Search:
Type the text to search here and press Enter.
Separate search terms by a space; they will all be searched individually in all fields of the database. Click on Search: to go to the advanced search page.
Classifieds Only: Check this box if you want to search classifieds instead of the catalog.
Please help support TroveStar. Why?
5  of these sold for an average price of: 4,486.444,486.445 of these sold for an average price of: 4,486.44
Click to see the details
history
This item is not for sale. This is a reference database.
Rolex - 971 - Cellini - Prince - Mens
Click on any image above to open the gallery with larger images.
Add a comment about this item.
It will be visible at the bottom of this page to all users.
Comment
Name971
FamilyCellini
SubtypePrince
GenderMens
MovementRebberg 7 1/2 (Details)
Years in Production1925 - 1939
Case Diameter (mm)40
Secondary Product Number5441/9
MechanismManual
ChronometerNo
HackingNo
Date FunctionNo
QuicksetNo
Power Reserve (Hours)-1
Frequency (bph)-1
Jewel Count15
Second HandSub
Case MaterialSterling Silver
ShapeSquare
Crystal MaterialAcrylic
Band TypeStrap
Band MaterialLeather
Band ReplaceableYes


Notes: This model was made throughout the 1920s and 1930s. The 971 Prince was a rectangular manual wind watch that used a sub-second hand. It is an elegant design that looks best with a fancy leather strap. The mechanism was typically a Rebberg 7 1/2 ligne model specifically made for this shape case. The case was typically 9ct gold or sterling silver. As one of the Prince series from this time period it is often known as the Rolex 'Doctor's Watch'.
Mechanism:
The Rebberg watch movement was named as such because the location of Aegler's factory was on a street called - you guessed it - 'Rebberg'. This is a lever escapement movement with a cut bimetallic temperature compensation balance with Breguet overcoil balance spring and 15 jewel bearings. It is stem wound and set. Savonette movements were used in savonnette (hunter) pocket watches, and in Lépine (open face) wristwatches because they have the fourth wheel at 90 degrees from the stem. This allows the crown to be at three o'clock and the small seconds indication at six o'clock on the dial. Most of these movements were built with 15 jewels, but were occasionally made as a higher grade 17 jewel version.

This Aegler Rebberg movement carries the single name "Rolex" so this is a Rolex watch, not just a watch that was sold by the Rolex Watch Co. But notice that the Rolex brand name is engraved on the ratchet wheel. This is an easy component to change, just a single screw holds it in place. This was most likely an idea of Aegler's to reduce the amount of stock they needed to hold. They could cheaply hold ratchet wheels engraved with Rolex or any other name, and then when an order came in they could simply take unbranded movements and change the ratchet wheels to one with the name given on the order. This was a more cash efficient system than tying up lots of movements with names engraved on their bridges which then could only be sold to that customer.

The Rebberg movement had a good long run - 1902 to 1927, but it was eventually replaced by Aegler's new line - the Hunter.
Family Notes: Rolex still makes manual-wind watches. Cellini is a line of manual-wind dress watches from Rolex.

The Cellini collection is a contemporary celebration of classicism and the eternal elegance of traditional timepieces, combining the best of Rolex know-how and its high standards of perfection with an approach that heightens watchmaking heritage in its most timeless form.
Type: The Rolex Prince is not only not terribly well known –even to Rolex aficionados –it’s almost shockingly unknown; in the days we had ours in for review, quite a lot of pretty hard-core watch people saw it, and it was mistaken for . . . well, mistaken for just about everything but a Rolex. This is a kind of peculiar circumstance, especially for as immutable-tradition-is-a-virtue bunch as Rolex fans are supposed to be, because the Prince, in fact, goes back one hell of a lot further than any other existing Rolex model –the first Prince watches were made by Rolex all the way back in 1928, which is not that far off from the founding of the company in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf.

The Prince was, and is, a rectangular wristwatch, and the two first models –the famous 971 and 1343 watches –both used a rectangular movement made by Aegler, which supplied both Rolex and Gruen at the time. The movements used for the Prince watches were rectangular and designed to allow the use of a large mainspring barrel that supplied a better-than-two-day power reserve, and a relatively large balance. The original Princes also pre-date the general use of center seconds in wristwatches, but they do have a very large (relatively speaking) seconds sub-dial, which is what’s led to them sometimes being referred to as “doctor’s watches” (thanks to the relative ease the larger dial provides for such chores as timing respirations or pulse beats.)
Item created by: gdm on 2018-10-21 11:42:04. Last edited by gdm on 2019-10-30 10:53:38

If you see errors or missing data in this entry, please feel free to log in and edit it. Anyone with a Gmail account can log in instantly.