1942 Rolex “SkyRocket” Stainless Steel, Totally Restored

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• Details
  A RARE ROLEX SKYROCKET SHOCKPROOF WATCH FROM THE 1940-1949 PERIOD.
  
  But first a commerical message: Welcome to Vintage watch Corner. As you look through my inventory you will notice I have a soft spot for the “Art Deco” period. This offering is no exception. This stunning timepiece is been meticulously cared for. No part of this timepiece has been left untouched. Perhaps it’s my love of the watch design and engineering at the time, each year back then was a new break out year to see who would build and design the most elegant watches. Think “Great Gatsby” !
  
  
  Speaking of a movie, I have a shameless plug for my self-interest. My watch shop was elected by a studio to supply watches to a major motion picture. This “True” story takes place in 1918-1926, ( my style of vintage watches). The movie is being released in October this year. I will give you two actors and the director’s name.
  
  Robert De Niro
  
  Leonardo DiCaprio
  
  Martin Scorsese
  
   
  These were sold to the Canadian military in WWII, targeted at aviators, as a small practical and reliable wrist watch.  It is rare to find them now, particularly in exceptional condition. This is a real treat.
   
  Look carefully at the pictures and you will see that the stainless steel that is in amazing condition, this case is free of wear and pitting - signs of age for that usually accompany a vintage that is 70-80 years young.
   
  Now, you have probably heard of the modern Sky-Dweller – but this was not the first Rolex watch to use the ‘Sky’ prefix. Antiques Roadshow expert Ben Wright shed more light on the watch, explaining: “It was made exclusively in Canada, they called it the Sky-Rocket, it was specifically bought or made for Canadian pilots in the Second World War.”
   
  After doing a bit of digging on my own, it appears the Rolex Sky-Rocket, as Wright explained, was made exclusively for the Canadian Royal Air Force. The watches were not issued to military personnel, rather they were available exclusively for purchase for servicemen. The quirk of the watch, aside from its 30mm diameter, which may not have been small for a casual watch of the era but certainly small for a pilot’s watch of any time period.
  
  This is what has been completed on this watch:
  
  Comprehensive mechanical overhaul
  
  New crystal
  
  Case professionally refinished
  
  Dial and hands professionally refinished
  
  New light brown reptile band
   
  It is increasingly hard to find item, a vintage Rolex with an original styled military 24 hour dial!
  
  This watch is well known to all collectors of vintage Rolex watches, produced for the Canadian market, these watches as well as it’s sister product, the Rolex Victory, were popular gifts for soldiers headed overseas during the Second World War.
  
  The solid stainless steel case is in remarkable condition with the most minor of wear and has been carefully and professionally polished. The case back is correctly signed, as these models were cased in North America to avoid high Tariffs at the time.
  
  The Rolex modified, Cal 59 movement was just serviced and is keeping excellent time. Many of you are already familiar with the story about these calibers.
  
  The movements were stamped Rolex Geneva on the top plate and were not engraved or stamped Rolex on the bridge. On some variations of the movement, the bridges were engraved with the name Oyster Watch Ltd.
  
  The various models marketed included names such as Oyster Centregraph, Oyster Lipton, Oyster Junior Sport, Oyster Raleigh, Oyster Commander, Oyster Recorda, Oyster Edison, Oyster Grenfell, Oyster Standard and Oyster Shipmate. These watches were most frequently sold in gold-filled and stainless steel Oyster cases. These watches are frequently seen with 24-hour military dials and as such, many were given as gifts to soldiers departing for active service in Europe during World War 2. Many of the watches returning to Canada came back with the serviceman’s registration numbers engraved on the rear of the case back.
  
  
  The professionally refinished dial and hands are art in motion, a thing of beauty, with its delicate minute track, aged luminous and immaculate 24 hour military track around the outside of the dial.
  
  The watch measures 29mm wide by 36mm long and is supplied on a brand new leather strap.
  
  Put this treasure into perspective, read below!
   
  Ah, Rolex. That “Paragon of Animals.” Perhaps the most recognizable watch brand in the world–known to collectors and laymen alike. However, the ubiquity of Rolex does not mean there are not further depths to plumb. While the terms Datejust, Submariner, and Sea-dweller roll easily off the tongue of watch enthusiasts everywhere, lesser know gems abound. Ever heard of the Rolex Commando? The Space-dweller? How about the Thunderbird? One of those rough cut diamonds is the 1942 Rolex Sky-Rocket.
  
  This watch was acquired by me from London England. It’s a bit of a rare bird. It is sometimes referred to as the “Canadian Oyster” , depending on who you ask. Examples of Canadian Oyster watches can be traced back early as the 1930s. The Canadian department store, Eaton’s, sold several varieties, including the Solar Aqua and the King of Wings. The American company, Zell Brothers, sold others like the Turtle Timer.
   
  However, these Sky-rockets were made by Rolex in the 1940s to be worn by Canadian servicemen and marketed to fighter pilots, in particular. They were not standard issue. The servicemen had to pay for the watch themselves. Because of production difficulties in Europe during the war—and to avoid costly duties–the cases for these watches were fashioned in North America by either the ID Watch Case Co. of Varick Street, New York City (1940-1942), or the Pioneer Watch Case Co, also of New York. As such, often casebacks–like this one–were not signed with “Rolex.” Commonly offered as gifts to departing soldiers–along with a similar model, The Victory–many of these eventually had service numbers engraved into the back.
  
  Inside is the nickel-plated, 17-jewel Calibre 59 lever movement, with a bimetallic compensation balance (a modified ebaché movement by Fontmelon–originally referred to as the FF30). The silver dial has luminous Arabic numerals and hands. The red 24-hour chapter ring brings the visual together. I particularly like the small seconds. The crystal is domed acrylic.
  
  This Sky-rocket has a circular, stainless steel case with downturned lugs and a stainless steel screw back. The crown is large, in proportion to the watch, and advertised as “dust proof.” However, the piece itself is quite small, measuring only 29.5mm in diameter and 36mm lug to lug. Originally, it would have been sold on a leather strap for the princely sum of $32.75.
  
  Curiously, the watch does incorporate elements that have come to characterize pilot watches, such as the 24-hour scale and luminous markers; however, unlike the German Fliegers of that era, which measured 55mm in diameter, the Sky-rocket is vastly undersized, and, as such, much less legible.
  
  One reasoning behind this development is that the smaller size was meant to keep it from damage in a cramped cockpit. Another is that the Sky-rocket was not designed according to any particular military specifications, as was the case with the Luftwaffe’s directives for the early Fliegers
   
  No matter. These Sky-Rockets, which commonly fetch between $1500-$2000USD in rougher condition than I am prsenting, remain one of the most attainable vintage Rolexes for collectors. And considering the era in which they were produced, and the intent of their production, each of these gems might well have an interesting story to tell.
   
  A real piece of history.
  
  Read my reviews, I have a great reputation for transparency, integrity and service. I know it’s a lot of money. It took me almost a year to complete this. Every decision was carefully weighed out thoughtfully.
  
  Something to think about: Rolex’s from 1920 - 1940s had case sizes that were much smaller than modern counterparts today. This watch has an approximate case size of 30MM. Compared to case sizes today it is small, it would be a great choice for women as well. It is a great conversation starter.
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