Can you identify this watch?
Discussion
AndrewEH1 said:
A Sunday afternoon teaser for you all.
I have watch that belonged to my grandfather. I don't know where he got it from.
Apart from a Rolex I have no idea what it is, images are below. Any ideas? Worth restoring?
A very early (pre-1915ish) one, wire lugged Trench Watch, no name - the 'W & D' on the case back stands for Wilsdorf & Davis, the founder's [Rolex] watch import business. The scratched notes on the back are service dates - 1937 I think I see on one of them. The red print at 12 o'clock was a characteristic of this period for Rolex in both arabic and Roman numerals. Enamel dial is badly (from a collectors PoV) cracked and I think the lume plots have been a later addition and aren't original.I have watch that belonged to my grandfather. I don't know where he got it from.
Apart from a Rolex I have no idea what it is, images are below. Any ideas? Worth restoring?
No idea on value, I'd guess at around 3-400 quid* tops and it'd take some doing to get that dial sorted out so maybe best to just leave it as it is and keep it as a keepsake perhaps.
(*The usual caveat applies - it may of course be the unicorn egg of Rolexs' and be worth gazillions. But I don't think so.)
ETA - the 't' indicates London 1914, silver of course. If your G'father was in the war then maybe a going away present or other, was he an officer by any chance?
Edited by andy_s on Sunday 30th November 18:23
andy_s said:
A very early (pre-1915ish) one, wire lugged Trench Watch, no name - the 'W & D' on the case back stands for Wilsdorf & Davis, the founder's [Rolex] watch import business. The scratched notes on the back are service dates - 1937 I think I see on one of them. The red print at 12 o'clock was a characteristic of this period for Rolex in both arabic and Roman numerals. Enamel dial is badly (from a collectors PoV) cracked and I think the lume plots have been a later addition and aren't original.
No idea on value, I'd guess at around 3-400 quid* tops and it'd take some doing to get that dial sorted out so maybe best to just leave it as it is and keep it as a keepsake perhaps.
(*The usual caveat applies - it may of course be the unicorn egg of Rolexs' and be worth gazillions. But I don't think so.)
Thanks for that info, I know next to nothing about watches.No idea on value, I'd guess at around 3-400 quid* tops and it'd take some doing to get that dial sorted out so maybe best to just leave it as it is and keep it as a keepsake perhaps.
(*The usual caveat applies - it may of course be the unicorn egg of Rolexs' and be worth gazillions. But I don't think so.)
The lume plots aren't original seeing as a few of them are off centre, unless it was finished on a Friday!
I do love the simplicity of the dial but as you say, probably just best to keep as is.
andy_s said:
ETA - the 't' indicates London 1914, silver of course. If your G'father was in the war then maybe a going away present or other, was he an officer by any chance?
My grandfather was a doctor in WWII out East for a period, as I said I'm not sure where he got it from. I'll have to ask my dad when I see him next.erm...that value can't be right
http://www.ww1watch.com/shop/Rolex/product/1914-Ce...
http://www.ww1watch.com/shop/Rolex/product/1914-Ce...
Edited by AndrewEH1 on Sunday 30th November 18:34
^ Ha - as I say....
Thing is that the one linked has the centre seconds - (you can see the additional wheel in the movement picture) which is probably where the rarity comes in, plus that one's in 'new' condition.
The best advice would be over somewhere like VRF (http://www.vintagerolexforum.com/) perhaps.
Thing is that the one linked has the centre seconds - (you can see the additional wheel in the movement picture) which is probably where the rarity comes in, plus that one's in 'new' condition.
The best advice would be over somewhere like VRF (http://www.vintagerolexforum.com/) perhaps.
andy_s said:
^ Ha - as I say....
Thing is that the one linked has the centre seconds - (you can see the additional wheel in the movement picture) which is probably where the rarity comes in, plus that one's in 'new' condition.
The best advice would be over somewhere like VRF (http://www.vintagerolexforum.com/) perhaps.
Didn't spot the extra wheel! Is it okay to say that Rolex collectors are a little nutty?Thing is that the one linked has the centre seconds - (you can see the additional wheel in the movement picture) which is probably where the rarity comes in, plus that one's in 'new' condition.
The best advice would be over somewhere like VRF (http://www.vintagerolexforum.com/) perhaps.
I think I'll keep it as is, nice thing to look at. I'll do some digging to see if there is any story behind it.
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