Vintage Rolex identification

[curios]

My wife has inherited her grandfathers Rolex watch.
I've just searched for the last few hours to find similar but nothing exact. It looks a little worn, we think it may have been worn during WWII at the North Africa front (he was in the UK services).
Manual wind, Not Automatic.
No markings on the rear.

Can anyone provide any knowledge on this watch?

TIA
Glen

[jmiicustomz]

No way to take the back off? It could help to see what movement is in it. RWT is the man, if he chimes in on this, he works wonders on vintage Rolex.

To know the future is to be trapped by it

[curios]

Originally Posted by jmiicustomz

No way to take the back off? It could help to see what movement is in it. RWT is the man, if he chimes in on this, he works wonders on vintage Rolex.

To know the future is to be trapped by it

I don't have any appropriate tools.. so not without damaging it.

[jmiicustomz]

Originally Posted by curios

I don't have any appropriate tools.. so not without damaging it.

Got it. Can you get pics of the back of it?

To know the future is to be trapped by it

[curios]

The back is clean.. nothing on it.

got a clearer face pic

[77T]

Sure looks like other cushion cased Rolex models of the late '30's but the dial does not fit those same models. The subsidiary seconds dial overlaps the chapter ring - haven't seen that in a non-Oyster cased Rolex of that era.

[Paul]

Nice watch. A gentleman's watch in its day. Small case of course so fashion dictates that it might be better suited for a woman nowadays.

Dial looks pretty good to me (disclaimer - I'm just seeing little pics on my cell phone) . We sometimes see the sub-dial encroaching upon the chapter ring in that era.

Possibly a simple snap fit for the case back - if so a quick flip with a finger nail will often pop it open and let you see the movement. More care is needed if you use a tool - the case and case back can be damaged quite easily.

Some had solid gold cases, some were gold filled, others had a fairly thin (fragile) layer of plating. So, be careful how you approach it if you choose to clean the case up.

Here's before and after pics of one I fixed up ( a humble plated case on mine)..

[77T]

Sorry I may have left out a part of my post - I meant on Rolex printed dials. They did make a Rolco printed dial with a subdial of that looks like the OPs picture. (See below)

Of course there are many old dials that aren't in any catalog or history book.

[curios]

Thanks I opened the back up.. Pics to come.

[curios]

So I took the back off... was very reluctant to do this until you said I could do it with a thumbnail.. The mechanism is working nicely..

Face:
The numbers on the watch face aren't painted on they are raised off the face. Underneath the seconds dial is "SWISS MA.." maybe made, its a bit worn and may show in the pic.

Mechanism:
It shows a Rolex 15 Rubies mechanism.

Back cover:
RWCLtd in an oval
.375 and hallmarks (I assume 9ct gold)
7162 is stamped underneath this.

The watchmaker has also etched a few things into the back.. one being:
"WT281177.." and maybe 01 after that. Nearby is
"T956".

The watchmaker also looks like he put(etched) a calculation to one side.. this is much harder to read and is on the other side to the "WT" etching.

I'll continue to search for clues but if anyone has better knowledge, Id really appreciate your help.

Thanks

[R.W.T.]

30s 9k solid.

Nice condition movement. Is it running? Early Solid Arm Super Balance.

Looks as though it might be a 9 3/4 ligne as opposed to 10.5 h.

What is the diameter in mm of the movement?


Original dial.

Very cool! The movements are reared this nice because the case is not oyster. It's been apart a few time but even the screws are nt to buggered. 15 jewel...kind of typical low jewel count for gent's non oyster watches. It's a watch...no chronometer or higher position rating....not 17 or 18 jewel. Doesn't mean it's not a great watch it just means it wasn't rated.

[curios]

From what I've found it could be a 1935 model. It is running and as far as I can tell keeping accurate time for a watch that hasn't been wound in 20 years.

Is it worth restoring or keeping as current state?

My wife is thinking of selling it, so I will need to find an antique watch dealer here in Australia.

[offrdmania]

The collector value is in its originality