Rare Swiss 18 carat gold hexagonal Class A watch Circa 1940

Gold rare lever dress watch
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A fine and rare Swiss 18 carat gold open faced keyless pocket watch with Class A Observatory movement made by Rolex, circa 1940. The rhodium plated oval Ultra Prima movement with 17 jewels, a straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to eight positions, self compensating blued steel Breguet balance spring, Rolex patented cap and an index regulator. Black face with small eccentric time indication at 12 o’clock featuring radial white painted baton hour indexes, an outer minute track and white steel sword hands, subsidiary seconds at 6. The irregular hexagonal, polished case with a snap on back. Dial and case signed, movement signed and numbered.
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Dimensions: 41 x 37 mm
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Signed: Rolex Prince Imperial Swiss made
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Reference 1645.
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Produced in small quantities from the early 1940s until the 1950s, the Rolex Imperial was unusual, even by Rolex standards. With a novel case shape, this was an elegant evening dress pocket watch that could be worn for a night out at the theater. A very well conserved black dial combined with an observatory quality finished movement and the contrast with the yellow gold case makes this piece highly desirable.
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Rolex is a luxury watch brand founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, England. Originally called Wilsdorf & Davis, the company changed its name to Rolex in 1908.
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Rolex has a rich history of innovation and achievement in the watchmaking industry. In 1910, it was the first watch company to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, which is awarded to timepieces that pass a series of rigorous tests for accuracy and reliability. In 1926, Rolex introduced the Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. This was followed by the introduction of the Perpetual rotor, which automatically winds the watch’s mainspring as the wearer moves their wrist. Over the years, Rolex has continued to innovate and push the boundaries of watchmaking technology.
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Today, Rolex is one of the most recognized and respected luxury watch brands in the world, known for its precision, durability and timeless style.