Rolex Mystery

[GLADIATOR]

This watch has to me all the makings of a mystery. I bought it from a private seller. I was immediately struck by three lovely features that just make me want to add that timepiece to my collection.

First, an early hermetic sealed so called 'Trench Watch', secondly an original enamel dial with original aged lumed dial and hands - that orange/red patina is just fantastic, and thirdly integrated shrapnel guards.
This watch had all three and an original dial you could die for.

Additionally, here we have a rare hunter style case adapted (yes hand cut out) beautifully into an integrated shrapnel guard - wow!

Mystery #1
On examining the unscrewed back case we can see the import mark for London and a date code of 1917.
Case is stamped Brevet 71363 and also those famous initials (monogram) W&D for Wilsdorf (Hans) and Davis (Alfred) - the owners of Rolex and the marking they put on their timepieces in 1905 prior to Rolex being registered.
In other words 'W&D' went on to become Rolex Ltd which was registered in 1915 (1908 in Switzerland).
For some time, we can find cases with both names stamped on them i.e. ROLEX and W&D.
And for some unknown reason to me, we also find some later cases like this with again ONLY W&D marked on it. I got no idea why - maybe as a tribute to Davis who (for health reasons?) disappeared without trace?
But for certain this case is a Rolex case, both the back and the shrapnel guard have that W&D logo. Call that Mystery #1

Mystery #2
The case has Brevet (Patent) No71363 - Boîte-savonnette pour montres ( a hunter case for watches) -Granted June 1915 to a Charles Zurbrugg of Bienne.
Seems Zurbrugg had a number of wristwatch patents between 1912 and 1917, then disappeared.
But where does he fit into Rolex/W&D? Did he loan the the patent? We know Wilsdorf scoured the papers for others patents very often buying them out (like the original Oyster patent)
Interestingly I found in the Swiss Journal that Wilsdorf and Zurbrugg both filed patents on the same day (one digit following) - Maybe that is how Wilsdorf saw this patent 71363 (his was 71362)

Mystery #3
The movement I believe is NOT a Rebberg/Aegler movement. The dial is marked 'ARCADIA'. At first I suspected that the moment has been replaced.
But on studying various Rolex books, a similar watch was sold with a private label 'PARKS' - Could Arcadia be a private name?
Unfortunately 'ARCADIA' is such a popular jeweler name - it has not been possible to confirm or reject this theory.

So what we have here is a lovely savonnette cased W&D silver watch from 1917.
The hunter (savonnette) front cover has been perfectly modified (cut out) to become an integral shrapnel guard.
Dial and hands are immaculate and correct.

STOP PRESS
Mystery #3 solved. ARCADIA was a manufacturer, so my first suspicion that the movement is a replacement into this case is correct. Borne out by the incorrect spacing of case screws!

Anway to some pictures:






Movement and Back of case.
NOTE Look closely you can see W&D Logo on INSIDE if top cover - but cut away to make shrapnel guard.



MOVEMENT. - Sadly NOT Rebberg/Aegler




EXAMPLES OF EARLY ROLEX's




And MYSTERY #2 - That patent!


Now - the question. I have an early correct Rebberg movement, but not as nice looking a dail. Should I fit the correct movement into this case to make the watch 100% correct
OR
Leave it as it is?
Fitted with a hand made strap:



​AKNOWLEDGEMENTS - ​
Mark - TrenchwatchRestorations - Strap
Marcus Hardy - Vintage watches.com - Rolex/W&D dating.

[pawnshopkiller]

Cool

[CHIP]

Another fascinating read!!

I am learning A LOT from your threads Adam!

Thank you!

[iceman]

Great read, thanks Adam

[Baco Noir]

Now - the question. I have an early correct Rebberg movement, but not as nice looking a dail. Should I fit the correct movement into this case to make the watch 100% correct
OR
Leave it as it is?

Hi Adam - what a great piece you found and in fantastic condition.  I'm torn on the answer to your question.  Replacing the movement may make it period correct, but it still won't be the original movement.  Leaving the replacement movement in there keeps it's history intact, but it's not the correct movement.  Neither is a perfect solution.  After thinking on it overnight, I think if it were me, I'd replace the movement to bring it back closer to it's original state.



Thanks for sharing,

Roger 

[GLADIATOR]

Hi All - thanks
Roger your decision IS the correct one without doubt.
Currently this watch is a W&D case and an ARCADIA movement - COMPLETELY WRONG

That said, I LOVE that ARCADIA dial. The patina is just so fantastic and original from 1917. So currently I will leave as it is.
Service the correct Rebberg/Aegler movement ready to fit it

Regards and thanks all the input

[Nicko]

I love the piece but unfortunately I'm not really qualified to tell you what to do with the watch but I kinda agree, if possible I'd try to bring it back to as original condition as possible. Great watch though.

[GLADIATOR]

Not sure if you noticed, but this shrapnel guard has been superbly hand cut out from the original top hunter cover
Also
The cutouts are NOT directly over the numbers. As a member of another forum puts it so well
QUOTE
I really like the way the lid on this full hunter case has been turned into the so called
'shrapnel guard'.
It's certainly the case that it has been cut to obscure the numbers, but I think this could be a deliberate
act and lets face it, it doesn't really prevent you from telling the time.

The fact that the lid has been cut to obscure the numbers adds weight that the conversion is contemporary WW1, i.m.o.
If this was a later post war conversion then I've no doubt that the design would be rotated 30 degrees to allow full view
of each highly illuminated radium powered number...but who wants a glowing beacon on their wrist when poking their rifle
out of the trenches on the fields of Flanders.
-radger WUS forum
UNQUOTE