sham1
9619
Pure vintage!
I have tried for many years to like contemporary Rolex watches but somehow could not, even though they are great watches. However, I have always had a soft spot for vintage Rolexes and I am not referring to the Oyster but the really old Rolexes from the 20s, 30s and 40s. Today I had an opportunity to try four and managed to convince myself that one of these watches would make a good addition to my eventual three/four watch collection. The question is which one suits my wrist best! 
Lovely fit and case shape
I love the rose gold numerals
Lovely dial but perhaps a tad too large for me
A better fit and apparently rare in this case shape
Pure vintage!
I have tried for many years to like contemporary Rolex watches but somehow could not, even though they are great watches. However, I have always had a soft spot for vintage Rolexes and I am not referring to the Oyster but the really old Rolexes from the 2...
Thank you!
Definitely in my top 2 and I agree on your comments on legibility and looks!
All beautiful vintage watches
but for me the first two look the best and it depends whether you would prefer rectangular or round. Regards Kev.
Thanks Kevin!
There is this huge following of Rolex Prince watches and I had to try a couple on but I agree with you that the simplicity and the elegance of the first two make either a compelling choice. Not to mention, their combined cost equates to less than either o...
Number One gets my vote
For the reasons previously mentioned. It looks in such perfect condition too! Cazalea
I must confess
that I am quite in awe at the condition of all the watches in this shop. I mean the watches are more than 80 years old and should rightfully be termed as 'mint'. That first watch is really doing well. Maybe I should not have placed it first in the photos!...
Sounds unanimous!
It just shows how the lowest priced watch can triumph! Thank you for your vote
:-)
I was going to say that you almost make me laugh but seriously speaking, to me it lack the class and elegance that the older watches have. A watch should be discreetly elegant in my opinion but a modern Cellini Price would be too showy for me.
Ah the third one
has a very legible dial for a Prince but even the honest shopkeeper remarked that it is a bit too large for my wrist. I say honest because it was the most expensive watch of the four. Thank you Alkiro. The first one is more popular than I thought it would...
Thanks Alkiro!
I aim to return to the shop and have a final try of all four before pulling the trigger Many purists don't seem to mind if the lugs of a watch stick out a little. I tend to go for the perfect fit as if the watch was made for my wrist (I know it wasn't but...
You have more faith in my heart than I do! :-)
But yes I do agree - I will buy the watch I love! And I hope I do not love all four!!
Well said!! :-)
But if the watch does prove reliable, I can see myself slowly building a collection of Rolex vintage watches especially as for the price of the equivalent Patek, I can get a few Rolexes!!
Ah ok!
The lugs unfortunately hang a bit on me but thanks anyway. I love the clarity of the dial because some Prince models are more cluttered.
Thank you!!
Although at the end of the day, the final decision would be mine, I cannot ignore how popular the first one is! Not only is it terribly elegant but it hugs my wrist perfectly!!
Beautiful watches.
Love the tank shaped ones. Case on number 1 looks very nice, and dials on number 3 and 4 look fantastic, I see nothing special on number 2. Thanks for sharing. Vte
Thank you for your feedback!
I wish Rolex had a new range of these watches which I am convinced will be very popular!
Sham I am totally biased as I love the prince so no 3 for me
You say all these pieces are in pristine condition It is extremely rare to find these old models with pristine original dials I am struggling to find an original striped prince or even a two tone prince without some work done on the case or dial Good luck...
Thanks Julian!
This particular shop only sells vintage Rolex watches and have quite a number of Prince models available. Their prices are arguably higher than any other dealer but the quality of their products are second to none. This makes these rare watches even rarer...
I love the first one, as does everyone else, it seems.
But for me, I am always reluctant to choose a shaped case as I'm afraid I'll lose interest in it; or feel it is too attention-getting. That has happened on more than one occasion. So number 2 would most likely be what I'd end up selecting. Frankly, it app...
Many thanks!
Yes rectangular cases are arguably more niche and the round case with the 33 or 34mm diameter fitted my wrist like a glove as expected. Saying that, I actually opted for a Patek 5940G with a torneau shaped case over the more conventional 5140 round case a...
Thanks Joe!
To be honest, the first two fit my wrist perfectly as if they were made for me. I am almost tempted to buy both (they conveniently cost a lot less than any of the other two. I know, I know I am being a bit greedy here )) but I am a bit cautious as I have ...
