Can anyone shed any light on this Vintage Rolex?

[Scottery]

Hi folks would anyone possibly be able to share information on this Rolex watch that i have seen for auction locally. I was wondering if i could pick it up and try and have a watchmaker refurb it.

"Rolex wristwatch with silver dial and Arabic numerals, subsidiaries dial, movement set 15 rubies, missing winder, in 9ct gold Rolex stamped case, on black leather strap, glass scratched, serial number 8442, engraved inscription verso, H A E McKill, (case 3.3cm x 2.2cm), not working"





Thanks

Scott

[330ci]

Looks like something from the 20s or 30s, but the odds of finding the rest of the case, and it being worthwhile to restore after acquiring it and paying restoration costs are slim to none

[TuRo]

Here's similar Tonneau cased ones btw. Looks like dial is repainted and ends of case are different/missing.

Rolex Precision
£3,225
https://chrono24.app/rolex/precision...GB&SETCURR=GBP

https://watchesofwestminster.co.uk/s...original-dial/

Btw - There's some info on Harold Arthur Ernest McKill (born 1894) on Ancestry btw. Might be him.

[330ci]

Originally Posted by TuRo

Here's similar Tonneau cased ones btw. Looks like dial is repainted and ends of case are different/missing.

Rolex Precision
£3,225
https://chrono24.app/rolex/precision...GB&SETCURR=GBP

https://watchesofwestminster.co.uk/s...original-dial/

Btw - There's some info on Harold Arthur Ernest McKill (born 1894) on Ancestry btw. Might be him.

Nice find


https://www.bonhams.com/auction/2595...87-circa-1930/


Here's a sale from a few years back. Not sure who's paying 3k quid for that

[Scottery]

Originally Posted by 330ci

Looks like something from the 20s or 30s, but the odds of finding the rest of the case, and it being worthwhile to restore after acquiring it and paying restoration costs are slim to none

Good to know - youd have to get aftermarket or close to parts which kinda ruin the authenticity anyways..

[CTech]

It's a late 1920s to mid-1930s model 2387 and there are a lot of confusing inconsistencies with it that would need investigation before committing to buying and restoring it.

The photos show the movement/dial/hands in the case back, so that then leads to the question about whether the rest of the case is included.

The description says the "glass is scratched" which is confusing.

As pictured it is a parts watch, possibly useful to a jeweler to salvage bits to keep other similar movements running.

If the rest of the case is included then it might be a viable project but you would need to know a lot about why it is in the current state and what parts would need to be sourced or manufactured to get it running again.

Similar watches in much better condition than this one sell for relatively low prices so this one isn't worth saving if it need major work or parts such as a new balance staff or one of the plates.

This has probably come out of a jeweler's parts drawer and, if so, it will already have had some investigation with the conclusion that it has too many problems to be economically repaired.

I might be tempted if the price is very low, but otherwise I would leave it alone as the restoration costs could very easily exceed what the finished watch would be worth.

[Scottery]

Originally Posted by CTech

It's a late 1920s to mid-1930s model 2387 and there are a lot of confusing inconsistencies with it that would need investigation before committing to buying and restoring it.

The photos show the movement/dial/hands in the case back, so that then leads to the question about whether the rest of the case is included.

The description says the "glass is scratched" which is confusing.

As pictured it is a parts watch, possibly useful to a jeweler to salvage bits to keep other similar movements running.

If the rest of the case is included then it might be a viable project but you would need to know a lot about why it is in the current state and what parts would need to be sourced or manufactured to get it running again.

Similar watches in much better condition than this one sell for relatively low prices so this one isn't worth saving if it need major work or parts such as a new balance staff or one of the plates.

This has probably come out of a jeweler's parts drawer and, if so, it will already have had some investigation with the conclusion that it has too many problems to be economically repaired.

I might be tempted if the price is very low, but otherwise I would leave it alone as the restoration costs could very easily exceed what the finished watch would be worth.

Many thanks for the input :) I will post more pics when i see it in person.

[330ci]

Originally Posted by Scottery

Good to know - youd have to get aftermarket or close to parts which kinda ruin the authenticity anyways..

I'm sure the case was contracted by some British company that could likely be found out through hallmarks in the caseback. Then you could find a potentially suitable case from there.

Just alot of research, effort and money to restore a watch with little collector/historic value unless the name ends up being someone prominent

[CTech]

[QUOTE=330ci;12587929]I'm sure the case was contracted by some British company that could likely be found out through hallmarks in the caseback.

It's unlikely that there are any maker's marks in the case back as it was a lot later that Rolex started using locally made cases. The 1920s or 1930s cases might well have been made in the UK but there generally no marks to identify that and they usually have Swiss hallmarks from when the case was manufactured and then UK hallmarks from when the watch was imported.

The case backs usually look something like this one:

[330ci]

[QUOTE=CTech;12588182]

Originally Posted by 330ci

I'm sure the case was contracted by some British company that could likely be found out through hallmarks in the caseback.

It's unlikely that there are any maker's marks in the case back as it was a lot later that Rolex started using locally made cases. The 1920s or 1930s cases might well have been made in the UK but there generally no marks to identify that and they usually have Swiss hallmarks from when the case was manufactured and then UK hallmarks from when the watch was imported.

The case backs usually look something like this one:

I assumed it would've been made in England because of the 9ct case.

Which I guess the good news is, makes it more interesting.

Bad news is... not likely to ever find another case unless a water logged one comes to market.