Vintage Rolex Watch Silver — Wilsdorf & Davis (1915-1920)

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A Rolex from the transition from Wilsdorf & Davis to Rolex

This watch is a century-old piece with a 29mm 925 sterling silver case, whose back bears a marking that dates it precisely. One can read both the underlined ROLEX signature and the W&D in a shield hallmark, for Wilsdorf & Davis — the name under which Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis founded the company in London in 1905.

This double signature is not insignificant. In November 1915, the company officially changed its corporate name to The Rolex Watch Company Limited. So as not to unsettle its clientele, it then stamped its case backs with both names at once, during a transition period that came to an end around 1920. This watch belongs precisely to that window: it documents the moment when Rolex became Rolex.

The movement is a 15-jewel Aegler Rebberg, identifiable by the very distinctive shape of its central bridge and by the ROLEX 15 JEWELS engraving borne by the ratchet wheel, the crown wheel bearing SWISS MADE. These calibres, produced by Aegler in the Rebberg district of Biel, equipped the maison's top of the range. James Dowling, in his reference work, writes that the Rebberg movement made Rolex's reputation.

The light dial features twelve painted Arabic numerals, framed by a railway minute track, with the ROLEX signature alone beneath the twelve. The blued steel sword hands stand out sharply against it. The dial bears the traces of its century: a few scratches at the centre and fine spots of oxidation around the edge, which we have not sought to conceal. Case round, wire lugs soldered to the caseband, small diameter: this design is that of the wristwatches born of the Great War, though this piece bears no military marking.

Three points to note

• Double Rolex and W&D marking — the back bears both signatures, which places the piece between November 1915 and 1920, the transition period between the company's two names.
• 15-jewel Aegler Rebberg movement — the calibre that built Rolex's reputation in its early years.
• Case in 925 sterling silver — a precious metal throughout, with its control hallmarks.

Why choose a vintage Rolex watch?

Buying a vintage Rolex watch rather than a new model means gaining access to a leading Swiss manufacture on a budget wholly unlike that of the boutique. Pieces from the Wilsdorf & Davis period belong to another category altogether: they predate the Oyster of 1926 and document the beginnings of the maison, when it was still only a London importer of Swiss movements.

This piece holds a particular place among vintage men's and women's watches: its 29mm format corresponds to that of the earliest wristwatches, wearable equally by both. Small vintage watches are now enjoying a marked revival, and a Rolex from this period remains uncommon on the market.

Like all our vintage mechanical watches, this one has been opened and checked by our watchmakers: inspection of the calibre, the case hallmarks and case number, examination of the dial, the hands and the silver. Each pre-owned Rolex watch that we offer comes with an invoice Atelier Victor serving as a certificate, a one-year warranty, and guaranteed lifetime authenticity.

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Technical characteristics

• Brand: Rolex
• Model: Round dress watch with wire lugs
• Case number: 6451••
• Estimated year: Between 1915 and 1920
• Origin: Switzerland
• Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex)
• Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, Aegler Rebberg 15 jewels, signed ROLEX 15 JEWELS on the ratchet wheel
• Functions: Hours, minutes
• Case: 925 sterling silver, round shape with wire lugs, hinged caseback
• Hallmarks: underlined ROLEX, SWISS, 925, control hallmarks, W&D (Wilsdorf & Davis)
• Dimensions: 29mm (32mm with the crown)
• Lug to lug: 35mm
• Thickness: 10mm
• Lug width: 10mm
• Crown: Silver, fluted, original
• Dial: Light, painted Arabic numerals, railway minute track, original
• Hands: Blued steel glaive, original
• Crystal: Acrylic (condition 9/10)
• Strap: Black braided fabric, not original
• Buckle: Pin buckle, not original

Condition and warranty

• Overall condition: Good state of preservation for a century-old piece. The dial is original and has never been refinished: it shows a few scratches in the center and fine oxidation spots around the periphery, fully visible in our photographs. The numerals and blued hands are crisp. The Rebberg movement is clean and complete, with its engravings perfectly legible, as are the hallmarks inside the caseback. The silver case was very likely repolished during its lifetime: its sides are bright and the edges of the bezel have been softened.
• Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
• Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
• Mechanical: Movement inspected, guaranteed for 1 year
• Included: Invoice Atelier Victor, protective case
• Not included: Original box and papers

Frequently asked questions

How is this watch dated?
By the double marking on its caseback, which bears both ROLEX and the W&D hallmark. In November 1915, Wilsdorf & Davis changed its corporate name to The Rolex Watch Company Limited, and at that point stamped its cases with both names simultaneously so as not to confuse its clientele. The phasing out of the W&D hallmark began around 1918 and was completed around 1920. This watch therefore belongs to that five-year window.

What does the W&D hallmark mean?
W&D is the hallmark of Wilsdorf & Davis, the name under which Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis founded in 1905 in London the company that would become Rolex. At the time, they imported Swiss movements from Aegler and had them cased before reselling them to jewellers. The hallmark attests that it was indeed this firm that had the case hallmarked, and it constitutes one of the strongest elements of authentication on a Rolex from this period.

Is the number on the caseback a Rolex serial number?
No. Rolex did not introduce its sequential numbering system until the mid-1920s, starting at around twenty-eight thousand in 1926. The number stamped here is a case number, applied by the case maker. It therefore does not correspond with the usual Rolex dating tables, which apply only to later pieces.

What is an Aegler Rebberg movement?
Aegler produced its ébauches in the Rebberg district of Biel, hence the name given to these calibres. They equipped the top range of Wilsdorf & Davis and bore the engraving ROLEX 15 JEWELS on the ratchet wheel, as on this example. The Rebberg period runs from 1905 to around 1923, and corresponds to the firm's transformation into a dominant player in the luxury wristwatch market. James Dowling writes that it was this movement that made Rolex's reputation.

Is it a military watch?
No. This piece bears no ordnance marking, no regiment number, and no government property arrow. It is a civilian watch. Its design — small-diameter round case, wire lugs soldered to the middle case, Arabic numeral dial — and its dating place it, however, in the period when wrist wear became established, under the direct effect of the Great War.

A piece selected by Atelier Victor

Authenticated, checked, and photographed by us. As all sales are final, our team remains available 7 days a week on WhatsApp to answer your questions, share additional photos or a video of the piece in hand — so that your choice can be made with complete peace of mind.

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