Rolex/Taubert c1918 decagonal case
I’ve edited this post to take in to account MrBloke’s comments below. I don’t want to mislead anyone, the watch I believed I bought is based on the information below but I think it’s also worth taking into account MrBloke’s comments. I like both stories/comments and has added more to the value and story for me….
original post starts below….thanks WatchCrucnchers
This will be tomorrow’s WRUW for me. Only just received it today.
Rolex/Taubert from c1918
Stainless steel decagonal case by Taubert
15 jewel fine movement, manual wound
Cotes De Geneve stripes
Original blued hands
Sub seconds
26mm case
nato strap
A very rare watch, made around 1918 as a collaboration between Rolex and Taubert.
Prior to the Rolex case being developed by Rolex they were working on case designs with Taubert.
Taubert were already working on a screw back case and cork sealed winding stem. This example is pre the screw back case.
The relationship was very close, with Hans Wilsdorf listed as assignee of Taubert & Fils. The British patent for the fluid tight case developed by taubert was granted to hans Wilsdorf.
IT guy living in Lancashire. Appreciate Guinness, coffee, cars, photography, tech/gadgets, fountain pens and Watches !
Wow. How did you acquire this?
Wow. How did you acquire this?
Hit very lucky on an auction site
That's amazing, cheers.
wow!
Very cool! Early Rolex is a thing, especially before about 1920. A lot of stuff is marked Wilsdorf & Davis (W&D) which is easy for the novice to miss.
I love seeing the super unusual stuff. Thank you for sharing! 👍
Very cool! Early Rolex is a thing, especially before about 1920. A lot of stuff is marked Wilsdorf & Davis (W&D) which is easy for the novice to miss.
Any support and info on the piece greatly appreciated...as a novice im here to learn :-) Thanks
I haven't seen this watch or anything like it before. If you are a new and interested in Rolex, I can recommed this book to start.
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Time-Rolex-Wristwatches-Unauthorized/dp/0764324373/ref=d_pd_sbs_vft_none_sccl_1_1/138-4375580-1936565?pd_rd_w=xAFFF&content-id=amzn1.sym.38bbd1de-73a5-4ef9-9954-df27c3112829&pf_rd_p=38bbd1de-73a5-4ef9-9954-df27c3112829&pf_rd_r=8NW64A6K5TDT105WQV6H&pd_rd_wg=0A9ws&pd_rd_r=04764d51-527f-4b4d-9a9e-65b939517a92&pd_rd_i=0764324373&psc=1
I haven't seen this watch or anything like it before. If you are a new and interested in Rolex, I can recommed this book to start.
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Time-Rolex-Wristwatches-Unauthorized/dp/0764324373/ref=d_pd_sbs_vft_none_sccl_1_1/138-4375580-1936565?pd_rd_w=xAFFF&content-id=amzn1.sym.38bbd1de-73a5-4ef9-9954-df27c3112829&pf_rd_p=38bbd1de-73a5-4ef9-9954-df27c3112829&pf_rd_r=8NW64A6K5TDT105WQV6H&pd_rd_wg=0A9ws&pd_rd_r=04764d51-527f-4b4d-9a9e-65b939517a92&pd_rd_i=0764324373&psc=1
Thanks, much appreciated….will check this out 😀
Great win! Enjoy!
Very cool! Early Rolex is a thing, especially before about 1920. A lot of stuff is marked Wilsdorf & Davis (W&D) which is easy for the novice to miss.
Not a lot of people know about Alfred Davies
Not a lot of people know about Alfred Davies
Or the fact that the company started in England. I had one of those early pre-rolex labeled W&D trench watches year ago, the type with the porcelain dial and red 12 and the Aegler manual wind movement.
Just checked on that watch you mentioned,for a vintage watch it could easily pass as a modern watch ,how did you come by it
Remarkable. That kind of angular case shape makes us think 1970a era, incredible this dates from more than 100 years ago. Enjoy!
Just checked on that watch you mentioned,for a vintage watch it could easily pass as a modern watch ,how did you come by it
Just randomly searching Rolex, vintage, watches, 1900’s etc and this popped up ! I didn’t know it excited a few days ago ….it appears genuine after some research 🤞
Sorry to rain on your parade, but this watch has nothing to do with Rolex or with Taubert. If the seller advertised it as such, you've been taken for a ride, and big-time at that... The only thing the watch shares with any Rolex is the fact of being a watch. And the only thing that case shares with Taubert cases is the fact that it is a case.
