Rolex Oyster SpeedKing - Underline Dial?

[murkeywaters]

Hi All,

Been a long time member here but have been more into other watches due to financial position but the funds are coming so hopefully will be a Rolex owner soon..

On to my question, a friend has a very small vintage Rolex - an Oyster SpeedKing, I can't seen to find out much info on this watch and previous questions on other forums have came up blank, so I was hoping someone here might be able to give me/my friend some more info on this particular watch..

It has an underline dial which is very different from what else I can see online, looks to date from around the mid 1940's and its about 29mm diameter, also I can see just a SWISS mark at the 6..

Any info would be greatly appreciated

Some pic's -

[Old Expat Beast]

Nice looking piece. I'd say more like late 50s than 1940s.

[murkeywaters]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Nice looking piece. I'd say more like late 50s than 1940s.

The serial number is 292288 which brings it in around 1944..

I did read somewhere these were favored by POW's after release as a promise of a Rolex? Be interesting if true..

[JimmyD12]

Hi all,

been a member here a while but I don't think I've ever really posted. I'm spending my evening trying to do something very similar to the OP here and nail down a bubbleback I bought last week. As with the OP, the dial seems like it should be later but so far I've found what might well be two original examples from the 40s.

I'm not going to say any more just yet because I'd hate my first post to be erroneous. Instead, let me just add some photos:

[JimmyD12]

Seems that I didn't post the photos properly so let's try linking to them instead: http://imgur.com/a/mNKNF

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by murkeywaters

The serial number is 292288 which brings it in around 1944..

I did read somewhere these were favored by POW's after release as a promise of a Rolex? Be interesting if true..

Rolex rebooted its serial numbering system in the mid 1950s. Your number also matches 1957 or 58. The dial also suggests its late 50s rather than mid 1940s.

[TimeToGo]

Thanks, Adam
I thought it was a 1950's because of the applied coronet.
But a quick question, was the 2280 available in the 1950s or is it fitted with a later dial?

[Old Expat Beast]

Good point. Could be a replacement dial, with the SWISS half submerged and the lume dots almost touching the rehaut like that, I guess. May not be a 2280 though.

[TimeToGo]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Good point. Could be a replacement dial, with the SWISS half submerged and the lume dots almost touching the rehaut like that, I guess. May not be a 2280 though.

I actually meant JimmyD12 pictures, don't know if you saw those..

[Old Expat Beast]

Ah, sorry, no I didn't click that link. I've only seen the OP's watch. It can get confusing when someone hijacks a thread like that.

The 2280 he links to has an early 1940s Oyster Watch Co caseback and a newer dial. Not sure what is going on there.

[R.W.T.]

Watch is mid 1940's. 44-45

Dial is underline service dial from early 60's.

[murkeywaters]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

Watch is mid 1940's. 44-45

Dial is underline service dial from early 60's.

Thanks everyone for the info..

I suppose looking at it now a re-dial it is as the SWISS is half covered which would not be the case with an original dial.

[R.W.T.]

Originally Posted by murkeywaters

Thanks everyone for the info..

I suppose looking at it now a re-dial it is as the SWISS is half covered which would not be the case with an original dial.

Not exactly. This is a genuine Rolex not refinished dial. It was very likely installed in service in the early 1960's.

Doubtful that the original dial looked much like that and it would have said SWISS MADE not SWISS.

[roh123]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

Not exactly. This is a genuine Rolex not refinished dial. It was very likely installed in service in the early 1960's.

Doubtful that the original dial looked much like that and it would have said SWISS MADE not SWISS.

Yup. Very likely to have been replaced around 1963 as any other Rolex underline dial.