Rolex Pocket Watch Serial Number Database
The watchmaker I usually use to service my watches said Dunklings was an importer of Rolex parts based in the eastern states of Australia and used to assemble the timepieces and sell them as dunklings rolex’s. Then both movement and case are recorded as one into Rolex data base.And think about it if movement did not have a identification number how would Rolex and the COSC know or anyone know its passed a COSC test.If they did not have a unique number wouldn't be much use of the COSC test unless the COSC stamped every pass one.And with the case of Rolex thats around 900000 a year.
My recent find of a Swiss Made Rolex 17 Jewel, 'Extra Prima' 49mm pocket watch, in an English 9K A.L. Dennison Demi Humter case, has me a little confused over the movement serial number. The SN 6100550 does not make sense when referenced to the date of manufacture in the 'Complete Price Guide to Watches'. That SN puts the movement at around 1979-80, unlike the Birmingham Hallmarked A.L. Dennison case, which dates at 1930. Plus, there is an inscription on the dust cover with a presentation date of August 11, 1932, by 'Alice'. Can someone shed some light on this Serial Number dating mystery?
I have included some photos. If you read the 'fine print' accompanying that serial number-date list in the 'Complete Price Guide.' , note the emphasis on the word 'Approximate.' Actually, I doubt that the list even applies to Rolex standard pocket watches at all! As far as I know, the only pocket watch movements turned out by the Rolex/Aegler movement factory were an unusual, unconventional design based on the duo-dial design. They never made conventional pocket watch movements 'from scratch' themselves. Instead, they bought pocket watch movements from other Swiss manufacturers, and then probably added some of the finishing 'Rolex' touches themselves.
I have no idea just how much of the finishing was done by the movement manufacturer and how much may have been added by Rolex. For example, the 'Rolex, 42-43mm, three adjustments, cam regulator, exposed winding gears' pocket watch pictured in the two latest issues of the 'Complete Price Guide.' That I have (1997 and 2004 editions) is quite easily identified as a product of the Revue-Thommen (G. Thommen) factory in Waldenburg, Switzerland. Your watch appears to be more highly finished, and certainly more closely adjusted (temp. And six positions), and has all the earmarks of a watch movement made by the Cortebert Watch Factory, Juillard & Co., of Cortebert, Switzerland.
I have seen several of the Cortebert-made Rolex movements like yours on the onternet over the years and if memory serves, one or two may have been military contract watches. The shapes of the bridges, cocks, etc., are clearly Cortebert, but may have been somewhat modified for Rolex. At least one, possibly more, even carried a Cortebert calibre number. One really distinctive feature of these Cortebert calibres, not just those made for Rolex, is the curve of the balance cock, with the regulator 'pointer' similarly curved to follow the shape of the balance cock. This feature also appeared on the Hamilton grade 669 (Cortebert cal.
Instruments: voltmeter, pressure, oil temperature; camera c / x; for manual shifting like the handle lever and paddles on the steering wheel; cruise control; on-board computer; system illumination zone rotation — AFS; rain sensor, light sensor; Japanese cassette Eclipse and buffer amplifier with Addzest; EQ on the rear window. Instrukciya dlya magnetrol addzest. The machine I had the 2nd year bought in Habarovske.V technical planet machine appeared verified, that is such as it should be. Dear security complex; — Body: native molding R18 Ralliart with summer tires Potenza; visor; Lights- lenses biksenon; tumanki; native thresholds; pads on the front and rear bumper Shark; gills on the wings and pad on the roof; custom spoiler; bifurcated exhaust (not loud) with banks HKS (quiet beautiful bass); — SALON: partially tensioned black and red leather (steering wheel, seats, door, front panel, armrest); additional installed. A huge plus is tuning its just an incredible amount of thanks to his older brother Ewe) Edith adequately for simple kopeck piece, though not economical ( Full duty; Chain engine 4B11 MIVEC (NOT GDI) — analogue VTEC, 158 hp.
536) 19-ligne movements that Hamilton used for their Traffic Special I and II watches some time after WWII. Later, the grade 669 was replaced by Hamilton grade 670 in the Traffic Specials III and IV, for which Cortebert provided an 18-1/2 ligne movement that, alas, had the more modern style of regulator that dispensed with the long pointer altogether.
So even though your watch may not be a 'pure-bred' Rolex, it is still a very nice Rolex. You'll probably just have to disregard that serial number unless someone else can come up with an explanation. However, in my opinion, for what it is worth, I think that you can rely on that August 1932 presentation engraved on the cuvette to arrive at an approximate production date. Disclaimer: I'm not a Rolex expert, nor a Rolex collector, but I can really appreciate (but never afford) the pocket watches like yours! Larry Treiman.