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This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. This amount is subject to change until you make payment. For additional information, see the Global Shipping Programme terms and conditions opens in a new window or tab
This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. This amount is subject to change until you make payment. If you reside in an EU member state besides UK, import VAT on this purchase is not recoverable. For additional information, see the Global Shipping Programme terms and conditions opens in a new window or tab
1964 Rolex Double Signed Coin Edge 9 Karat Gold All Original DS (David Shackman) Case
This watch has so many features that make it the archetypal vintage Rolex, but the most obvious of these is its beautiful deep case with distinctive milled sides, usually referred to as "Coin Edged". Ironically, considering these swatches are among the most sought after of all post war Rolex items, these flamboyant cases were never actually made by Rolex, but were supplied to them by two famous English case makers Dennison and David Shackman. Both of these companies links with Rolex are very well documented, and I would agree wholeheartedly with James Dowling when he states in his excellent reference work "Rolex Wristwatches, The Best of Time" that they produced the highest quality cases replica Breitling Chronospace Automatic that were used by Rolex on their early output. Interestingly, the vast majority of these early cases that these houses produced specifically for Rolex were solid Gold items to be used on the brands top of the range models. This was largely because of a very high import tax on gold levied by the UK government after WWI. Rolex shrewdly realized that this duty could be avoided by shipping uncased movements from their factory in Switzerland to their London distributor which would then fit these into gold cases that had been purpose built in England. This association between these companies continued through the 50's and 60's. David Shackman cased Rolex watches in particular are particularly sought after by serious collectors not only because of their exceptionally high quality but also because, being only sold with Rolex watches intended for the UK market, they are much rarer than their Swiss cased siblings, these latter items being sold in much larger quantities through Rolex distributors throughout the world.
The very large case on this particular watch (34mm w/o crown) is in almost mint condition, with only the slightest imperfections that have occurred with very light careful use. Coin edge cases, especially those in gold, have a tendency to become worn on their sides and lose the crisp definition that was noticeable on their milled edges when new. I would suspect that this particular watch has only ever been used on a relatively small number of occasions as its edges are perfectly sharp and defined with no rubbing whatsoever. The incredible domed case back is instantly http://www.speedroc.com/replica-breitling-chrono-galactic.html eye catching and the piece measures nearly 9mm in depth, considerably more than most manually wound watches from this era. On an automatic watch, such depth would be justified by the presence of the bulky winding rotor, but there really was no reason for Rolex to use such a thick bubbleback style case for this piece and I would suggest that this depth is there purely to enable the coin edging to be displayed to best effect. The case if fully signed internally with the Rolex reference number 24740 and the "DS makers mark (David Shackman Son). Also present is a 9 Karat gold domestic hallmark from the London assay office, from 1964. Everything about this classic Shackman case oozes quality and opulence, and it seems absolutely appropriate that Rolex chose this firm as one of their main case suppliers for the lucrative UK market.
On any vintage wristwatch, and replica omega De Ville Co-Axial Chronometer especially so when considering a high value classic Rolex piece, the condition and originality of the dial are of paramount importance. The French white dial on this item is absolutely original and in almost mint condition, with just the slightest imperfections one would expect on a carefully looked after watch of this age. So many of the dials on the older Rolex models offered for sale now have either been refinished or are badly dirtied or faded and this has an enormous effect on the desirability of these items to the serious collector. It is generally agreed that the dial originality and condition account for 40% of the value of a vintage watch, particularly when buying for investment purposes. I would strongly advise against purchasing pieces with substandard dials.
In addition to it being in superb condition, it is very significant that this dial is double signed both with the Rolex brand name and large coronet emblem, and also with the name of "H. L. Brown Son Ltd", the jeweler that supplied the watch when new. Double signed watches are in themselves a sub genre of the collectable horology field, and never more so than when found in very rare Rolex form. These watches were actually imported by Rolex London from Switzerland with dials signed in the traditional way but were then signed in England with the retailers name after being ordered by that particular customer. This is noteworthy as it is often presumed that Rolex in Switzerland held the dies to add the various retailers names of their major customers worldwide, but this was never actually the case. Even in the early 1920' and 30's era of Rolex production, these second signatures were always added by the local Rolex distributor and never at the main factory in Switzerland. I think some of the magic and aura surrounding these double signed Rolex dials is derived from the companies decision to end the production of all such examples in 1991, thus immediately making any dually signed watch immediately very collectable as enthusiasts realized that these had become a finite commodity overnight, never to be repeated. It is difficult to put a percentage price increase in value to these items, but a rough estimate, I would say that a vintage Rolex from the 50's or 60's with a double signed dial is typically sold for around 25% more than its singly signed counterpart.
It is worth mentioning that H. L. Brown were and still are one of the most important official Rolex agents in the North of England, being based in Sheffield. This business was granted the Royal warrant in the early 20th century and to this day still continues to supply exceptionally fine jewelry and watches to a very discerning clientele.
Anyone with interest in vintage Rolex watches will already know that the mechanical movements made by the company in the 50's and 60's are arguably the finest that have been produced by any watch manufacturer at any time. For Rolex, these decades were very much a golden era, when the advancements in movement design and machine tooling hat had been developed during the course of WWII could be spectacularly applied to the companies civilian production. This particular watch is fitted with a gleaming, almost as new example of the famous hand wound Calibre 976, one of the most reliable and accurate movements ever built in the post war period. This is a fully signed item with "Montres Rolex SA, Geneva Swiss" being present on the bridge plate together with a statement that the movement has 17 rubies at its critical bearing points. This is important as these 17 jeweled versions of the non date 50's Rolex Calibres have always been something of a deluxe concept, the standard version of this movement having 15 jewels. For the technically minded, I'll mention that the extra two jewels in the 17 jeweled movements are actually at either end of the centre wheel staff, which pivots on the plain bearings in the more basic movement.
I have fitted the watch with a new very high quality crocodile skin type strap that is perfectly in keeping with the up market nature of the piece and is very similar in appearance and quality to that which was supplied with the watch when new. This is not a Rolex strap but is in mint condition and has never been worn.
Overall, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a totally original vintage gold 1964 Rolex Gentlemans watch in a very sought after English market case style. Valuing the piece is difficult as so few items of this quality and condition appear for sale, the majority of these changing hands between private collectors from whom it is difficult to prise an idea of the sums involved in such transactions. The excellent work by Ozvaldo Patrizzi "Collecting Rolex Wristwatches 2001" shows a similar but not identical example on page 52 with a milled outer case edge but in 10 Karat not 9 gold and is not double signed. the accompanying price guide suggests the value of a similar piece in Exceptional condition is worth 4500 Euros or over $6000 USD. That is not to be used as a precise valuation but only to suggest the real value of a piece like this. |
