Rolex Perpetual Super Precision 9ct 1957 Oversize Automatic

Description

The Rolex Precision was first released in the late 1940s as a gentleman’s hand-wound dress watch and remained in production as such, until the early 1970s. Some Precisions were produced as ‘Oyster Precisions’ and as the name suggests, these were produced with Rolex Oyster cases and hand-wound movements. No Precisions were made with automatic movements, except that is, for the watch you see here. The Rolex Super Precision is an automatic watch, with a substantial gold case and as such, it is one of the rarest post-war Rolex watches. It also launched with the Calibre 1030 movement, a movement which was also used in the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Chronometer of the same period. The Rolex Super Precision was produced in very low numbers throughout the 1950s, and very few survive. The example here is fully restored and comes with its very rare and original, inner and outer presentation boxes.

The Dial

The dial is very simple and yet carries a lot of ‘50s charm and class. Applied gilt ‘arrowhead’ and ‘pencil’ hour indices and ‘Dauphine’ hands contrast softly with the Ivory Cream dial and blend beautifully with the yellow gold case.  The dial carries the perennial Rolex Coronet at 12 and is signed Rolex, Perpetual, and Super Precision, along with ‘Swiss’ below the 6. The dial also carries a blued steel centre seconds hand.

This is the original dial which has been restored to the very highest standards by our dial restorers which are considered to be the best in the UK.

The Case

The heavy and very high grade 9ct yellow gold case measures 34mm, excluding the original unsigned Rolex crown. This was considered ‘Oversize’ when produced. The bold bezel and strong lugs give the watch an air of confidence and substance compared with any other Rolex Precision. This, and of course the fact that it’s an automatic, give the watch a great deal more individuality than a less exclusive Oyster Perpetual.

The watch case is of particularly high quality, having been made for Rolex in the UK by David Shackman & Sons, of Chesham, UK.  Shackman were very high-quality watch case makers and one of the two major UK case-makers used by Rolex, the other being Dennison & Co. of Birmingham. The case is of three-piece construction with a press fit case-back which fits tightly, with a very firm and very reassuring ‘pop’.

The case measures 34mm in diameter, excluding an original unsigned crown, and 43mm including the lugs. So by the standards of the day, this was classed as a large ‘Oversized’ Rolex Precision. The case-back is highly polished, full thickness and has never been engraved and inside the case-back, all the markings are correct and as expected: ‘D.S.&S’ for D Shackman & Sons, along with the reference number 01318. The case-back also carries London UK, 9ct hallmarks which date this watch to 1957.

As ever, our standard advice applies: Vintage watches should be kept clean and dry at all times.

The Movement

The watch carries its original Rolex Calibre 1030, 25 jewel movement with a lightweight butterfly rotor. This was Rolex’ first bi-directional automatic movement, meaning the rotor could rotate in either direction and still wind the watch. This made it at least twice as efficient at auto-winding as previous models.

The original movement here is in sparkling condition and working perfectly following a thorough overhaul and service by our vintage Rolex specialist watchmaker. This involves dismantling the watch to all its component parts and careful inspection under high magnification, then replacement where necessary with only genuine Rolex parts and careful reassembly and adjustment, before final calibration in 5 positions. The watch, therefore, winds, sets and runs accurately and reliably and after final testing and calibration, the movement is currently running at +7 seconds/day, which is outstanding for a watch movement of this age. The power reserve of this watch is 42 hours.

These movements are strong, accurate and very reliable, making the watch suitable for regular everyday use. This particular movement is in top condition and with regular servicing, every 2-3 years, we fully expect this watch to run very happily for many more decades to come! We are therefore very happy to offer a 12-month warranty on this watch movement* and regular servicing in the future.

The movement is signed Rolex SA Geneva, Twenty Five Jewels, Adjusted to Five Positions and carries the movement reference number 644935 and the Calibre number 1030.

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

The Strap & Buckle

A new high quality, Brown ‘Croc’ leather strap has been fitted, along with a gold-plated Rolex buckle. Please note, we feel this strap matches the watch nicely, however, if a different colour or style of strap is preferred, please let us know and we will do our best to oblige free of charge. We carry tan, conker, dark brown and black in stock in plain padded leather, and crocodile skin or lizard skin. However, we can also obtain most types and colours at short notice.

The Box and Papers

Although there are no original papers with this watch, all the numbers and markings on the watch are correct, dating the watch to 1957. A detailed ‘Particulars’ document will be included in the sale, along with our detailed receipt and 12 months Warranty*.  A separate insurance valuation for the replacement value of this watch will also be provided at the time of sale, along with our unique ‘Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee’ which states: “If at any time, 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 original and rare inner and outer Rolex presentation boxes shown in the photographs are included with the watch.

In Conclusion

This is a beautiful example of one of the rarest post-war Rolex watches which will make an excellent investment as well as something to wear, use, treasure and enjoy. Vintage Rolex prices have risen markedly of late, but we still feel fine and special examples such as this still are undervalued. As each year goes by and the world market for vintage watches expands and availability becomes more limited, so prices are surely destined to climb ever higher!

A word about our prices – We always try our hardest to acquire the very highest quality watches we can find, before 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 inevitably means we will never be the cheapest, but nor will we be the most expensive. Indeed there are a number of well-known stores in West London which are very 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 wish to pay by bank transfer, we will be pleased to pass on a 3% transaction saving to you. Similarly, if you wish to pay by International SWIFT or International Bank Wire Transfer, we will provide you with our BIC / Swift number and our IBAN number.

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

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

If you have any questions, please call our landline 020 7727 7095  or mobile  07515 949 250 or if calling from overseas our landline number is +44 207 727 7095  or mobile +44 7515 949 250.

We await your call! We will be happy to answer any questions and offer advice about this or any of our watches listed for sale. If you would like some general advice regarding any aspect of vintage watches, including buying, selling, or collecting, we will also be very happy to hear from you.

Finally, please enjoy some time spent viewing our other fine Vintage Gold Watches!

Thank you.