Calibre 59

 

We're going to need an antique sub-forum on OF for watches over 100 years old...

 

Did rolex make Pocket watches? Most people equate century old watches with pocket watches.

Not much of an R fan, but this does look nice, and unique.

Might need a sub forum for watches over 200 years old. I wonder what other collectability has antique stuff where century or more old stuff is considered scrap and used for 'art' projects. Always interesting when one sees a bridge or plate from a late 18th century or early 19th century watch used in a steampunk collage.

Wonder how many steampunks used Rolex or other rare parts to make such a project?

Sometimes rare organ pipes (like the brass ones.) are made into table lamps. Drives the collectors crazy as replicating such to fill in the rank is night on impossible to fit in with the others.

 

I don’t think the Fontainemelon FHF 30 movement started being made until the mid thirties. Rolex purchased versions of this movement as the caliber 59. It was primarily sold into the Canadian market under a boatload of Rolex owned labels including York & Tudor. It wasn’t until after WW2 that Tudor really stood as its own make, before that Rolex just seemed to pull that, and other, labels out as needed to meet lesser markets.

my own 1947 caliber 59 Tudor

 

Good points except that this watch was only imported into Canada this week. The watch is originally from Australia where Tudor was being sold well before other markets. You can tell it's from the 20's due to the design culture on many Rolex watches from that time period.



Nice watch by the way.

 

I think they marketed Cortebert 616 at least (for Panerai diving watches, or Rolex PW), the one that got behind the Iron Curtain as a Molnya. I am not aware that the Aegler factory made pocket watches movements, so they probably used various ebauches. I'm no Rolex expert so it is to be taken with a huge pinch of salt.

 

I agree

 

After almost 100 years of rolex marketing

 

Probably good to test the dial with a Geiger Counter for Radium if you are handling the dial outside of the case. Nice looking old watch.

 

The Tudor will be dropped off at the watchmaker for service and restoration I'm looking forward to seeing it all polished up. The 14k gold filled T17 Omega I acquired for my wife will also be going in for restoration and servicing.

Hopefully (fingers crossed) I'll get the watches back before deployment. It might be a while before I post again but thank you all for the ......colorful comments and positive feedback.

 

This is good advice!

 

And this is where we begin to show our age. My wife recently illustrated this to me when I said something happened about 20 years ago…it was in the 80’s….umm…that’s 40 years ago.
When I think 50 years ago, in my brain I am thinking 1940’s. 100 years ago was 1922 and wrist watches were all the rage at the time- conversion kits for ladies pocket watches being sold to make “wristlets”. Wire lugs were being phased out for “modern” cased watches designed for straps.

Wire lug

Conversion case

sterling case designed for wrist