.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
With Rolex period green presentation box.
Introduced to the market in 1928, the legendary "Prince" with its elegant Art Deco case design has ever since been popular amongst aficionados of the period. The models, always fitted with rectangular cases of different shapes, were advertised as "The Watch for Men of Distinction".
The strategic placement of the winding and balance wheels to each end allowed the use of a larger balance, resulting in a longer autonomy and increased accuracy. It furthermore enabled a dial design with an enlarged subsidiary seconds dial below the hour dial. From this layout derived the designation "doctor's watch" as the larger seconds dial was practical for functions such as the reading of the pulse.
The present watch is from the celebrated reference 1491HS series, distinguished by the flared sides and called "Brancard" from the French word "brancard" for "stretcher", and the "Heures Sautantes" or "Jumping Hours". Consigned by a private collector, it stands furthermore out by its very good, original overall condition.
The first jump hour pocket watches appeared already in the early 19th century but the system became particularly fashionable during the Art Deco period. The architectural layout, displaying the actual hour through a small aperture, minutes and seconds on enlarged subsidiary dials, harmonized perfectly with the purely decorative Art Deco style, seen as elegant, functional, and ultra modern.
During the "Roaring Twenties", pocket and wristwatches fitted with this unusual display were made by the most eminent makers, notably Audemars Piguet, Cartier and Patek Philippe but the fashion declined with the Great Depression, and was definitively over by World War II.
Introduced to the market in 1928, the legendary "Prince" with its elegant Art Deco case design has ever since been popular amongst aficionados of the period. The models, always fitted with rectangular cases of different shapes, were advertised as "The Watch for Men of Distinction".
The strategic placement of the winding and balance wheels to each end allowed the use of a larger balance, resulting in a longer autonomy and increased accuracy. It furthermore enabled a dial design with an enlarged subsidiary seconds dial below the hour dial. From this layout derived the designation "doctor's watch" as the larger seconds dial was practical for functions such as the reading of the pulse.
The present watch is from the celebrated reference 1491HS series, distinguished by the flared sides and called "Brancard" from the French word "brancard" for "stretcher", and the "Heures Sautantes" or "Jumping Hours". Consigned by a private collector, it stands furthermore out by its very good, original overall condition.
The first jump hour pocket watches appeared already in the early 19th century but the system became particularly fashionable during the Art Deco period. The architectural layout, displaying the actual hour through a small aperture, minutes and seconds on enlarged subsidiary dials, harmonized perfectly with the purely decorative Art Deco style, seen as elegant, functional, and ultra modern.
During the "Roaring Twenties", pocket and wristwatches fitted with this unusual display were made by the most eminent makers, notably Audemars Piguet, Cartier and Patek Philippe but the fashion declined with the Great Depression, and was definitively over by World War II.