Any vintage Rolex experts here?

[uncinqsix]

My grandfather's old watch has surfaced from within the extended family, having presumably been buried in someone's drawer since he died around 44 years ago. It's a 1939-ish Rolex Oyster Chronometer, model 2765:



From what we understand, he bought it off an American soldier/sailor/airman somewhere in the Pacific during the war. Despite laying dormant for god knows how long, after a good wind it's now ticking along keeping time to within 20 seconds a day.

Does anyone know anything about this model? Would be interesting to get a little more historical context.

[wisbech]

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25398/lot/37/

From a 2019 auction

[Sheetmaself]

Well thats a lot lower than i thought it would be!!!

[uncinqsix]

wisbech said:

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25398/lot/37/

From a 2019 auction

Thanks: bit of interesting detail there.

We'll probably get it cleaned and serviced at some point. Does anyone know what the crystal is likely to be made from? It almost looks like it has stress cracks in it, like you see the when you bend perspex.

[OGR4M]

uncinqsix said:

Thanks: bit of interesting detail there.

We'll probably get it cleaned and serviced at some point. Does anyone know what the crystal is likely to be made from? It almost looks like it has stress cracks in it, like you see the when you bend perspex.

Hesalite Crystal was in use by that era, I don’t know if it is, I can’t find anything online, but Omega Speedmasters are the most famous watch to use that “advanced form of polycarbonate” (google definition) and older models of those tend to show fatigue, so that, or a similar blend of hard plastic, would be my guess