Rolex raleigh

Email: required. The Oyster Raleigh is a classic wartime vintage Rolex watch, and one of those models that really is an essential purchase for anyone attempting to build up a collection that charts the products of this famous Swiss house through the decades.

The Rolex Oyster is unquestionably the most sought after elderly watch type, with well preserved examples collected worldwide. To a large extent, we can attribute this popularity and cult following to the fact that the sheer over engineering and rugged nature of these pieces means that as well as being proven strong financial investments, they can be carefully enjoyed on the wrist on a regular basis without any negative consequences. The two main factors that ensured the success of the Oyster were its waterproof, ultra reliable nature and the supreme accuracy of its movement.

Rolex had always carefully marketed these models with very much a sporting, almost daredevil, theme, capitalising on their use by legendary figures like Sir Malcolm Campbell, the famous British land and water speed record pioneer, and Alex Henshaw, the first pilot to fly from London to Capetown and back again.

This image was cultivated further by an increased alignment with British RAF pilots as the s continued towards their inevitable conclusion. The RAF team members that first flew over Everest wore Rolex Oysters, as did Flying Officer Coulston, who was the first man to pilot a round trip between London and New Zealand, proudly sending a cable upon arrival to Rolex in London to confirm that his watch, that had been purchased privately six years before this flight, had kept perfect time, allowing him to calculate his course without incident.

By the outbreak of war in Europe in , quite literally, every Rolex Oyster in Britain had been purchased, out of their own pockets, by pilots and other front line military personnel who simply felt more comfortable depending on a Rolex watch than those officially issued by the Government by other Swiss manufacturers.

In retrospect, this was an enormous compliment, particularly when we consider just how expensive these watches were when new. The Oyster Raleigh is now inextricably linked with World War II, but in truth, is not technically a wartime watch having been first introduced nine years before hostilities broke out in and indeed only remaining in production for the first year of the conflict, it being no longer pictured in Rolex catalogues after , the year in which this example was made. It is also worth noting that despite its widespread use among RAF pilots, this watch was never purchased for official issue by either the British, or indeed by any Allied government, instead being paid for individually and independently, over the counter from Rolex stockists, in the conventional civilian way.

The Oyster Raleigh is not a military watch, and in this respect is again in common with the Oyster Army, which despite its name was a civilian model purchased privately by military users though quite understandably, it is often viewed in this context. Rolex was later, in the s, to trademark a selection of exploration themed names, and we can safely assume that the Raleigh title of this model was inspired by the dashing British Elizabethan era explorer of the same name, Sir Walter.

If we look back over the last century, there are certain common re-occurring themes that constantly show up in Rolex Oyster model names. One of these is a sense of speed, exploration and pushing forward boundaries and the other is a connection with English aristocracy and in some cases, the Royal house itself. If we take almost any Rolex model name at random from the s through to the s, it can invariably be assigned immediately to one of these two categories and this Raleigh name is a title that perfectly illustrates this point, combining strong overlapping aspects of both.

The watch for sale here is in exceptionally fine condition throughout, and most importantly, is completely original and unmolested. Its gleaming stainless steel case is almost mint, with just the usual tiny imperfections that must be expected on any carefully looked after piece of this age.

If the photos of this item are studied carefully, it will be seen that the Oyster Raleigh actually used a slightly different case type from the vast majority of other Oysters from the same era. Unlike the standard models, which have curved sides bending inwards to meet the glass and bezel, the very chunky sides of the Raleigh are almost vertical, these meeting the top surface of the lugs almost at a right angle. We have always liked the very utilitarian, substantial look of the Raleigh case and feel that it just adds that extra interest factor to what is already an extremely attractive watch.

The milled edges that surround the case back are in almost perfect condition, this item having only ever been removed for servicing with the correct Rolex tool. This is a very important point, as so many vintage Rolex Oysters, all of which have had this distinctive edging since , have been at some time opened with an incorrect implement causing very unsightly damage.

If ever confirmation of this is needed, simply visit the viewing session that occurs before any of the traditional specialist vintage wristwatch sales held by the hallowed physical auction houses.

At these events, serious collectors, often with years of experience behind them, will be seen poring over potential purchases with eyeglasses, looking for imperfections to case back edges, dials and movements, often for several minutes per watch. As with so many areas of antique collecting, condition and originality are everything, near perfect order often multiplying the worth of a watch to several times that of its merely average sibling.

This smooth, perfectly polished, screw down case back outer is signed with the serial number , while internally we find the model reference The two numbers here are, of course, correct for this watch.

It is always worth checking these numbers before buying any vintage Rolex as so many of these high value pieces have been built up from spare parts removed from scrap or badly damaged watches. Rolex designed this watch specifically with pilots in mind. The original version GMT Master allowed its owner to track two different time zones. Last year, Rolex reissued the watch in a slightly modernized form, and it was a huge success.

It is a privilege to own this iconic timepiece. To date, Rolex Daytona remains one of the most sought-after timepieces in the world. First released in , the Daytona screams elegance. Seriously, the waiting lists for new models are just mind-blowing for the gold versions.

And the steel versions are just impossible to acquire. The Cosmography Daytona also signifies a modern representation of what the vintage models looked like. To date, it still retains the tachymeter bezel Rolex used in its first models for calculating average speed — although slightly wider than its predecessors. Its recognizable chronograph subdials are exclusive to this model. However, the pre-owned market offers some stunning versions that will wow you just as much. The Explorer is about as basic a watch as you can find.

Rolex built this particular model for survival. However, most people prefer the Rolex Explorer II because of its fixed hour bezel and hour hand. Essentially, this is an iconic timepiece and one of the best watches to have in your collection. The Rolex Day-Date has a long history of being worn by some of the most famous names in history. It has three different bezel variations and several dials to match. If you want pure prestige on your wrists, Day-Date is the watch you need.

And the big names rallying behind it only strengthens its exclusivity among the governing elite. Since its inception, Malay Jewelers has established itself as the best source to shop for and sell luxury watches. Malay Jewelers has some of the most iconic timepieces you can find from some of the biggest names in watchmaking. These include a host of options that include Rolex, Patek, Cartier, Omega, amongst others.

You get the best products in the industry at the best price points. We also closely inspect each watch under high magnification to ensure every timepiece we buy and sell is genuine. Malay Jewelers leave. The Rolex watch is a classic accessory due to its durability, timelessness and aesthetic quality. Swiss Wrist offers amazing deals on new and used Rolex watches , as well lots of information on production value and much more.

In a renowned city such as Raleigh, it makes sense that residents love Rolex! For more information, send us a message or call We are here to help! Why Choose Swiss Wrist?