Dial detail of a Rolex Prince Chronometer with black rectangular dial, Arabic numerals, and subsidiary seconds on crocodile strap.

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RolexRolex Prince

Name: Rolex Rolex Prince
Brand: Rolex
SKU: 9714

1930-1940's

Price on Application

Offered by

Wasting TimeTrusted

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Very Good

A stainless steel Rolex Prince from the 1930s or 1940s, reference 9714, representing the height of Art Deco horology. This rectangular dress watch, with its distinctive dual-dial layout and manual-wind movement, embodies the golden age of shaped wristwatches.

24 Month WarrantyDelivery & Returns

Collector Notes

Introduced in 1928, the Rolex Prince was a radical departure from the round pocket watch conversions that dominated early wristwatches. Its elongated rectangular case and separate sub-seconds dial became an icon of the Art Deco era, when geometry and proportion defined modern design. The name itself referenced Edward, Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII, who famously wore a Prince and lent the model royal cachet during the interwar years.

Reference 9714 represents the stainless steel variant, considerably rarer than its gold counterparts. While gold Prince watches were marketed to wealthy professionals and titled clientele, steel examples served a more utilitarian purpose, appealing to those who valued Rolex chronometric precision without ostentation. The stepped case architecture and engine-turned dial typical of the Prince line required specialist finishing, making steel versions commercially less viable and consequently scarcer in the pre-war catalogue.

Inside, these watches housed Rolex Observatory-grade movements, often based on extra-precision calibres designed for chronometer certification. The separate seconds display at six o'clock was not merely decorative: it allowed wearers to monitor the beat and verify accuracy at a glance, a feature physicians particularly valued when timing pulses. This functionality earned the Prince its alternative sobriquet, the 'Doctor's Watch', though its appeal extended well beyond the medical profession.

The Prince fell out of production in the early 1950s as tastes shifted towards sportier, water-resistant designs like the Oyster line. Today, collectors prize surviving steel examples for their period authenticity and technical sophistication. Reference 9714 captures an era when Rolex pursued horological artistry alongside the robustness for which the marque later became synonymous, making it a compelling acquisition for those assembling a comprehensive view of the brand's evolution.

Specifications

Closer look

Brand:: Rolex
Model:: Rolex Prince
Movement:: Manual Wind
Functions:: hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds
Features:: Rectangular Art Deco case in stainless steel, a material considerably rarer than gold in the Prince range. Dual-dial configuration with subsidiary seconds at six o'clock in the tradition of precision timekeeping instruments.
Case:: silver
Dial:: Black
Bracelet:: Brown Leather Strap
Box & papers:: no box no papers

Without physical inspection, we cannot comment definitively on the condition of this example. Prospective buyers should examine the case for signs of polishing, which often softens the crisp geometry of the stepped lugs. Original dials on Prince watches frequently exhibit patina, hairlines, or restoration, given their age and fragility. The movement would benefit from a service history, as these early manual calibres require specialist attention. In our view, any surviving 9714 in honest condition merits consideration, as unmolested steel Prince watches grow increasingly difficult to locate.

This watch is offered without its original box or papers. Period Rolex documentation for a 1930s or 1940s Prince would be exceptionally rare, as few owners retained such ephemera through wartime disruption and subsequent decades. The watch stands on its inherent qualities and the collector's ability to verify authenticity through case construction, movement signatures, and stylistic consistency with known examples from the era.

Frequently asked

What is the reference number?

The reference number is 9714 (Rolex).

What year is this watch?

This piece dates to 1930s-1940s.

What movement does it have?

Manual Wind

What bracelet or strap comes with it?

Brown Leather Strap

Does it come with box and papers?

no box no papers

What is the condition?

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