World War One Era Rolex

shofukan

Hey folks, looking for info on WWI era Rolex Pocket watches such as the one below:



Thanks

Axe Rake

Seems they were issued from 1910's to 1940's.

Many versions exist for civilian, military and nursing, etc for the British MoD.

They were used because they were extremely reliable and sturdy.
I dunno much else really sorry

shofukan

Axe Rake wrote: »

Seems they were issued from 1910's to 1940's.

Many versions exist for civilian, military and nursing, etc for the British MoD.

They were used because they were extremely reliable and sturdy.
I dunno much else really sorry

Yes!
Off to a flying start my good man! Thanks
Specifically interested in the military issue ones myself if anyone else can help me out!

Wibbs

The military ones should have a broadarrow symbol on the back. They're usually black dialed with full radium dials and cathedral hands. Like Axe Rake said they came in different styles/quality. Some of the larger cased ones may be for aviation use, for mounting to the instrument panel in the cockpit.

They were a popular buy in for the British armed forces for a couple of reasons. Probably the biggest being that they were originally a London based company(one of the founders was British), so stock was easier to come by(though UK import taxes hit the company as stock was coming in from switzerland). They were also reasonably priced.

Quality wise they were variable, especially in the early days. They were a mid line watch. The pocket watches were better than their early wristwatches (pre oyster) on that score. The latter were not up there with an average Zenith, IWC, Longines and the like. That came later. That said they did get one of the first chronometer awards for a wristwatch early on. Just the average one was not of that quality compared to other makers. They also cleverly anticipated the massive shift from pocket to wrist. Up to WW1 wristwatches(or wristlets) were considered very feminine and were a tiny market. Rolex spotted the trend and helped build it too.

Few enough of the early ones have Rolex written on the dial. That was often left blank so individual retailers could put their name on(Mappin would be one such name), or if it was for miltary use the name was left off anyway(like the one in your picture). How you know it's a rolex is by the movement marks W&D(Wilsdorf & Davis) stamped into it. That wasn't unusual at the time either. Watches were as much "custom" built. Go into a retailer, pick the movement and the case and the dial design.

shofukan

Wibbs wrote: »

The military ones should have a broadarrow symbol on the back. They're usually black dialed with full radium dials and cathedral hands. Like Axe Rake said they came in different styles/quality. Some of the larger cased ones may be for aviation use, for mounting to the instrument panel in the cockpit.

They were a popular buy in for the British armed forces for a couple of reasons. Probably the biggest being that they were originally a London based company(one of the founders was British), so stock was easier to come by(though UK import taxes hit the company as stock was coming in from switzerland). They were also reasonably priced.

Quality wise they were variable, especially in the early days. They were a mid line watch. The pocket watches were better than their early wristwatches (pre oyster) on that score. The latter were not up there with an average Zenith, IWC, Longines and the like. That came later. That said they did get one of the first chronometer awards for a wristwatch early on. Just the average one was not of that quality compared to other makers. They also cleverly anticipated the massive shift from pocket to wrist. Up to WW1 wristwatches(or wristlets) were considered very feminine and were a tiny market. Rolex spotted the trend and helped build it too.

Few enough of the early ones have Rolex written on the dial. That was often left blank so individual retailers could put their name on(Mappin would be one such name), or if it was for miltary use the name was left off anyway(like the one in your picture). How you know it's a rolex is by the movement marks W&D(Wilsdorf & Davis) stamped into it. That wasn't unusual at the time either. Watches were as much "custom" built. Go into a retailer, pick the movement and the case and the dial design.

Wibbs you're a hero!
My grandfather had one years ago but (as usual) it's gone missing at some stage in the last few years. Was just looking for some info on it to give to the grandmother
Thanks so much!