yet another, can you identify this watch?

[tobster57]

Hi
I inherited this watch from my grandmother. It doesn't work, but looks lovely. Can anyone shed light on what model it is, age, value etc. I have looked between both strap posts but there are no numbers. The only external numbers visible are on the back, 49886
I am willing to get it serviced to get it working - any idea how much that might cost?
Thanks in anticipation of a flood of information....

[offrdmania]

You popped the case back off to show the movement, what does the inside of the case back say?

[GGGMT]

Unfortunately I can't help other than saying it looks really cool! Hope it's legit, what a great inheritance.


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[MILGAUSS88]

Late 20's, early 30's oyster with a porcelian dial. More likely a man's watch.
RWT will probably be by, and give more info, sounds like he is the person to go to if you want it repaired.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by MILGAUSS88

Late 20's, early 30's oyster with a porcelian dial. More likely a man's watch.
RWT will probably be by, and give more info, sounds like he is the person to go to if you want it repaired.

x2.

Looks like it was originally sold by Alexander Clark, which was an early AD both in the UK and Far East.

[R.W.T.]

Alex. Clark was the jeweler to the Crown in London. They had 2 stores. One suffered a hit in WW II on Oxford Street. The other was over by Bank. They are actually building something on the location of the Oxford Street store now for years. The Bank location still exists but it is now Mappin Webb. I actually restored an Alex.Clark watch and took it by there to show them.

This is an early one with a Rebberg movement. 15 jewel. It's gonna be a little more of a crapshoot to fix.

The dial has some unfortunate cracks in the porcelain. Still a rare survivor. The case is "snowhite" an early attempt at a base metal case. It's chromed

Unless it is Sterling...which they also did...which is nice and also....this one is not polished to bits but still retains its original lines.

Does the balance swing? Likely has a bad staff. Any of the Brits here help this guy out with a watchmaker?

[tobster57]

wow thanks for the information. I can't find any hall marks so i am assuming it's chromed. What is the balance swing? A UK recommended watchmaker i can send this to to get it running again would be greatly appreciated. I was considering asking Watch doctors in Tring who i have used before for an old 1960s Seiko watch.

[tobster57]

as requested, here is a picture of the case back

[tobster57]

RWT, the balance wheel do indeed swing freely, but stops moving

[TuckerHorology]

That is so awesome please get is restored only by someone with a great reputation

[R.W.T.]

PM sent

[Old Expat Beast]

Unusual to see a Rolex dial and movement with an Oyster Watch Co caseback together, isn't it? I only remember seeing Oyster-only (and maybe other Rolex sub brand) dials with OWC casebacks.

[tobster57]

PM sent RWT.

[R.W.T.]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Unusual to see a Rolex dial and movement with an Oyster Watch Co caseback together, isn't it? I only remember seeing Oyster-only (and maybe other Rolex sub brand) dials with OWC casebacks.

Pretty normal in the early days really.

I don't have my photo library handy I am traveling.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

Pretty normal in the early days really.

I don't have my photo library handy I am traveling.

That's useful to know. Thanks.

[R.W.T.]

It would be increasingly convenient if the world would finally embrace Apple and realize that there are other formats besides WMV....and that the most used smartphone in the world is the IPHONE and that they don't make WMV...but rather .MOV files...but I digress...sorry for the soapbox.

Had to go the old fashioned route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Wf...ature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8Gj...ature=youtu.be

[R.W.T.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbEYOaO9kp4

Still as relevant as when it was made. About 2:56

[tobster57]

she lives, she lives

[R.W.T.]

Now what I failed to notice last night in the dim light and also because of where the location of the crown gear was in relation to the ratchet wheel...the crown gear is missing several teeth...if you look closely in the photo you can see that...so...well...I have some parts mvts. as I said...hopefully I don't have to rob one good movement to fix this one but I can. At any rate...it's not d o a. It's still running. :-)

[Old Expat Beast]

That changed hands quickly!

[R.W.T.]

I just happened to be 40 minutes away from him that day. :-)

Serendipity. I can take it and service it. Sometimes I pick up and deliver lol

[tobster57]

40 minutes away!!!!! LOL

[R.W.T.]

Well close...I mean Oxford's not that far...

[tobster57]

serial number 49886 indicates the watch is late 1938. My grandfather was an officer in the 8th army during WW2. I read "By the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939, quite literally, every Rolex Oyster in Britain had been purchased, out of their own pockets, by pilots and other front line military personnel who simply felt more comfortable depending on a Rolex watch"
I wonder if this was why he bought it? Of course he could have acquired it at any time since 1938.......

[GGGMT]

Funny! Awesome how this forum connects folks far and near! Lemme know when you get to the northern Rocky Mountains, and I'll swing by!


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[Richard Carver]

I think Tommy is some kind of shape shifting, time warping warlock! lol

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

I just happened to be 40 minutes away from him that day. :-)

Serendipity. I can take it and service it. Sometimes I pick up and deliver lol

Clearly it was meant to be

[R.W.T.]

So...according to another list I have favored on the older pieces this serial would put it at more like 35...which is a little more in keeping with the movement possibly though I'm still quite surprised to see the Rebberg calibre this late of a case.

As I discussed with Toby the condition of this case is somewhat of a miracle as these cases are nearly always corroded beyond recognition and in hopes of somehow fixing that subsequently polished to a point where the lines are very distorted. Even to the extent that the bad chrome is removed completely and the pits are polished down to a point the case can be replaced... This case is in just wonderful condition. The case back which is almost always pitted so badly it's a disgrace is pristine! The movement has had very little service work done...the screws, even he noticed were in very nice shape. This is a real treasure...fairly rare to find in this type of condition.

When I get into it I'll write a full story.

[Old Expat Beast]

Excellent. I'll look forward to learning more. I'm still interested to see that OWC caseback on there though. I've read your posts on the SAR and parachute markings on those before, and am always interested to learn more about OWC.