119 Rolex Very Rare and Unusual Prince “Railway” Wirstwatch in Steel and Pink Gold, Reference 1768, Pink Dial and Subsidiary Seconds

Estimate: €8,000 –⁠ 16,000

Model: Prince Railway
Material: Stainless Steel and Pink Gold
Reference N°: 1768
Year: 1930s
Case N°: 14069
Caliber: 7 1/2″
Movement type: Manual
Bracelet: Leather Strap
Dimensions: 21x42mm
Signed: Dial, case and movement

The Prince is probably one of those models that lead the foundations for the ascent of Rolex in watchmaking world. Distinct, refined and elegant this watch is among the most attractive Art Deco wristwatches ever made and one of the symbols of luxury during the Depression-era. Its special design with a rectangle case and a large dial for the hours and minutes positioned slightly above the seconds was totally unusual for the time and very confortable for checking the heartbeat of the patients: that was the reason which gave this model the nickname of “doctor’s watch”. Now considered as one of the most groundbreaking watches ever released, the Prince has been produced in various versions such as the Classic, the Brancard or the Railway like the lot offered here. The “Railway Prince” was released in 1930s and was designed after the look of locomotives. The present watch is a specimen of reference 1768 produced in stainless steel and pink gold which has aged till showing a strong oxidation spread all over the edges. The two-tone pink dial is absolutely enchanting for quality and beauty with the two different quadrants for hours and second, the arabic numerals and blue steel hands. The caliber is a 7 1/2”’, a special movement, initially made by Aegler and Wilsdorf. This movement had a larger winding barrel which meant that the watch could run for longer on a single wind: this quality allowed most Princes to be chronometer rated such as the present one.