precision ladies’ wristwatches, and a wristwatch with a snap-on case back rather than a pocket-watch-style opening mechanism.

While the Precision name saw its major mainstream rollout in the 1940s, Rolex began placing “Precision” text on select, highly accurate manual-wind models in the late 1930s such as this one. The Precision line was subsequently produced throughout the golden era of ladies’ cocktail watches, extending into the 1960s.

The case also bears the historically interesting inscription “25 World’s Records,” which Rolex used on early watches to highlight the company’s achievements in precision timekeeping. The “25” refers to the number of records Rolex was claiming at the time the case was manufactured.

Another interesting feature is the matching 9ct gold bracelet, which, although is not Rolex signed, it appears to originally belong to the watch. Featuring three rows of hollow links in the style of the Rolex’s famous Jubilee bracelet, it resembles an early miniature version of the bracelet, which Rolex introduced in 1945 to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary.

Remaining in outstanding condition for its age, the watch comes with its Rolex clamshell box. It is running flawlessly and keeping excellent time within vintage specifications.

This exceptional timepiece represents a rare opportunity to own an authentic and highly desirable vintage Rolex, offering both historical significance and timeless elegance.

Condition

Dial - The beautiful ivory colour satin dial with gold Arabic numerals and Breguet-style hands have been extremely well preserved and remain remarkably in clean condition with only light sins of age, and tiny imperfections, which are mostly visible only under magnification.

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

Crown - The period correct large and easy to operate crown remains in excellent used condition, working perfectly. 

Movement - The watch encases its original Rolex manual wind movement which is working flawlessly and keeping excellent time within vintage specifications.

Case back - The original 9ct gold, Rolex signed case back shows light signs of wear, displaying it's full Rolex markings, hallmarking and numbering clearly.

Strap - This piece has what appears to be an original 9ct gold bracelet with an extendable clasp settings and a little stretch mechanism as well as a safety chain. The bracelet matches the fantastic original condition of the watch.

Crystal - The original crystal is in fantastic condition, with no visible scratches, only aged 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.

T2808

C. 2532

S. 32928