After
much searching and waiting, i have finally managed to find one nice all
original condition Eaton quarter century club doctor`s watch by Rolex.
Rolex
Prince made for Timothy Eaton department store in Canada. These watches were
known as Quarter (1/4) Century Club watches and given as gifts to employees
celebrating 25 years of employment with the company. The male employees were
offered a wrist or pocket watch, both made by Rolex, while the women were
offered a gold Rolex cocktail watch or a diamond ring. This
watch is one of the first series of watches ordered by Eaton’s from Rolex, the
flared case Rolex Prince model 1490. After this model are the Rolex bubbleback,
handwind round shape and automatic round watch.
The
watch is modeled in 14 karat yellow gold and with squirrel hallmark and case
stampings. Inside the watch is powered by a 15 jewel Rolex calibre 300 that is
timed and adjusted to 6 positions. The movement is also marked as a Chronometer
and graded as an Extra Prima model within the Rolex hierarchy. This was the
pinnacle of Rolex watchmaking at the time. The earliest Quarter Century Prince
models were given out in the mid 1930’s and were the same model as this example
a reference 1490. Some have speculated that Eatons purchased them in bulk
orders and dispensed them as needed. Adding to that theory was the fact that as
late as the 1940’s Eatons was still presenting Rolex Princes to their
employees.
This
watch was presented in 1940. This watch features the original silver plate dial
with enamel pattern and lettering spelling out 1/4 CENTURY CLUB at the hour
markers. This corporate arrangement is the only example of a re-branded Rolex
Prince that is known to exist. The
yellow gold case measures 23 mm wide across the narrowest section and where the
lugs flare, 26 mm. The case is an elongated 42 mm long.
As usual, I have traded the following watches in order to keep the total quantities of watches down:
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