Watches of Distinction: Rolex, Breitling, Omega

 Fieldings watch department are delighted to announce that our Christmas sale will include over 150 watches this year, so if you are looking for a Christmas present or to treat yourself then look no further. Nick Davies, talks you through a few highlights in the sale which will take place on 10th/11th December.

The Rolex Prince 

First introduced in 1928, the Rolex Prince was a predecessor of all luxury watches we now see today.  Considered so ground breaking and innovative of it’s time, this beautiful and elegant watch screams 1930s, with its sleek lines, rectangular dial and pioneering curve appeal.  Not only was the Prince very pleasing on the eye with its gold case, but the dial incorporated two dials for seconds and hours, therefore it is often referred to as a ‘Doctor’s watch’, because the larger seconds dial enables the wearer to time beats.

The watch was not only handsome, but the special movement initially made by Aegler and Wilsdorf, was the real gem in this watches production. New techniques were brought in, the winding barrel and the balance wheel were at opposite ends of the movement allowing for a larger balance wheel and therefore increasing the accuracy.   The larger winding barrel also meant that the watch could run for longer on a single wind. Allowing most Princes to be chronometer rated.

In 1930 The Rolex price was produced in four different variants, platinum, 18ct. white or yellow gold, 9ct gold or silver on sale at £14.14, which equates to £930 in 2020.

Advertised in 1930 as the only wristwatch known to horological science.  This was no ordinary watch of its time.  Its sleek elegant appearance and implicit accuracy verified by ‘Swiss Government scientists’ , it was considered a watch of distinction, a watch like no other.  This fine example of horology production was limited to a small number, therefore making it a rare and desirable model.

This example is to be sold in our 10^th/11^th December Christmas Jewellery and watch auction, Lot 425 estimate of £2,500-3,500.

Brietling ‘Long playing’ chronograph

The Breitling ‘Long Playing’ Chronograph was first introduced in 1970, it is nicknamed the ‘long playing’ Chronograph, as it has an incredible 52-hour power reserve, and sub-dials that measure up to 12 elapsed hours.  This modern looking watch was first introduced by Breitling to appeal to a younger generation who were looking for an updated version of the regular chronograph. The new look ‘Panda’ dial was introduced with a silvery main dial and three subsidiary black dials with a slight reflective quality, all thought to resemble at Panda’s face.

The ’Long Playing’ runs on the widely used, manually wound, Valjoux chronograph caliber 7736. This was a simple but durable movement which therefore made it very accessible to the young professionals of the 1970s, due to its accessible price and it’s sleek, stainless steel dial

This example is lot 399 in our forthcoming 10^th December auction with an estimate of £2,000 – 2,500

The Omega pre-moon Speedmaster

 The Speedmaster was such a different beast of its time when it was first introduced in 1957, it was a stark contrast to the dainty gold dress watches of the 1940/50s, this watch was big, bold and sporty. There is not much difference between the speedmaster of the 1960s and modern day, showing how modern and sleek the design was when it was first made.

The name speedmaster also symbolises the watch’s continued developed through the years. The name ‘Speed’ was chosen because of the tachymeter ring that encircles the dial, the Speedmaster was the very first chronograph to take the tachymeter away from the dial and to have it on a bezel outside. Master inkeeping with Omega’s convention, i.e Seamaster, Railmaster.

The Pre-moon speedmaster, is very similar in many ways to the ‘Moonwatch’ with three register recessed subsidiary dial, black dial luminous baton indexes and metallic tachymeter bezel with engraved numbers and a simple baton second hand.

This example is lot 381 in our forthcoming 10^th December Auction with an estimate of £10,000 – 12,000.

 FULL CATALOGUE AVAILABLE 1ST DECEMBER 

Posted on 25 November 2020 in: Auction life