Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1928

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Tally
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by Tally »

well done Ferg, great to read the story of this watch and its beautiful restoration. :thumbup:
Sent from my Etch-A-Sketch
Tony789
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by Tony789 »

I’ve enjoyed this thread very much, thanks for sharing.
You have a beautiful watch.
Am I the only person crass enough to want to know it’s value :D
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MiniMpi
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by MiniMpi »

Hi Tony,

Thanks for that, much appreciated.
I'm really enjoying wearing it occasionally.

I had a valuation done which was £4,500
Of course this is an insurance valuation which is higher but independently I've been told £2,500 to £3,000 is a possibility.

Not going to sell it though.
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by Ronarid »

Sorry to hijak but could any of you help me identify this watch? A Rolex Oyster Chronometer (my great grandfather's) which I have dated from the internet guides as 1932, but I am not certain and can't find an exact match.

photo (1).JPG
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MiniMpi
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by MiniMpi »

Myself and Louise are going to Glenlo Abbey in Galway in June for our Anniversary.
Fascinating history especially with the ex-Orient Express dinning carriages.
A fitting place to wear my Rolex 912 for sure !
Photos after we go there.

https://glenloabbeyhotel.ie/dine-in-sty ... %20Express.
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Thermexman
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by Thermexman »

Ronarid wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 9:15 pm Sorry to hijak but could any of you help me identify this watch? A Rolex Oyster Chronometer (my great grandfather's) which I have dated from the internet guides as 1932, but I am not certain and can't find an exact match.


photo (1).JPG
Might be worth creating a unique post, with a request for help in the title as you may not get as much traffic tagged onto someone else’s thread?
Steve.
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jkbarnes
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by jkbarnes »

MiniMpi wrote: Tue May 25, 2021 5:12 am Myself and Louise are going to Glenlo Abbey in Galway in June for our Anniversary.

https://glenloabbeyhotel.ie/dine-in-sty ... %20Express.
That looks pretty amazing! The sample menus sound fantastic. Enjoy!
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by MiniMpi »

I'm doing a bit more research into the age of my Rolex 912.
Going by the serial number it's generally coming back as 1934 but I'm getting a feeling it's actually older than this.
However other 912s I have found, very few I might add, apparently around the same age have much more modern numerals etc whereas my one has very Art Deco numerals.
Also inside the case it has the "7 World's Records" which again from quick research seems to put it anywhere from 1923 to 1929.
I have also identified a Glasgow import assay Hallmark on it, two F's but I can't work out the assay mark opposite it however.
All a bit of a jigsaw puzzle.
Interesting though.

Photo of the inside of the case attached :


Image

Image

Image


Image
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jkbarnes
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by jkbarnes »

Fascinating! That just adds to the total package of the watch, if you ask me. Maybe you need to take it to an Antiques Roadshow filming. Maybe Rolex could provide some info? I wonder if they have a service like Omega has where you can get a history of a watch for a modest fee.
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by MiniMpi »

jkbarnes wrote:Fascinating! That just adds to the total package of the watch, if you ask me. Maybe you need to take it to an Antiques Roadshow filming. Maybe Rolex could provide some info? I wonder if they have a service like Omega has where you can get a history of a watch for a modest fee.
Thanks Andrew ;)
Sadly Rolex couldn't help me with much at all but a good forum friend gave me loads of information on it at the start.
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rkovars
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1934

Post by rkovars »

Rolex is notorious for keeping very poor records. Even today.
Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.
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MiniMpi
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1925/27

Post by MiniMpi »

The latest information I have found on trying to date the watch are that it was made between 1925 and 1927.
The 7 World's Records on the inside of the caseback was done from 1923 to 1927 but the Rolex Crown was used from 1925 hence the date of this watch falls between 1925 and 1927.
So older than I initially thought !
Between 95 years old and 97 years old and ticking away nicely 8)
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1925/27

Post by Archie »

What a super thread. Thanks for sharing.

I imagine this must be the dream of many horology fans.
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MiniMpi
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1925/27

Post by MiniMpi »

So I found out a bit more today from my Dad about the history of the watch.

My Grand Uncle Sonny, who owned the watch, had a brother Jimmy.
Jimmy worked in Roches Jewellers in Patrick Street in Cork in the mid to late 1920's.
This timeline fits spot on to my recent deduction on the age of watch of being between 1925 and 1927.
We figure Sonny bought the watch in Roches Jewellers from his brother Jimmy.
Sonny was the Stationmaster of the Muskerry Tram and of course needed an excellent and reliable watch, hence the Rolex 912 !
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Re: Rolex Ref : 912 'Tank', 1925/27

Post by jkbarnes »

MiniMpi wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 1:24 am So I found out a bit more today from my Dad about the history of the watch.

My Grand Uncle Sonny, who owned the watch, had a brother Jimmy.
Jimmy worked in Roche's Jewellers in Patrick Street in Cork in the mid to late 1920's.
This timeline fits spot on to my recent deduction on the age of watch of being between 1925 and 1927.
We figure Sonny bought the watch in Roche's Jewellers from his brother Jimmy.
Sonny was the Stationmaster of the Muskerry Tram and of course needed an excellent and reliable watch, hence the Rolex 912 !
That tidbit is the icing on the cake! What a wonderful journey this watch has taken.
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