Rolex, 18K Gold, Ladies Date Wristwatch, Gay Freres Bright Cut Bracelet ~ 1950's-60's
Beautiful Rolex, 18K gold, ladies, matte gold dial, self-winding movement wristwatch with a fully hand engraved case, bezel and gold brick bracelet by the most renowned metal worker of the 20th century, Gay Freres.
The 18K gold case, bezel and the bracelet are all individually hand engraved with a beautiful bright cut cross hatching design, having over 300 bricks, each engraved with over 40 diagonal hand engraved cuts, giving the band and watch a beautiful high gold luster against these lines. All this hand etching is done on the individual pieces before the construction of the bracelet. The case, bezel and bracelet appear to be original and done at the time of manufacture, from a client custom order.
The bracelet clasp is stamped with Gay Freres' hallmark: G F with the head of a ram in between. Gay Freres manufactured the very first metal bracelet for Rolex during the 1930's. In 1998 Rolex purchased this historic company as an effort to acquire old supplies and to integrate all the aspects of them.
The case is 29mm, the dial is marked ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL - DATE - on the top and OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER on the bottom. It is 6 3/4” - 6 7/8” long and the bracelet is an impressive 5/8” wide. It has the date with the cyclops over it.
The serial number, located between one lug, is 865130, causing a question as to whether it was made in 1952 or 1963, due to the rolling back of the serial numbers during that period by Rolex. (Regardless, this is the most gorgeous antique Rolex ladies watch, is in wonderful, working condition at this time. There are some light scratching commensurate with age, as the photos show.) Between the lugs it is marked Registered Design with 6624 below it. There is a scratched in "12", post done, jewelers' mark scratched in the left of the serial number in the other lug.
The watch is currently in running condition and keeps good time. It is self- winding with screw down crown. It is running and keeping accurate time at this time; however, it might need service after shipping, even though it is working perfectly at this time. This watch will be tripled boxed at a minimum. As normal, we cannot guarantee watches, clocks or anything with moving parts to be perfectly working after shipping.
