Ladies Rolex Cal.250 9ct 1961

Rolex

While the gents’ Rolex Precision was Rolex’s best selling watch throughout the 1950s and ’60s, many will be surprised to learn there was also a ladies Precision sold during the same period. These made up around 10% of all the Rolex Precisions produced. Half of these were sold on leather straps and a half on integral Rolex gold bracelets. These were expensive watches at the time because it was much more difficult to produce these much smaller movements to the same required levels of accuracy and reliability as the movements in the larger gents Rolex Precision watches.

Description

The watch we have here is an absolutely delightful example of a ladies Rolex Precision cocktail watch in 9ct yellow gold from 1961. This watch is complete with its original integral Rolex bracelet, also in 9ct gold. The condition of the bracelet, watch case, original dial and movement indicates this watch has only ever seen very occasional and careful use.

The Dial

The ivory dial carries applied gilt ‘pencil’ hour indices, which as can be seen in the close-up photographs, are in superb condition. The dial is completed with the original ‘Alpha’ style hands which are also in tip-top condition. The dial itself however, is completely original, untouched and unrestored.

Please note, at 17mm diameter, excluding the crown, this is a mid-sized cocktail watch in comparison with most others of the period. However, the dial, gilt hands, and gilt hour indices make the dial easy to read, even at arm’s length.

The dial is crowned with the usual Rolex ‘Coronet’ at 12 and is signed ‘Rolex’ below, along with ‘Precision’ at 6 and ‘Swiss’ at the very bottom.

This dial is original, unrestored and untouched. It is also in really excellent condition considering the age of the watch, with almost no fading, spotting or crazing and with an even overall patina. Due to its relatively good condition and for reasons of retaining the character and the originality of the watch, we have left it completely alone. If however, you would prefer the dial sympathetically restoring, we will be happy to arrange this for you without any extra charge.

Please note, studio lights, professional-grade digital cameras, and macro lenses can be very unkind to an unrestored vintage watch dial. Also the dial here measures less than 1.25 inches across, so the images you see here may be between 5 – 25 times larger than the watch itself. Therefore please keep in mind you are seeing many tiny flaws which cannot be seen, or will be very hard to see with the naked eye, even under close examination. Suffice to say, on the wrist, in natural light, this dial looks much better and carries a great deal more charm than the photographs portray.

The Movement

The high grade Calibre 250, 17 Jewel, hand-wound movement is in incredibly clean and sparkling condition and has just been fully overhauled and serviced by our expert vintage Rolex specialist watchmaker.

Rolex went to considerable trouble and expense to ensure its small Cal.250 series movements performed equally as well as its larger gents Precision movements, and they succeeded! These are indeed high precision movements and the example here is running perfectly, having been calibrated to run consistently within +10 seconds per day! This is truly outstanding for any mechanical watch and is no exaggeration – we have checked the test results on our electronic watch timegrapher. This movement also has an excellent power reserve of 44 hours when fully wound.

The movement is signed ‘Rolex Precision’, ‘Swiss’ and ’17 Rubis’ (Jewels) and it is marked with the Calibre number 250. This particular movement is in beautiful condition and with similar care and regular servicing, say every 3 to 4 years, we would fully expect this watch to continue to run very happily for many more decades to come! We are therefore totally confident in offering this watch with our 12 months’ written warranty*.

*Please note – our 12 months’ warranty is only applicable if the list price is paid.

The Case

The 9ct yellow gold case measures 17mm in diameter, excluding the correct Rolex unsigned crown. Please note, the size of the winding crown may look overly large in certain photographs. This is because the watch is small in comparison and the crown needs to be of adequate size in order to wind it. However please be assured, it is the correct original Rolex crown for this watch.

On the inside of the case-back, the markings are all correct for a Rolex case made by one of its UK case-makers. The case is signed ‘B&S’, meaning this watch case was made for Rolex by Benjamin Henry Britton and Sons of Birmingham. B&S watch cases are considered among the very best of all the Rolex cases produced at this time. This watch also carries UK 9ct hallmarks with the serial number 325939, which date this watch to 1961.

The case is of a very solid two-piece design with an integral bezel which was designed to improve water and dust resistance. The press fit case-back clicks into place with a firm and satisfying ‘pop’, indicating it is a nice tight fit and is also of full thickness, having never been inscribed.

This watch has been exceptionally well cared for and so the case has simply required a clean, a thorough inspection, and then a gentle hand-polish to bring it back to its current ‘like new’ condition with no scratches, dings or dimples, or other forms of damage visible to the naked eye.

Please note – our standard advice applies: Vintage watches should be kept clean and dry at all times.

The Bracelet and Clasp

The original, integral, mid-sized Rolex signed bracelet is also in matching solid 9ct yellow gold and is in immaculate condition, showing no signs of wear or damage visible to the naked eye.

The bracelet has been tailored for a ladies mid wrist size. The clasp and lock provide an adjustment of 1.3 centimetres, making the watch fit a wrist size of 15.2cm – 16.5cm or 5.9 inches to 6.4 inches. This means this watch is really only suitable for ladies with a small size wrist. Due to the style and tailoring of the bracelet, it would be difficult and therefore quite expensive to have this particular bracelet altered.

Box and Papers

Although there are no original papers with the watch, the numbers and markings are all correct, dating this watch to 1961.

A detailed written receipt with 12 months’ warranty* and a separate insurance valuation for the replacement value of the watch, will be provided at the time of sale, along with our unique ‘Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee’ which states: “If this watch proves to be anything less than totally authentic, or not as described, Vintage Gold Watches of London will offer you a full refund, at any time”.

The watch comes complete with a high quality hardwood presentation box, as shown in the photographs.

In Conclusion

A wonderful ladies Rolex cocktail watch from horology’s most famous name, which will provide an excellent financial investment as well as be something to treasure and enjoy! It will make the perfect gift as well as a practical, accurate and reliable timepiece to use for evening wear, on a regular basis, as you so wish.

A word on our prices – We always try our hardest to acquire the very best quality watches we can find, before then restoring these to the highest possible standards. We then offer these at the fairest prices we can, taking into account our pre and post sales care and service. This approach means we will never be the cheapest, but nor will we be the most expensive. Indeed there are some well-known stores in West London which are highly successful, charging between two to three times the price you see here. We therefore consider our prices to be fair, given the quality of watches we have to offer.

We are happy to accept PayPal as this is the quickest method of payment. However, if you would like to pay by UK cheque or by UK bank transfer we will be pleased to assist you with this and pass on a 3% saving to you. Paying by bank transfer for a 3% saving will not affect your 12 months warranty. Similarly, if you wish to pay by International SWIFT or Bank Wire Transfer we will provide you with our BIC / Swift number and our IBAN number.

If you have any questions please call on our Landline 0207 727 7095 or Mobile 07515 949250 or if calling from overseas please call us on our Landline +44 207 727 7095 or Mobile +44 7515 949250.

Please note, we also welcome part exchanges. If you have a watch or a small collection for sale, please contact us as we will be happy to discuss this.

We will also be happy to Service your watch, Repair your watch or Restore your watch, all at ‘sensible’ prices. Please see here.

Please take a look at our other fine vintage gold watches.

Thank you.