Vintage Rolex, Wilsdorf & Davis

Vintage ROLEX W&D watch, early 20th century.
18k yellow gold case. Circular dial with Arabic numerals. Cobalt blue Breguet-style hands. Fluted crown at the 3 o’clock position. Plexiglass crystal. Brown leather strap with a gold-plated steel buckle. Manual-winding movement. It works.
Weight: 29.6 g.
Measurements: 35 x 29.5 mm (total case size including crown).

A watch bearing the W&D (Wilsdorf & Davis) signature holds special historical and collector’s interest because it traces directly back to the origins of Rolex. Founded in London in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis, Wilsdorf & Davis was the company from which Rolex would later emerge—a name registered by Wilsdorf in 1908. For this reason, finding the W&D hallmark inside a case allows the piece to be dated to an early and particularly significant stage in the manufacturer’s history, when Wilsdorf was beginning to make a decisive commitment to the wristwatch and the precision of its movements. These examples thus serve as tangible evidence of the origins of one of the world’s most prestigious watchmakers, a fact that significantly enhances their appeal to collectors of historical timepieces and, especially, to Rolex enthusiasts.

Wilsdorf & Davis was the predecessor to Rolex, founded in London in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis. Initially, the company focused on importing Swiss movements, mounting them in cases manufactured primarily in Great Britain, and marketing wristwatches at a time when they were still gaining ground against pocket watches.

When the description of a watch states “it works,” it means the watch is functioning. Since collector’s watches typically have delicate and complex mechanisms, the buyer is responsible for any general servicing, inspection, battery replacement, adjustment, or repair that may be necessary. We do not guarantee the flawless operation of any watch. All photographs of our watches are original and were taken by our photographers; that is, we do not use stock photography, which is why the photographs are considered part of the listing.