Help in identification Rolex/Tudor

[Curbster]

Does anyone know the year and model of this watch that was given to my Mother-in-law on her 18 birthday - 1949 ? We are curious to know what model and year it is, and how difficult it would be to have the lens repaired or whatever makes it clear again. It works perfectly other than that.
Thanks for any information.

[offrdmania]

Open up the case and see what the movement is marked and what is marked on the case back. I dont think I have ever seen a cocktail watch that says both Tudor and Rolex on the dial in that way and that big.

[Curbster]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Open up the case and see what the movement is marked and what is marked on the case back. I dont think I have ever seen a cocktail watch that says both Tudor and Rolex on the dial in that way and that big.

Okay I will do that. Is there a special way to open the case or tool? I know it was an expensive watch in those days as my Father-in-law spent a whole paycheck on it way back then. Hopefully they weren't making fakes or anything in those years. This was bought in Northern Manitoba, Canada in 1948.

[Curbster]

Okay, so I saw how to open the case and did so. Fairly easy and pretty much the same as many of the other watches I have fiddled with over the years. Took a bit of a picture, but I don't have any super-duper camera so it is not the best quality. I did use a magnifying glass and see the number is J15114 There are some other lighter etchings but I can't really make them out. And I totally forgot to read any numbers on the movement.

[offrdmania]

Most likely that is the case number and the case is 14K gold. A very close up pic of the movement should give a movement number. As for the model of watch, it will be really hard. What is the number scratched in above where it says Rolex?

[Curbster]

I have taken a few more pictures of this watch. The movement, and the case. The numbers we can see on the back case appear to be 32374 and we can't really see any numbers on the movement. Not a lot more that we can see actually. Are the lighter etchings done by some jeweler doing repairs and cleaning at a later day?

[offrdmania]

I dont see a Tudor or Rolex mark on that movement. Im not an expert on these early watches by any means but the ones I have seen have always been marked

[Curbster]

Well that is food for thought! I know this has to be 1948 or prior, depending how long it sat in the jewelry store. Could it not be a Tudor even if it is marked Rolex/Tudor on the face?

[offrdmania]

People have been faking watches for a very long time. What we do know is that the movement is Swiss made, no doubt about that. That face could be reworked/repainted, as well as that case back. That face was the first thing that jumped out at me as being odd, having both names just as big as the other. The Rolex mark and 14K mark on the case back look pretty crude to me for being Tudor or Rolex. Their workmanship is much nicer than that, even back then. It may just be a late 40's fake built from a basic, non branded Swiss cocktail watch in order to deceive. Back then, the basic watch could have sold for $100 and a Rolex/Tudor was $400. Write and engrave Rolex on it and you just made an additional $300.

[Curbster]

Ok. Thanks for that input! I asked my mother-in-law where it was purchased and she informs me that either Sears or Eatons catalogue order is where it came from originally. She had it cleaned and set by a local jeweler in about 1998, so the plot thickens. You would think a real jeweler would have seen the discrimination, unless he was somehow responsible for possible changes. He was a trusted fellow by my mother in laws evaluation. Go figure! I wonder if the case numbers mean anything?

[offrdmania]

The 115114 may have been the original case number. I dont think Rolex or Tudor was ever sold through Sears or Eatons

[Curbster]

The conspiracy is afoot now! Well I feel sorry for my late Father-in-law who was probably quite convinced that he was buying a genuine Rolex as a very special gift to the lovely lady of his life, as there was never anything but long lasting true love between them! I have not mentioned anything to my Mother-in-law as the memories and significance of their long relationship are all that matter to her. My daughter who now has this watch, and knows this story, will cherish it for similar reasons, so it will remain in the family for as long as it exists. Thanks for your input and assistance!