Vintage watch experience 古董手錶: Rolex Prince Bi colour Zebra also known as Tiger stripes from 1938

The Rolex Prince Bi colour Zebras also known as Tiger stripes is one of my grail watches. It is quite rare and only often appearing in auctions. This is one watch on my wish lists for many years and I have finally found one that is affordable and I have decided to use my bonus for this watch.

Prior to my decision on getting this, I was contemplating of getting a cheaper Rolex 16750. After some deliberation, I have decided to strengthen my Vintage Rolex Prince collection as priority leading to a day and night search for the Rolex Zebra/ Tiger stripes.

This is a model 971A 18k yellow & white gold "Tiger striped" Prince, case number 684xx bearing from 1938. The two tone "striped" flared (aka Brancard case) model has always been the most desirable configuration of the Rolex Prince together with the jump hour Prince and this is a nice early one.

What is unique about the watch is its alternate Yellow and White gold stripes on the case. It has a lovely original dial, which is two-tone silver with black enamel quarter hour Arabic numerals and text, large subsidiary seconds dial and the three hands are all blued steel. According to vintage Rolex expert James Downing, the dials remain pristine for ages, as they are made by the same method used on 18/19th Century pocket watches - the dial is a plate of sterling silver and all the indices and text are then engraved into the surface of the dial plate - the entire dial is then given a frosted finish and when this is dry the engraved indices and text are filled with black enamel, then the whole dial is fired in an oven to set the enamel. This method of dial production means that the indices and text are an integral part of the dial and cannot 'wear off' as printed text can, over time.

Photos next to the 1930s advertisement

As mentioned earlier, what is unique about the watch is its alternate Yellow and White gold stripes on the case. As Rolex was an innovative company during that time, it has experimented with many case materials (Steel, 9k gold, 14k, 18k, gold, silver, steel and gold etc) , different dials design etc. As per below photos, there is one Rolex Hooded. Bubbleback from a similar eras using the similar alternate Yellow Gold & white pattern, similar to the Rolex Prince Zebra/ Tiger stripes.

The movement is signed chronometer, and is also engraved "Timed to 8 positions" (instead of the normal 6 positions, "Ultra Prima" and "Chronometer"; the highest grade possible, in a Prince. The movement itself is the rare 17 jewel version with a capped endstone and is still fitted with the usually discarded protective balance bridge - this protected the balance from inept watchmakers who would catch the balance when they tried to lever the case open.

The last two Vintage Rolex Princes that I have found was the Rolex “Prince Chronometer” 14k Pink Gold Asymmetric Rectangular Curved Ref. 3362 from 1934 found in Dec 2022 and a Rolex Prince Jump hour Ref 1587 in May 2020.