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, St. Regis Paper Company, Thiokol Chemical and with this example, Mountain Bell. These watches, aside form 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' offering 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 watch maker. They were the first movements to be fully made in house. This is one of the earlier generation 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 can be seen from the images, the movement is in excellent condition.
The case back has the original presentation to a Mr. F. Smith in 1971 for twenty four years of service to the Mountain Bell. Mountain Bell was a telecommunications company, no longer in existence. Mountain Bell's operations in El Paso, Texas, were sold to Southwestern Bell in 1982. Prior to 1984, AT&T held an 88.6% stake in Mountain Bell. 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, very 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 "Swiss" at the bottom and very appealing, simple "Rolex" below the applied coronet. There is 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. 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, outer card box, inner coffin style Rolex box, the original Rolex green plastic hang tag with the 7002 reference sticker on and the Rolex paper work. The paper work has the purchase date of 6/10/71 from O.C Tanner Co. of salt Lake City. The copyright markings on the guarantee are from 1971 as well. This is an exceptionally rare opportunity to own a complete, original and unworn very handsome Rolex watch now over fifty years old!
