Swiss silver open faced Scientific pocket watch Circa 1935

Silver keyless lever sweep seconds Doctor’s watch
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A fine Swiss sterling silver open faced Scientific pocket watch, made by Rolex circa 1935. It features a mechanical keyless crown winding movement with 15 jewels, a lever escapement, and a central seconds drive mechanism, with bridges signed SWISS MADE and 15 JEWELS. The silvered dial has black Arabic quarter hour numerals (12, 3, 6, 9), baton hour markers, an outer fifths of a second track with 1/5 second calibrations, black steel hands, and a central sweeping seconds hand. The timepiece is housed in a round sterling silver case with a fluted winding crown and a suspension bow. The plain reverse back cover has a period hand engraved presentation inscription Sister Zita / from / Alumnus Mickle / Xmas 1937. Stamped internally with Rolex Watch Company mark R.W.C. Ltd, STERLING SILVER, and ROLEX SPECIAL.
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Diameter: 42 mm
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Signed: Rolex
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During the 1930s, Rolex produced a limited series of specialized Scientific timepieces often called “Doctor’s watches” by collectors. They featured prominent central sweep seconds hands and high legibility dials calibrated in fractions of a second. These timepieces were made for medical professionals taking pulse rates, as well as scientists and technicians needing exact interval timing. Stamped internally with R.W.C. Ltd (Rolex Watch Company Ltd) and ROLEX SPECIAL, this model reflects Rolex’s precision manufacturing for the English speaking market during the interwar period. The personalized Christmas 1937 presentation inscription to Sister Zita highlights its authentic historical provenance as a professional gift of the era.
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The high legibility dial with 1/5th second calibrations allowed medical professionals and scientists in the 1930s to accurately measure short time intervals, such as when taking a patient’s pulse. However, it functions as a continuous central seconds display rather than an active stopwatch mechanism.