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Vintage Rolex Oyster Centregraph WW2 Military Watch
■ STATUS: SOLD
THIS TIMEPIECE HAS FOUND A NEW HOME
► SELLER'S DESCRIPTION
Up for sale is a remarkable piece of horological history: a genuine Vintage Oyster Watch Company Oyster Centregraph from the World War II era. The Oyster Watch Company was owned and operated by Rolex, and during WWII, Rolex used the Oyster Watch Co. name to navigate tariffs and import restrictions in certain markets, particularly in the UK and Canada. Because of these regulations, watches were branded Oyster Watch Company instead of Rolex, even though they were manufactured using the same components, built to the same standards, and fitted with Rolex’s patented waterproof Oyster case. While the dial does not display the Rolex name, this is still a Rolex-built watch, making it a highly desirable and historically significant piece.
This example features the Oyster Centregraph configuration and is powered by its original high-end 17 jewel Caliber 59 movement. This 17 jewel variant is more rare and more premium than the more commonly encountered 15 jewel versions found in many wartime models, adding to its collectibility and desirability. The watch is currently running and keeping accurate time.
The watch has aged gracefully and shows signs of use and age consistent with a genuine WWII-era timepiece. The dial, hands, case, and movement are original, preserving its vintage authenticity and strong collector appeal. The original dial features a beautiful gold-toned patina with blued steel hands and Arabic numerals, delivering the classic vintage military aesthetic. The watch is fitted on a brand new high-end brown leather strap that complements the period look perfectly.
Key Details:
• Brand: Oyster Watch Company (Rolex-owned wartime brand)
• Model: Oyster Centregraph
• Movement: Original 17 Jewel Caliber 59
• Case Size: Approximately 29mm
• Era: World War II (1940s)
• Condition: Running and keeping accurate time; shows signs of use and age
• Dial: Original gold patina dial with blued steel hands and Arabic numerals
• Strap: Brand new high-end brown leather strap
Whether you are a vintage Rolex collector or a fan of historic military timepieces, this Oyster Watch Company Oyster Centregraph represents an excellent opportunity to own a true Rolex-built watch from a fascinating chapter in watchmaking history.
Ships carefully. Feel free to message me with any questions.
► ARCHIVE FILE: ROLEX — BRAND HISTORY
Rolex began in London in 1905, when Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis founded Wilsdorf & Davis to case Swiss movements for the British market. Wilsdorf registered the Rolex name in 1908, choosing it because it was short, easy to pronounce in any language, and fit neatly on a dial. He then set about proving that wristwatches, still dismissed as jewelry, could be precision instruments: a Rolex earned the first chronometer certificate granted to a wristwatch in 1910, a Kew Class A certificate followed in 1914, and the firm moved to Geneva in 1919.
Read the full Rolex story — and shop all Rolex watches ►► RELATED TIMEPIECES DETECTED (4)
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