Apparently Hans Wilsdorf spent ages thinking up the name - he wanted five letters for the watchface, and eventually chose Rolex at random.
1 Like
And this is from Wilsdorf and Davis when they were in London. It’s a trench watch I believe and I should really get it restored.
14 Likes
Sympathetically though 
Of course. It really needs a specialist to do the works though as Rolex don’t have the parts for it unfortunately.
1 Like
I wonder where you could get that restored sympathetically. It will look fabulous, if done properly. I found a very good watch restorer in Brighton when I first moved here, but he has retired, sadly.
Your best bet may well be to walk along Hatton Garden in London, a street full of jewellers, antique dealers and watchsmiths.
Or it might be a challenge for one of the experts on TV’s The Repair Shop.
1 Like
Not my watch. 
You might want to contact Ocean Jewellers in Brighton’s Lanes District (01273 727754). They did a fantastic job for me recently on my IWC 1920s pocket watch (shown earlier in this thread).
1 Like
Thanks. You have a very nice collection
Try Martin’s Of Glasgow.
They recase and recondition Rolex iwc omega and many more.
He serviced a Vintage Accurist manual wind and a Bulova automatic for me.
Just Google the name. 
1 Like
Years ago I remember reading somewhere that Wilsdorf moved the company to Switzerland due to anti German feeling in the UK with the breakout of WW1. I do not know how true this is but it seems plausible.
1 Like
This Vertex watch was given to my paternal grandfather for 25 years of service at a company called Small & Parkes in Manchester. The company made brake and clutch linings and he died of an asbestos related illness when I was about 5 or 6 years old.
I had a sympathetic restoration done as the dial and hands had water damage. You could see the postion of where the hands had been.
It’s engraved on the back as many of these watches were when given for service in work but at least it my name on the back. Of which i am proud. 
18 Likes
Classic Swiss watch. I haven’t heard of Vertex, so I assume that they have been subsumed into a larger company.
PS My apologies - Vertex is apparently a British company, who must subcontract the manufacture of their watches to somewhere in Switzerland.
1 Like
)
11 Likes
And small 
5 Likes
Ancient Citizen I’ve had since a teenager. Original quartz movement dead and gone - replaced with an ETA by me a couple of years ago. New sapphire crystal and full gasket set at the same time, but not waterproof by any means. Keeps excellent time - maybe runs fast 1 second/ month.
14 Likes
Do you ever think that you might use that Frankie Howerd picture a little too often?
3 Likes