Today's offering showcases this fine, very rare and very early Rolex Oyster with wonderful original finish guilloche dial, made while the company was building its early Oyster line.

Built within a handful of years of the very first Oyster in 1926, this is one of the very early Oysters Rolex made and features their famous octagonal design from the era.

Without question one of the company's greatest contributions to horology is in the area of waterproof cases. The Rolex Oyster case birthed the idea of the modern sport watch as we know it and was a key catalyst for the initial widespread acceptance of the wristwatch.

Several events worked to greatly popularize the watch: Sir Malcolm Campbell's land speed record attempt where he achieved a speed of 272 mpg, all done while wearing perfectly functioning Oyster. And, of course, perhaps the most well-known early event in the company's history: Mercedes Gleitz's English Channel swim wearing an Oyster. Following the historic event, Rolex took out a full-page ad in the Daily Mail introducing the Oyster.

It is a small midsize watch, often called the "boys" size for the era. It was gifted on New Year's Eve 1936.

All of its parts are Rolex including its original Rolex "onion" crown, suggestive of a pocket watch, the watch's predecessor.

Its 9K gold Oyster case with screwed down bezel and back is in excellent condition with fairly mild wear and signs of previous polishing and an indention in the thin gold back.

Its awesome guilloche luminous dial is untouched. Its dial is correctly unsigned as was customary for the era before the days of ubiquitous branding.

Powering the watch is its very high grade Rolex caliber handwound movement. It was adjusted to six positions and for "all climates" temperatures.

During this period, after assembly and testing, Rolex labeled their best performing movements with a "Prima designation." This designation then had three levels - Prima, Extra Prima, or Ultra Prima. The rare high-grade Rolex offered here was rated "Extra Prima" by the Rolex factory.

One of our watchmakers has just disassembled it down to the last screw and cleaned and oiled the movement. Amazingly after more than 9 decades, It continues to keep exceptionally accurate time, keeping time nearly on par with a brand new Rolex in our testing position.

For the finishing touch we have installed a brand new oiled tanned leather strap making it ready for immediate enjoyment.

As Rolexes continue to appreciate in value, I think these early Oysters remain underappreciated and undervalued for their rarity and historical significance. I think a time will be coming when their value catches up with the importance and scarcity.

Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function and a full-page custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity.

• Manufacturer: Rolex
• Country of origin: Switzerland
• Serial no.: 34,079
• Year made: c. 1936
• Functions: Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds
• Designed for: Men
• Case material: 9K gold
• Case condition: Its 9K gold Oyster case with screwed down bezel and back is in excellent condition with fairly mild wear and signs of previous polishing and an indention in the thin gold back. Like virtually all early wire lug watches, the lugs have been previously reinforced. Not recently polished.
• Case markings (inside): Rolex, 9C, 7 World's Records, Gold Medal, Geneva-Suisse, Patent Applied for +114948 various hand-engraved watchmaker's marks showing an extensive servicing history
• Crown: Original Rolex screw-down "onion" crown, loss of gold plating
• Dial: Silver warmed to a slight sepia tone, guilloche sunburst texturing, luminous Arabic numerals, railroad minute track, sunken subsidiary seconds dial, untouched original condition. Its dial is correctly unsigned as was often the case for the era before the days of ubiquitous branding.
• Dimensions: 28mm wide (excluding crown - 35mm including it) by 40mm long lug tip to tip
• Hands: Original, blue steel luminous "batons"
• Movement type: Rolex, chronometer, adjusted for six positions and temperatures, manually wound, nickel finished, correctly signed, 15-jewel lever movement with Breguet overcoil hairspring, index regulator, signed Rolex, ratchet wheel signed "Extra Prima"
• Movement markings: Rolex, Swiss Made, 15 Jewels, Timed 6 Positions, For All Climates, Extra Prima
• Band: Oiled tanned leather, fully stitched, remborde, designed for fixed lug use, brand new and unworn with unsigned buckle
• Width between lugs: 15mm
• Crystal type: Acrylic, excellent condition
• Serviced: One of our watchmakers has just disassembled it down to the last screw and cleaned and oiled the movement making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
• Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. Amazingly it continues to keep very accurate time nearly on par with a new Rolex in our testing position. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an experienced team of watchmakers both of whom each have over forty years of experience and a large number of parts.
• Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email concierge@cotwatches.com for details.
• Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity
• Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our client's expectations throughout the buying experience.

All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail, and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier. International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.

The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed to be waterproof.

To get an idea of how this watch will look on the wrist, please use the Watch Sizing Guide