A 'new old stock' fourteen carat gold filled automatic Rolex dress watch. This is a rare example of a "presentation" watch made by Rolex for companies wishing to gift watches for loyal continual service. They are two piece contract cases made in North America for North American companies such as; Hallmark Cards, Mountain Bell, Thiokol Chemical and with this example, St. Regis Paper Company. These watches, aside from being very handsome, are quite an anomaly in the Rolex watch line. Being that they were never made for retail sales, they were designed to look nothing like any other watch in their line. Rolex did not make a watch that looked like this with an automatic movement. The 'dress' offerings at the time were mainly manual wind, Precision models, which had a much flatter profile. It is also unusual in its case design; a large size for this period, and a thicker case to incorporate the automatic movement. Wide flat bezel, and quite long and wide chamfered lugs.
The overall result is a very good looking, wearable and rare watch by modern standards. The benefit of also having an automatic movement on a dress watch cannot be underestimated. As mentioned, most Rolex dress watches at this time were manual wind. The movement inside is not just any automatic movement either. The caliber 1530 movement was launched by Rolex in 1957, and was a line in the sand for the watchmaker. They were the first movements to be fully made in house. This is one of the earlier generations of the movement being only seventeen jeweled, but features the upgraded 'half moon' rotor, as opposed to the early butterfly versions. They went on to make both a twenty five and twenty six jeweled examples. These movements were regarded as dependable workhorses by the brand and were fitted to early Submariner and other models, such as the Air King. As with the entire watch, the movement remains in excellent condition.
The case back has the original presentation to a Mr. William A. Deau in 1971 for twenty four years of service to the company.The St. Regis Paper Company started from very humble beginnings as a single newsprint mill in upstate New York in 1899, going on to become one of the largest paper companies in the world, evolving constantly during its history. However, like many big corporations with origins in the nineteenth Century, time caught up with them, and they were broken up and sold toward the end of the twentieth Century.
Given the transient nature of today's employee, spending that long of a tenure at one company seems almost unthinkable. Making that service almost as vintage as the watch! The case back also features the 14K gold filled mark. Inside the case back is the unique serial number for this watch, and the Rolex logo. Given that these watches were not cased in Switzerland, the serial numbers do not follow that of Rolex with regard to production dates. The case is presented in superb, unworn condition, and unpolished.
The dial is a gorgeous semi-gloss off white with applied coffin shaped markers with angled detailing. There is a printed minute track around the outer edge. The dial is signed "T Swiss T" at the bottom along with the very appealing, simple "Rolex" below the applied coronet just below the twelve o'clock marker. There is therefore Tritium luminous material applied to the dial, and in the center of the original alpha hands. All of which is present and has turned into a soft, handsome pumpkin colour. All of which responds evenly and correctly under UV light. The dial is all original, and in perfect condition throughout.
This watch represents an interesting part of the Rolex brand history. Also, a rare one. Not many of these watches come to market, presumably as they were quite cherished possessions by their prior owners, and not many employees would have qualified for such a gift. This watch also comes on presumably its original Rolex stamped lizard band with large and rare coronet buckle stamped "Rolex" on the inside, coffin style Rolex box, the original Rolex Rolex warranty paperwork stamped 7002. The paperwork has the purchase date of October 1971, along with an added sticker stating that if the watch needs to be serviced during its first year of ownership that it is sent to Rolex of New York. Perhaps a unique additional piece of ephemera to come with this watch is a beautiful, die stamped, note card from the St Regis Paper Company (presumably made by them as well!) that reads "with personal appreciation" and signed by the then President of the company; William E. Caldwell. Mr. Caldwell was only appointed president of the company in April of 1971, and passed away in 1973. So, this piece of struck card is also rare in itself.
Having all of these pieces of history still present with this stunning watch really is a rare opportunity for avid history buffs and watch collectors alike. This is an exceptionally rare opportunity to own a really complete, original and unworn very handsome Rolex watch now over fifty years old!
