Hello OF,

I am asking a question about this watch looks like this is the ref 2280 from the backcase, but after research it appears than it is the Rolex Oyster Royal, this one has a California Dial (a refurbished one ?), I am not sure this dial match with the ref, or the ref with the mecanism, anybody know something about these oldies ?

The watch has been serviced, probably relumed years ago.

Thank you for any advice or help.

 

After some research it looks like this ref 2280 is for the Speedking and the Royalite, there is a variant with second subdial, I am not sure this dial is corresponding this ref than there is only write on it "Rolex Oyster". The seller offers the watch for 1400 dollars + shippement. I am little confused with this one, it is hard to have information on it.

 

Sma movement as the Royalite? Well, not really. Her are two images of my Rolex Royalite, Observatory model as you will note, it has 18-jewels, and is adjusted to FIVE positions, not just TWO positions. Was the Royalite name used on several different models?





I also have another one with the same movement as the one you posted.

 

I have heard that it is a known fact that these dials are often faked.

 

Interesting, what is the reference of your second one ? May be the one i posted have a wrong backcase for the reference because there is the Speedking and the Royalite models for 2280 when i did research, with 15 and 17 jewels mecanism.

It's interesting than California Dials are for many refurbished by shops in the 30s and 40s, I dont know if Rolex did it itself for all and how to recognised them.

 

Here is the inside case back of the second one. Because the case back is marked both 9 karat and 10 karat, the case back was likely made in Switzerland, and the case likely was made in England. I doubt the Swiss would have made a 9 karat gold case. Case model # 6022. The movement in the second one has 17-jewels. The Royalite I showed has 18-jewels. The peculiar mark showing a pair of upper case Fs facing each other is an import mark. How that import mark is contiguous to the .375 (9-karat) appears odd to me. Assuming the it is the case back that is 10 karat, and most likely was made in Switzerland.

 

Looks redone to me

 

By “redone”, you mean?

 

Reprinted i.e. no original Rolex print. I assume - more in general - that perhaps 1% of the California dials are legit

 

There is a problem between the dial and the reference i let it go. It must be next to impossible to find an original untouched California Dial.

 

Dial is reprinted and refinished.