Mr. Perry, your family's jeweller, recommends a new Rolex. But not just any Rolex, something stylish, befitting a man of distinction like your good self. A Rolex "Prince".

Jump forward half a century: the Rolex Prince is the watch that got me obsessed with vintage Rolex watches in the mid-1980s. And for twenty years I've been looking for a perfect full-set silver Prince "wide" Brancard with box and chronometer ratings certificate. Got a call on Friday, and after much fraught negotiation over the weekend, made a three hundred mile round trip yesterday to collect my prize.









10 Guineas (£10 and 10 Shillings and 0 pence = ten pounds fifty pence!) in March 1935 was a serious sum of money, and I think this is why the Prince was really called the "Doctors watch" - it was only Doctors and other professionals who could afford them!!

My new treasure is a sterling silver Rolex Prince Brancard "wide case" ref. 971U with the protective dust cap over the movement. The original chronometer ratings certificate carries the movement number and is dated February 1933, and was re-tested in January 1935. The original bill of sale is dated March 1935. Perry's Jewellers finished trading in Birmingham a number of years ago.

God bless you, Mr. Millerchip, and be well assured your old watch rests in safe hands!!

Mike Wood