Rolex Rolex Unicorn ROL 739
Rolex Unicorn
Rolex Unicorn hand winding wristwatch. Rolex had launched the waterproof Oyster in the 1920’s and then the chronometer rated watches in the early 1930’s. The Oysters were often chronometer rated and became very popular. Some of the other models produced by Rolex during this period were made in much smaller quantities as the Oyster chronometer rated watches were more popular. As a result the other models from this period are very rare. Ones such watch is the Rolex Unicorn. It was produced at around the same time as the Cartier Tank watch so was probably in direct competition with Cartier with this model. Much like the Cartier, it is a small size gents watch, made in the time when watches were being made small to show off their watchmaking skills. It has a 15 jewel hand winding movement signed Rolex, and Unicorn. The case is a chrome plated base metal “Snowite” case with fixed bars and a replacement Milanese bracelet. Working well for a watch of its age which is circa mid 1930’s times to approx 25 seconds per 24 hours
Movement Calibre 985 hand winding 15 Jewel
Case chrome plated metal fixed bars opens from the front, signed Rolex Watch Co, Geneve, Snowite
Crystal acrylic
Crown push unsigned
Bracelet replacement Milanese style bracelet
Dial – index markers, signed Rolex
Hands blued steel with subsidiary second,
Width 26 mm
Length 32 mm
Thickness 7 mm
Key Characteristics
Additional Product Details
Rolex SA was founded in 1905 by the German Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis. Contrary to popular belief, Hans Wilsdorf was neither Swiss, nor a watchmaker. Wilsdorf & Davis was the original name of what later became the Rolex Watch Company. They originally imported Hermann Aegler's Swiss movements to England and placed them in quality cases made by Dennison and others. These early wristwatches were then sold to jewellers, who then put their own names on the dial. The earliest watches from the firm of Wilsdorf and Davis are usually marked "W&D" – inside the caseback only. Hans Wilsdorf registered the trademark name "Rolex" in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland during 1908. The word was made up, but its origin is obscure. One story, which was never confirmed by Wilsdorf, is that the word "Rolex" came from the French phrase horlogerie exquise, meaning exquisite watch industry. The Wilsdorf & Davis company moved out of Great Britain in 1912. Wilsdorf wanted his watches to be affordable, but taxes and export duties on the case metals (silver and gold) were driving costs up. From that time to the present, Rolex has been headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, though the company owns facilities in other cities (Bienne, etc) and continents (North America, Asia, Australia, etc). The company name Rolex was officially registered on 15 November 1915. It is thought this change was part of a drive to popularize wristwatches, which at the time were still considered a novelty largely for women (pocket watches were more common). Wilsdorf was said to desire his watch brand's name to be easily pronounceable in any language. The company name was officially changed to the Rolex Watch Company during 1919. It was later changed to Montres Rolex, SA and finally Rolex, SA. Rolex SA is a foundation initiated and originally funded by Hans Wilsdorf and the Aegler family. According to foundation documentation, the Rolex SA company can never be sold, nor traded on any stock market.