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Dr.Smellody · 24 May 2025, 07:34 AM

The Rolex Sky-Rocket was marketed to Canadian servicemen, primarily pilots, during WW2.

They were cased in American made cases and were motivated by the Cal. 59 movement.

I've been after a nice example for years as I particularly like the name.

I took a chance on this one out of Canada
and was rewarded with a PERFECT gilt dial. I speculate that the watch has been dry stored and stored face down, this allowed the radium to melt into the acrylic crystal instead of the dial.

I'll need to source a crystal, but damn, it will be a looker!

seattleal · 24 May 2025, 11:09 AM

That is really cool.
Can't wait to see it with a new, clear crystal

DarknerImperator · 24 May 2025, 05:28 PM

Wow!!!! love it!!!

1William · 24 May 2025, 10:52 PM

Learn something new everyday. Nice.

cop414 · 25 May 2025, 12:07 PM

Damn, that’s sweet!

T-Steve · 25 May 2025, 12:55 PM

That is the coolest thing I've seen today. I'd never heard of that model.

Congratulations. It will be a nice one.

Jackie Daytona · 26 May 2025, 03:18 AM

Really interesting stuff. Look forwards to seeing the next round of pictures in its evolution.

TuRo · 26 May 2025, 04:57 AM

That's a corker - rare as Hen's Teeth...

Rebel · 26 May 2025, 07:24 AM

Sweet.

Dr.Smellody · 3 June 2025, 01:11 PM

Dr.Smellody · 3 June 2025, 02:03 PM

Dr.Smellody · 5 June 2025, 01:46 AM

Found an original ad in one of my books. Definitely marketed towards servicemen.

Avs Fan · 5 June 2025, 11:20 AM

Nice! How far can we be from the rocket dweller?

donaker · 7 June 2025, 06:04 AM

Wow, are those radium burns on the crystal?

Dr.Smellody · 7 June 2025, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donaker

Wow, are those radium burns on the crystal?

Yes. Burnt to a crisp. Just sourced a NOS Caliber 59 11mm syringe hands set.

Will have to find a crystal next.

wcgreiner · 7 June 2025, 06:58 AM

That dial’s a time capsule—radium ghosts and all. Killer find!

Kingface66 · 7 June 2025, 08:04 AM

Not to overreact, but is there any danger to holding a corroding, radium-burnt, all dusty dial in your hands like that? I guess inhaling anything is the real concern. But still.
Mask??

That said, man, is that cool.

Dr.Smellody · 7 June 2025, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Not to overreact, but is there any danger to holding a corroding, radium-burnt, all dusty dial in your hands like that? I guess inhaling anything is the real concern. But still.
Mask??

That said, man, is that cool.

Thanks. If I did that everyday I would worry. The radium interestingly had all settled in the crystal and encrusted the hands.

Im sure I had some exposure, but dabbed, cleaned, disposed and then washed up good.

I'm not glowing yet!

subtona · 7 June 2025, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1William

Learn something new everyday. Nice.

oldtools · 8 June 2025, 11:35 AM

Nice! I haven't seen a Skyrocket with a black dial.
Here's mine with a white dial

brandrea · 8 June 2025, 11:41 AM

I’ve never heard of this reference until now. Thank you for sharing

TheVTCGuy · 8 June 2025, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandrea

I’ve never heard of this reference until now. Thank you for sharing

Same, these are amazing! Congrats to you both!

padi56 · 8 June 2025, 09:47 PM

There were many names given to Rolex watches back in the 1930s into late 1940s when most all were discontinued except for the Airking. There was the Air Lion, Air Tiger, Air-giant, SpaceDweller, SkyRocket, Speedking, Falcon, Orchid, Observatory, Tridor, Athlete,Commando,Turtle Timer,Canadian Empire, Oyster Lipton, Rolex Scientific,Rolex Everest,Tudor Advisor,Oyster Junior Sport, Oyster Raleigh, Oyster Commander, Oyster Recorda, Oyster Edison, Oyster Grenfell, Oyster Shipmate and Oyster Standard,and there are a quite a few more that I cannot remember .Watches like the Sykrocket plus many others were made for the Canadian and European market only, as Rolex at that time did not have a foot hold to sell in the US market.

Dr.Smellody · 9 June 2025, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldtools

Nice! I haven't seen a Skyrocket with a black dial.
Here's mine with a white dial

Fantastic!!

scsi-terminator · 11 June 2025, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldtools

Nice! I haven't seen a Skyrocket with a black dial.
Here's mine with a white dial

Wow! Nice, and with box as well! What size is the watch? I’ve only even seen the 2 posted here, very cool, thanks for sharing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

watchdawg · 11 June 2025, 09:13 AM

Wow

oldtools · 12 June 2025, 01:12 PM

The watch measures 30mm.
I inherited it from a family member who served as a bomber pilot during World War II. He held dual citizenship in both the United States and Canada, and he once told me he had to choose between joining the Royal Air Force or the U.S. Army Air Forces. Which fits with what Dr. Smellody says "The Rolex Sky-Rocket was marketed to Canadian servicemen, primarily pilots, during WW2". He mentioned that the watch was inexpensive—pilots at the time didn’t expect to live long, so investing in something more costly didn’t make much sense.

Dr.Smellody · 19 June 2025, 06:56 AM

Update

24 May 2025, 07:34 AM	#1
Dr.Smellody "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 5,554	Sky-Rocket The Rolex Sky-Rocket was marketed to Canadian servicemen, primarily pilots, during WW2. They were cased in American made cases and were motivated by the Cal. 59 movement. I've been after a nice example for years as I particularly like the name. I took a chance on this one out of Canada and was rewarded with a PERFECT gilt dial. I speculate that the watch has been dry stored and stored face down, this allowed the radium to melt into the acrylic crystal instead of the dial. I'll need to source a crystal, but damn, it will be a looker!

