This Watch

We have here an exciting Rolex Oyster from the 1940s.  This early Oyster model 4377/4461 has a stunningly aged dial with nice, even patina.  The mixture of rarer, gilt, Roman numerals and stick markers add to the interesting appeal of the dial.  Elegant, gilt, pencil hour and minute hands, along with the subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock, keep the watch symmetrical.  The dial is signed 'Rolex Oyster,' with the famous Rolex crown logo at 12 o'clock and 'Shock Resisting' just about the sub seconds dial.  There is some slight fading to the 'E' of 'Rolex' but we love how this adds to the originality of the watch and we expect some age or patina to a piece of this vintage but originality is the key. 

The 34mm, stainless steel, Oyster case has the classic screw back case and original scarce flat oyster screw-down crown is a comfortable wear for both him and her.  Inside is the mechanical manual wind caliber 10.5H fully serviced by us and running strongly.  We've paired this piece on a 19mm black croc grain strap and Rolex style buckle but it looks great on brown too.

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Hans Wilsdorf founded Rolex in 1905 at the age of 24, along with Alfred Davis in London.  In 1919 they moved their operation to Geneva, Switzerland.  This move was brought about by high wartime taxes on Gold and Silver in the UK after the Great war 1914-1918.  They were now closer to their suppliers in Bienne.

The Rolex Oyster case was released in 1926.  Marketed as the world's first “waterproof” watch.  The notches on the bezel and case back meant they could be screwed down to the middle case with a special tool invented and manufactured by Rolex to hermetically seal the case.  In 1927 a young swimmer Miss Mercedes Gleitz swam the English channel wearing the “Oyster”.  Later in 1933 the team of the first expedition to fly over Everest wore them.  It was also famously worn by Sir Malcolm Campbell, “King Of Speed”, on the 4th September 1935.  An advert of the time made a big splash with him saying “The Rolex watch is still keeping perfect time- I was wearing it yesterday when Bluebird exceeded 300 mph.”  He broke the world land speed record 9 times between 1924 and 1936.  1931 saw the debut of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, their first self-winding watch that was also water-resistant and dustproof. 

This watch comes fully serviced by our on-site workshop and with our 12 months, non-waterproof service cover.

What we think

An absolute classic design and a timeless beauty - we're huge fans of the 1940s Rolex Oysters here at AWC, and this is such a stunning example!  Oozing with character that you can't find with a modern Rolex and we are head over heels for that patina!  It's a comfortable wear on both male and female wrists and would make a stunning addition to any respectable collection.

Spec Stuff