The movement is a bog-standard A. Schild cal.984, which neither Rolex nor Tudor never used. And the AS cal.984 was only introduced the late 1930s... Down the drain goes the "Rolex" connection, followed suit by the simultaneously flushed claim it's from 1918.
The case is not by Taubert. Oh yes, it is a nice case, a more angular take on the already angular style sometimes referred to as "colonial." There was plenty of "colonial" style cases, most of which weren't by Taubert. No maker's marks, no patent numbers, literally nothing here to connect it to any specific case manufacturer. That of course doesn't mean it's a bad case - on the contrary, most such watches were cased in chrome-plated brass, or worse, a chrome-based alloy that corrodes and develops vicious pitting after too much contact with skin and sweat. So, a decent case. But not by Taubert.
So, what is it? It's a late 1930s piece with an anonymous dial, which suggests it was made for some local jeweller/retail chain, only was either sold without said retailer signing the dial, or the retailer went broke before having signed it. The general practice of anonymous dials was due to the fact, that customers' loyalty back then was to their local retailer rather than to a brand somewhere in Switzerland. Some ordered individual components and cobbled these watches together locally, or they ordered an entire unsigned watch from whatever manufacturer they chose to buy from.
Not a Rolex, not a Taubert case.
Thanks for the info and intel, it is much appreciated….. I’m glad I didn’t pay too much for it…if it is as you say 1930s anonymous piece, I still like it and appreciate it….I actually like your story over the original I was told….some cobbled together watch back in the day…..I’m just a novice and your obviously an experienced watch expert, thank you for sharing and adding to the story…..I will try incorporate in my WRUW tomorrow
Sorry to rain on your parade, but this watch has nothing to do with Rolex or with Taubert. If the seller advertised it as such, you've been taken for a ride, and big-time at that... The only thing the watch shares with any Rolex is the fact of being a watch. And the only thing that case shares with Taubert cases is the fact that it is a case.
The movement is a bog-standard A. Schild cal.984, which neither Rolex nor Tudor never used. And the AS cal.984 was only introduced the late 1930s... Down the drain goes the "Rolex" connection, followed suit by the simultaneously flushed claim it's from 1918.
The case is not by Taubert. Oh yes, it is a nice case, a more angular take on the already angular style sometimes referred to as "colonial." There was plenty of "colonial" style cases, most of which weren't by Taubert. No maker's marks, no patent numbers, literally nothing here to connect it to any specific case manufacturer. That of course doesn't mean it's a bad case - on the contrary, most such watches were cased in chrome-plated brass, or worse, a chrome-based alloy that corrodes and develops vicious pitting after too much contact with skin and sweat. So, a decent case. But not by Taubert.
So, what is it? It's a late 1930s piece with an anonymous dial, which suggests it was made for some local jeweller/retail chain, only was either sold without said retailer signing the dial, or the retailer went broke before having signed it. The general practice of anonymous dials was due to the fact, that customers' loyalty back then was to their local retailer rather than to a brand somewhere in Switzerland. Some ordered individual components and cobbled these watches together locally, or they ordered an entire unsigned watch from whatever manufacturer they chose to buy from.
Not a Rolex, not a Taubert case.
I’ve also now edited my post to this watch to point out MrBloke comments, I think it’s important to highlight all views and professions comment, which mine is not as a novice
Thanks for the info and intel, it is much appreciated….. I’m glad I didn’t pay too much for it…if it is as you say 1930s anonymous piece, I still like it and appreciate it….I actually like your story over the original I was told….some cobbled together watch back in the day…..I’m just a novice and your obviously an experienced watch expert, thank you for sharing and adding to the story…..I will try incorporate in my WRUW tomorrow
Sorry if I was a bit rough in presenting the info. Hope you didn't take it too personally. Whenever I see posts like that, in 9/10 cases the poster has been deceived by a dishonest seller. In 9 years of collecting, I saw that happen hundreds of times. Reckon that takes a toll on one.
Anyway, first and foremost, enjoy the watch. It is nowhere near what the seller claimed it is, but it's a decent piece.
Second... When the risks are high, and when you're just starting out in the hobby, they always are, ask before you buy. Not like that'll always save you from making a bad purchase, but it hugely helps the all along the learning curve. Even seasoned collectors sometimes ask for help.
So...welcome to vintage, the deep end of the pool. Fair winds and following seas!
No offence taken and thanks for reaching out and following up.
luckily I did not pay a lot for the watch, which should of told me it wasn’t what it was claimed !
however, I still like It and it was good to share on the forums so that not only I learn but hopefully others as well.
Have a good weekend my friend and thanks