I love the final (4th photo) Prince.
I owned several over the years and their great watches. Kurt
Thank you Kurt!
You are the only purist who has chosen the 4th watch and as you seem to be an expert on these watches, your vote really matters. In fact, when I walked out of the shop, this was my favourite watch and the Prince that best suited my wrist. So I was quite a...
Thanks Max!
I can see you are a fan of the Rolex Prince range. It is guys like you who have pushed the price of the Prince up!! ) Good choices by the way. The 3rd watch has a very clear and clean dial but wears larger on my wrist than the 4th watch. Dying to try them...
Rolex Prince
thanks! Given the popularity of the Rolex sports watches, these classic watches proces have become very affordable.. : )
Thank you Nicholas!
They both seem to be the most legible but if you look at the 3rd one carefully, the watch may be a tad too large for my wrist if you notice how the bottom of the watch is placed compared to say watches number one and four where the fact is close to perfec...
I agree!
But what if I told you for the price of number 3, I could get number 1 and 4!!
You are one decisive man Nicholas! :)
I guess you get what you pay for and it is priced a certain way due to the demand for the watch. I need a new wrist!!
Ref: 1936 from 1935 to 1936
I very much like the first. The simplicity rectangular case is much in keeping with that era and the art deco style. Below is an old picture of mine against a copy of a December 1936 UK Rolex advertisement. I understand that the steel case is now rare. Mi...
Thanks Clive!
I feel today's watches are generally too large and yours fits your wrist perfectly. In fact I am pretty sure I saw something similar in the shop I visited who only specialise in vintage Rolexes. Maybe I am just a dinosaur but I wish Rolex and other compan...
Sham, if I were choosing for myself, the 3 factors that I would weigh most heavily would be, condition, condition and condition.
I would need there to be an unrefinished, untouched dial; unpolished or lightly polished case with good definition all around and no corrosion; movement in excellent condition. Regarding the Prince Brancard (#3), does it have an observatory movement, whic...
Oh wow!
I am highly impressed by your knowledge of vintage Rolex watches which I have none of! The watches are in silver apart from the round one. I can see originality is important to you but condition is very important to me too which is why I visited this part...
Thank you for the compliment Sham. I always enjoy reading about your "watch dilemmas"!
You approach these dilemmas with great curiosity, open mindedness, a sense of humor and modesty. So I am happy to participate in the discussion. Congratulations on the Moser #1 of 20! I know these watches have a following and are of very high quality. Unt...
Thank you Patekova!
Fortunately or perhaps unfortunately, I cannot keep buying watches with my impending retirement in June, unless of course one of my relatives is a lot less healthy and loves me a lot more than I could ever have imagined! I think my biggest and possibly on...
My pleasure Sham! I think if you are considering buying a vintage there is no reason to worry about whether it will be highly accurate, because
you should assume it won't - hence no need to worry. In other words one needs to adjust one's attitude towards this issue and forget about trying to adjust the watch for greater accuracy. Like with your IWC you might get lucky, but even if so, it doesn't ...
You are right!
I must have been very lucky with the IWC (admittedly it had spent 4 months at IWC for a full service and restoration) because it was keeping near perfect time for two years! It then occurred to me that accuracy in watches has not progressed much after 70 ...
Sham, I think every single point you present makes a lot of sense. And when spending so much money for a non-essential item, why not
be a perfectionist and get exactly what you want. Don't know about the speed of your learning, but it seems to me you have learned a lot and have developed a great formula for buying. Of course, sometimes it is hard to stick to a formula when presented wi...
You are way too kind! :-)
Thank you for appreciating my 'twisted' views. We all have formulas that work for us and after having made numerous purchases and arguably numerous mistakes, I think I have finally found what worls for me. I am happy to say my tiny collection of 4 or 5 wa...
The first one
Classic, right sized and the dial layout doesn't look as busy and pretty well balanced.
Thanks Richard!
Your opinion sums it all accurately. Some people may not be able to appreciate a simple non busy dial, but like you, I do
1st one is wow
That first one just hits different . clean, elegant, perfectly proportioned. It doesn’t shout, it whispers style. Definitely feels like the one .
Agreed!
But unfortunately no more available since this was advertised eight years ago!