25 May 2025, 12:07 PM	#5
cop414 TRF Moderator & 2025 Titanium Yacht-Master Patron Join Date: Apr 2012 Real Name: Tim Location: Pennsylvania Watch: 14060M Posts: 74,758	Damn, that’s sweet! __________________ Rolex Submariner 14060M Omega Seamaster 2254.50 DOXA Professional 1200T Card carrying member of TRF's Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons TRF's "After Dark" Bar & Night Club Patron P Club Member #17 2 FA ENABLED

26 May 2025, 03:18 AM	#7
Jackie Daytona 2025 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Real Name: Brian Location: Nashville Watch: 16750 Posts: 7,140	Really interesting stuff. Look forwards to seeing the next round of pictures in its evolution. __________________ 16750 \| 6516(wife’s) \| 126334 \| SBGA413 \| SRPE33 \| 126610LV

26 May 2025, 04:57 AM	#8
TuRo "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Real Name: Paul Location: Cantabrigia - G.B Watch: ing the detectives Posts: 3,111	That's a corker - rare as Hen's Teeth... __________________ The Greatest - BRIAN WILSON R.I.P - Do my dreaming and my scheming, Lie awake and pray, Do my crying and my sighing, Laugh at yesterday..... IN MY ROOM - BEACH BOYS

26 May 2025, 07:24 AM	#9
Rebel "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Real Name: Dr Mark R Nail Location: New Albany Watch: Tudor Sub 75090 Posts: 8,427	Sweet. __________________ ------------------------------- Member of the Nylon Nation

24 May 2025, 11:09 AM	#2
seattleal "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Al Location: Out West Watch: 4 Digit Subs Posts: 892	That is really cool. Can't wait to see it with a new, clear crystal

24 May 2025, 05:28 PM	#3
DarknerImperator "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2017 Real Name: Francesco Location: Italy Posts: 163	Wow!!!! love it!!!

24 May 2025, 10:52 PM	#4
1William 2025 TitaniumYM Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: North Carolina Watch: Rolex/Others Posts: 50,508	Learn something new everyday. Nice.

25 May 2025, 12:55 PM	#6
T-Steve "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Real Name: Steve Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 41	That is the coolest thing I've seen today. I'd never heard of that model. Congratulations. It will be a nice one.

3 June 2025, 01:11 PM	#10
Dr.Smellody "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 5,554

3 June 2025, 02:03 PM	#11
Dr.Smellody "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 5,554

5 June 2025, 01:46 AM	#12
Dr.Smellody "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 5,554	Found an original ad in one of my books. Definitely marketed towards servicemen.

5 June 2025, 11:20 AM	#13
Avs Fan "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,665	Nice! How far can we be from the rocket dweller?

7 June 2025, 06:04 AM	#14
donaker "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Canada Watch: Dad's 5508 Posts: 356	Wow, are those radium burns on the crystal? __________________

7 June 2025, 06:58 AM	#16
wcgreiner "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2024 Real Name: Chris Location: California Watch: Rolex Daytona Posts: 224	That dial’s a time capsule—radium ghosts and all. Killer find!

7 June 2025, 08:04 AM	#17
Kingface66 2025 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The Empire State Watch: Many Posts: 3,529	Not to overreact, but is there any danger to holding a corroding, radium-burnt, all dusty dial in your hands like that? I guess inhaling anything is the real concern. But still. Mask?? That said, man, is that cool. __________________

8 June 2025, 11:35 AM	#20
oldtools "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Arizona Posts: 8	Nice! I haven't seen a Skyrocket with a black dial. Here's mine with a white dial Attached Images

8 June 2025, 11:41 AM	#21
brandrea 2025 TitaniumYM Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Brian (TBone) Location: canada Watch: es make me smile Posts: 81,969	I’ve never heard of this reference until now. Thank you for sharing

8 June 2025, 09:47 PM	#23
padi56 "TRF" Life Patron Join Date: Jun 2005 Real Name: Peter Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng Watch: ing you. Posts: 53,611	There were many names given to Rolex watches back in the 1930s into late 1940s when most all were discontinued except for the Airking. There was the Air Lion, Air Tiger, Air-giant, SpaceDweller, SkyRocket, Speedking, Falcon, Orchid, Observatory, Tridor, Athlete,Commando,Turtle Timer,Canadian Empire, Oyster Lipton, Rolex Scientific,Rolex Everest,Tudor Advisor,Oyster Junior Sport, Oyster Raleigh, Oyster Commander, Oyster Recorda, Oyster Edison, Oyster Grenfell, Oyster Shipmate and Oyster Standard,and there are a quite a few more that I cannot remember .Watches like the Sykrocket plus many others were made for the Canadian and European market only, as Rolex at that time did not have a foot hold to sell in the US market. __________________ ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder

11 June 2025, 09:13 AM	#26
watchdawg "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Real Name: Vic Location: Colorado/UAE Watch: GMT 1675 Posts: 497	Wow

12 June 2025, 01:12 PM	#27
oldtools "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Arizona Posts: 8	The watch measures 30mm. I inherited it from a family member who served as a bomber pilot during World War II. He held dual citizenship in both the United States and Canada, and he once told me he had to choose between joining the Royal Air Force or the U.S. Army Air Forces. Which fits with what Dr. Smellody says "The Rolex Sky-Rocket was marketed to Canadian servicemen, primarily pilots, during WW2". He mentioned that the watch was inexpensive—pilots at the time didn’t expect to live long, so investing in something more costly didn’t make much sense. Attached Images

19 June 2025, 06:56 AM	#28
Dr.Smellody "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 5,554	Update

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