Presumably built within a couple of years of very first Oyster in 1926, this is one of the very early Oysters Rolex made. It was made for the British market and bears a Glasgow assay office hallmark.
As a small mens midsized or "boys size" watch, it was made for the tastes at the time and is best suited for someone with a small wrist.
Without question one of the company's greatest contributions to horology is in the area of waterproof cases. The Rolex Oyster case birthed the idea of the modern sport watch as we know it and was a key catalyst for the initial widespread acceptance of the wristwatch.
Several events worked to greatly popularize the watch: Sir Malcolm Campbell's land speed record attempt where he achieved a speed of 272 mpg, all done while wearing perfectly functioning Oyster. And, of course, perhaps the most well-known early event in the company's history: wearing an Oyster. Following the historic event, Rolex took out a full-page ad in the Daily Mail introducing the Oyster.
Wilsdorf was also a branding innovator. While having only the jewelers name on the dial was common prior to around 1926, when the retailers had more power than the watch maker, Hans Wilsdorf was a watch branding pioneer and realized that the name Rolex would never become famous only stamped on the movement; he became one of the first watch manufacturers to insist the brand name also was on the dial.
"Tired of waiting, in 1925, I decided to launch the "Rolex" trade mark by means of an intensive advertising campaign. The policy entailed annual expenditure of more than £12,000 - not for one year alone, but for several in succession. One of the results thus obtained was that dealers agreed first that four, and later five, out of every six watches should bear the name of "Rolex". At last, in 1927, the waterproof "Rolex-Oyster" was launched and we were then in a position to announce definitely that in future not one of our watches would ever again leave our works without our name on the dial, inside the case and on the movement." (Excerpt from Vade Mecum Rolex)
All of its parts appear original, including its original Rolex "onion" crown, suggestive of a pocket watch, the watch's predecessor.
Its sterling silver Oyster case with screw down bezel is in excellent condition. It is scratch-free and has all of its original markings still fully intact.
Its silver dial was refinished in vintage times. It is bright and clean in excellent condition with only slight aging.
Powering the watch is its original very high grade Rolex caliber chronometer handwound movement rated Prima with special Elinvar hairspring. Photos of the inside available upon request.
A Master Watchmaker has overhauled the movement. It is keeping very accurate time.
For the finishing touch we have installed a brand new Hirsch strap making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. warranty on the movement and its function and a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity.
- Manufacturer: Rolex
- Country of origin: Switzerland
- Year made: c. the second half of the 1920's
- Model: Oyster, ref. 7614 / 7733
- Functions: Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds
- Designed for: Men originally - a "boys size"
- Case material: Sterling silver
- Case condition: Excellent condition. It is scratch-free and has all of its original markings still fully intact.
- Case markings (outside): Its sterling silver Oyster case with screw down bezel is in excellent condition. It is scratch-free and has all of its original markings still fully intact.
- Crown: Original, "onion" style
- Dial: Silver, signed Rolex Oyster, black painted Art Deco numerals, railroad minute track, sunken subsidiary seconds dial, refinished in vintage times. It is bright and clean in excellent condition with only slight aging.
- Dimensions: 28.5mm wide (excluding crown - with the crown 32mm) by 33mm long lug tip to tip
- Hands: Original, blue steel "feuilles"
- Movement type: Rolex, manually wound, nickel finished, correctly signed, 15-jewel lever movement with Elinvar overcoil hairspring, index regulator, signed Rolex, rated "Prima"
- Band: Hirsch, remborde, designed for fixed lug use, brand new and unworn.
- Band width: 14mm
- Crystal type: Acrylic, good condition.
- Serviced: A Master Watchmaker has overhauled the movement.
- Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. It is keeping very accurate time. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.
- Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email [email protected] for details.
- Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity
- Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee
