Reference:prince - Revision history

Admin: site-wide: layout classes (core-facts card, breadcrumb, entry-point cards)

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site-wide: layout classes (core-facts card, breadcrumb, entry-point cards)

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	== Common entry points ==		== Common entry points ==

	~~{\| style~~="~~width:100%; border~~-~~collapse:separate; border~~-~~spacing:8px 0; margin:1em 0 1.5em 0;~~"		<div class="rp-grid">
	\|-		<div class="rp-card"><div class="rp-card-body"><div class="rp-card-meta">Identifying a Brancard?</div><div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:1490\|1490]]</div><div class="rp-card-text">The canonical Brancard. Larger flared stretcher case, Cal 300 / 350 / T.S. 300 across the run, documented examples in steel, 9K through 18K gold, pink gold, two-tone, Tiger Stripe, and a single platinum.</div></div></div>
	~~\| style~~="~~width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border~~-~~left:3px solid #555; vertical~~-~~align:top;~~" ~~\| ''~~Identifying a Brancard?''<br/>~~'''~~[[Reference:1490\|1490]]~~''' — the~~ canonical Brancard. Larger flared stretcher case, Cal 300 / 350 / T.S. 300 across the run, documented examples in steel, 9K through 18K gold, pink gold, two-tone, Tiger Stripe, and a single platinum.		<div class="rp-card"><div class="rp-card-body"><div class="rp-card-meta">Researching the earliest Prince?</div><div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:971\|971]]</div><div class="rp-card-text">The original Brancard. Friedberg's 2001 Timezone article assigns the nickname here — the earliest version of the flared stretcher case, c.1928, the reference the 1490 evolves from.</div></div></div>
	~~\| style~~="~~width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border~~-~~left:3px solid #555; vertical~~-~~align:top;~~" ~~\| ''~~Researching the earliest Prince?''<br/>~~'''~~[[Reference:971\|971]]~~''' — the~~ original Brancard. Friedberg's 2001 Timezone article assigns the nickname here — the earliest version of the flared stretcher case, c.1928, the reference the 1490 evolves from.		<div class="rp-card"><div class="rp-card-body"><div class="rp-card-meta">Cross-checking a non-Brancard Prince?</div><div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:1343\|1343]]</div><div class="rp-card-text">The Prince Classic. The unflared sister to the Brancards, suffix system A and B for metal and dial branches, and one of the two candidates (with 971 or 1490) for the 1928 launch pair.</div></div></div>
	~~\| style~~="~~width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border~~-~~left:3px solid #555; vertical~~-~~align:top;~~" ~~\| ''~~Cross-checking a non-Brancard Prince?''<br/>~~'''~~[[Reference:1343\|1343]]~~''' — the~~ Prince Classic. The unflared sister to the Brancards, suffix system A and B for metal and dial branches, and one of the two candidates (with 971 or 1490) for the 1928 launch pair.		</div>
	\|}

	== References ==		== References ==

Admin: site-wide: domain move BezelBase → Rolexopedia (rolexopedia.net)

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site-wide: domain move BezelBase → Rolexopedia (rolexopedia.net)

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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Prince}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Prince}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Prince — Art-Deco Reference Guide to Every Model \| ~~BezelBase~~		\|title=Rolex Prince — Art-Deco Reference Guide to Every Model \| Rolexopedia
	\|description=The Rolex Prince family, 1928 to mid-1940s. Rectangular Art-Deco "Brancard" stretcher cases, duo-dial architecture with sub-seconds at six, Aegler shaped chronometer movements (Cal. 300 / 350 / T.S. 300) in Prima, Extra Prima, and Ultra Prima grades. References 971, 1490, 1491, 1527, 1862, 3361, and 3937, with retailer signatures spanning Bucherer, Beyer, Beguin, Cooke & Kelvey, and the Eaton 1/4 Century Club.		\|description=The Rolex Prince family, 1928 to mid-1940s. Rectangular Art-Deco "Brancard" stretcher cases, duo-dial architecture with sub-seconds at six, Aegler shaped chronometer movements (Cal. 300 / 350 / T.S. 300) in Prima, Extra Prima, and Ultra Prima grades. References 971, 1490, 1491, 1527, 1862, 3361, and 3937, with retailer signatures spanning Bucherer, Beyer, Beguin, Cooke & Kelvey, and the Eaton 1/4 Century Club.
	\|keywords=Rolex Prince, Brancard, Chronometer, Doctor's Watch, 971, 1490, 1491, 1527, 1862, 3361, 3937, Aegler, Cal. 300, T.S. 300, Ultra Prima, Extra Prima, Beyer, Bucherer, Eaton 1/4 Century Club, Art Deco, vintage Rolex, observatory chronometer		\|keywords=Rolex Prince, Brancard, Chronometer, Doctor's Watch, 971, 1490, 1491, 1527, 1862, 3361, 3937, Aegler, Cal. 300, T.S. 300, Ultra Prima, Extra Prima, Beyer, Bucherer, Eaton 1/4 Century Club, Art Deco, vintage Rolex, observatory chronometer

Admin: Structure: remove body heading duplicating {{DISPLAYTITLE:}} (renders as a second page title)

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Structure: remove body heading duplicating {{DISPLAYTITLE:}} (renders as a second page title)

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	}}		}}

	~~== Rolex Prince ==~~

	The Rolex Prince is the rectangular Art-Deco family that ran from the 1928 launch into the mid-1940s. It was Rolex's bid for the men's chronometer market, built around an Aegler-patented (1927) shaped movement that placed the winding barrel at one end of the case and the balance at the other. The dial layout that defined the line is the duo-dial, hours and minutes in the upper register and sub-seconds at six, two visually separated tracks on the same plate. Marketing sold the Prince as "the watch for men of distinction", the exact wording of a 1930 advertisement reproduced in Jake Ehrlich's [https://www.rolexmagazine.com/2017/05/the-complete-history-of-rolex-prince.html ''Rolex Magazine'' history of the line]. The chronometer-grade movement made the claim defensible.		The Rolex Prince is the rectangular Art-Deco family that ran from the 1928 launch into the mid-1940s. It was Rolex's bid for the men's chronometer market, built around an Aegler-patented (1927) shaped movement that placed the winding barrel at one end of the case and the balance at the other. The dial layout that defined the line is the duo-dial, hours and minutes in the upper register and sub-seconds at six, two visually separated tracks on the same plate. Marketing sold the Prince as "the watch for men of distinction", the exact wording of a 1930 advertisement reproduced in Jake Ehrlich's [https://www.rolexmagazine.com/2017/05/the-complete-history-of-rolex-prince.html ''Rolex Magazine'' history of the line]. The chronometer-grade movement made the claim defensible.

Admin: Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

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Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

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	== Rolex Prince ==		== Rolex Prince ==

	The Rolex Prince is the rectangular Art-Deco family that ran from the 1928 launch into the mid-1940s. It was Rolex's bid for the men's chronometer market, built around an Aegler-patented (1927) shaped movement that placed the winding barrel at one end of the case and the balance at the other. The dial layout that defined the line is the duo-dial: hours and minutes in the upper register, sub-seconds at six, two visually separated tracks on the same plate. Marketing ~~positioned~~ the Prince as "the watch for men of distinction" — a 1930 advertisement reproduced by Rolex Magazine ~~puts it in those exact words — and~~ the chronometer-grade movement made the claim defensible.		The Rolex Prince is the rectangular Art-Deco family that ran from the 1928 launch into the mid-1940s. It was Rolex's bid for the men's chronometer market, built around an Aegler-patented (1927) shaped movement that placed the winding barrel at one end of the case and the balance at the other. The dial layout that defined the line is the duo-dial, hours and minutes in the upper register and sub-seconds at six, two visually separated tracks on the same plate. Marketing sold the Prince as "the watch for men of distinction", the exact wording of a 1930 advertisement reproduced in Jake Ehrlich's [https://www.rolexmagazine.com/2017/05/the-complete-history-of-rolex-prince.html ''Rolex Magazine'' history of the line]. The chronometer-grade movement made the claim defensible.

	~~The family runs across seven~~ catalog references in the ~~active scope of this wiki~~: 971 (the original Brancard), 1490 (the canonical larger Brancard), 1491 (Brancard sibling), 1527, 1862, 3361, and 3937. Production tapered through WWII as Rolex consolidated around the Oyster Perpetual platform; the latest documented Prince case carries a 1947 caseback dedication. The Prince does not return to the Rolex catalog until the 2005 Cellini Prince revival, ~~which sits on~~ a different platform and ~~is not part of the vintage Prince story this page covers~~.		Seven catalog references carry the Prince name through the vintage era: 971 (the original Brancard), 1490 (the canonical larger Brancard), 1491 (a Brancard sibling), 1527, 1862, 3361, and 3937, with the unflared 1343 Classic alongside them. Production tapered through WWII as Rolex consolidated around the Oyster Perpetual platform; the latest documented Prince case carries a 1947 caseback dedication. The Prince does not return to the Rolex catalog until the 2005 Cellini Prince revival, a different platform and a different watch.

	[[File:Ref 1490 hero.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Rolex Prince Brancard Chronometer 1490 — Beyer-double-signed steel\|The 1490 in steel, Beyer-double-signed, found 1998 in the Beyer Zurich shop after sitting unsold from approximately 1928]]		[[File:Ref 1490 hero.webp\|thumb\|center\|400px\|alt=Rolex Prince Brancard Chronometer 1490 — Beyer-double-signed steel\|The 1490 in steel, Beyer-double-signed, found 1998 in the Beyer Zurich shop after sitting unsold from approximately 1928]]
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	\| [[Reference:3937\|3937]] \|\| c.1930s–1940s \|\| Rectangular \|\| Aegler shaped \|\| Late Prince variant		\| [[Reference:3937\|3937]] \|\| c.1930s–1940s \|\| Rectangular \|\| Aegler shaped \|\| Late Prince variant
	\|}		\|}

	~~Articles are added incrementally; references without a linked article are researched but not yet published.~~

	== The Brancard nickname ==		== The Brancard nickname ==

	A naming dispute runs through the literature. ~~Auction~~ houses ~~uniformly call~~ the 1490 a Brancard ~~— Phillips, Sotheby's, Bonhams, Antiquorum~~, and ~~Christie's all use~~ the word in ~~their~~ catalog ~~titles for the reference~~. Editorial sources are split. Michael Friedberg's [http://people.timezone.com/mfriedberg/articles/RolexPrince.html 2001 ~~Timezone~~ article] assigns the Brancard name specifically to the earlier reference 971~~, treating~~ the 1490 as a separate larger Prince. ~~Coronet Magazine~~'s 2021 doctor's-watch piece follows Friedberg.		A naming dispute runs through the literature. The auction houses are unanimous in calling the 1490 a Brancard, and the word sits in the catalog title of every major house that has sold one. Editorial sources are split. Michael Friedberg's [http://people.timezone.com/mfriedberg/articles/RolexPrince.html 2001 TimeZone article] assigns the Brancard name specifically to the earlier reference 971 and treats the 1490 as a separate, larger Prince. Andres Ibarguen's 2021 doctor's-watch piece for ''Coronet Magazine'' follows Friedberg.

	The ~~reconciliation most consistent with published evidence is that~~ 971 was the first Brancard — the earliest version of the flared stretcher case — and the 1490 is the larger evolution of the same ~~case~~ shape~~. Both~~ qualify ~~as Brancard cases~~ by their flared profile. Modern auction-catalog convention treats the 1490 as the headline Brancard reference, and that convention dominates collector search. The reference number is unambiguous; the nickname is contested.		The two readings reconcile without much strain. 971 was the first Brancard, the earliest version of the flared stretcher case, and the 1490 is the larger evolution of the same shape; both qualify by their flared profile. Modern auction-catalog convention treats the 1490 as the headline Brancard reference, and that convention dominates collector search. The reference number is unambiguous; the nickname is contested.

	== Movement family ==		== Movement family ==

	The Prince runs on Aegler shaped movements~~, manufactured~~ in Bienne under H. Wilsdorf's exclusive ~~supplier~~ arrangement ~~(a relationship that remained~~ a supplier~~-only~~ contract ~~until~~ Rolex ~~purchased~~ Aegler outright from the Borer family in April 2004, ~~per~~ Tim Mosso~~'s Quill & Pad reporting). The shaped-movement family includes:~~		The Prince runs on Aegler shaped movements built in Bienne under Hans Wilsdorf's exclusive supply arrangement. That arrangement stayed a supplier contract for the whole life of the line and long after it. Rolex did not buy Aegler outright from the Borer family until April 2004, as Tim Mosso set out for [https://quillandpad.com/2019/04/09/the-golden-age-of-rolex-movements-part-i-sowing-the-seeds-of-greatness/ Quill & Pad].

	* Cal. 300 — 15 jewels, 18,000 vph, approximately 50 hours of power reserve, produced 1928–1937. The base Prince caliber. Architecturally identical to the Gruen Cal. 877 used in the Gruen Techni-Quadron — the two are sibling movements in the same Aegler family, sold under different brands. Some early Prince literature lists "Cal. 877" for ~~the Rolex Prince; this is a misattribution traceable to the Gruen-Rolex sibling relationship and should be excluded from canonical Prince caliber listings, per Oren Hartov's~~ [https://~~www.analogshift~~.com/~~blogs~~/~~transmissions~~/a-~~brief~~-~~history~~-of-~~the~~-~~doctor~~-s-~~watch Analog/Shift Doctor's Watch piece].~~
	* Cal. 350 — 15 jewels (some examples 18 jewels). Documented on multiple 1490 examples at Phillips and Monaco Legend.
	* Cal. 7¾′′′ T.S. 300 — Très Soigné, 18 jewels, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance with micrometer regulator, Breguet overcoil hairspring, rhodium-~~plated, adjusted in 6 positions, produced 1932–1938. The Ultra Prima movement variant.~~

	~~Movement grading is a separate axis from caliber number. Aegler / Rolex used a tiered finishing hierarchy on~~ the ~~Prince calibers — Prima, Extra Prima, Ultra Prima — corresponding broadly to ascending levels~~ of ~~regulation, hand~~-~~finishing, and chronometer testing. The "Chronometer" or "Observatory" dial designation corresponds to Extra Prima or Ultra Prima grading; a Prima-grade movement does not earn the dial mark~~.

	~~The Kew-Teddington observatory testing tradition runs through~~ the Prince ~~era~~. ~~Rolex submitted Prince movements~~ to the ~~National Physical Laboratory at Kew for independent rate certificates against~~ the ~~Swiss Bureaux Officiels Suisse de Contrôle. The Kew protocol was~~ a ~~45-day test against~~ the ~~Swiss bureau's 15 days; James Dowling has cited Rolex pass rates of 136 out of 145 Class A submissions in~~ the ~~1940s~~ and ~~1950s~~. ~~The 1914 Class A Kew certificate that~~ Rolex ~~commonly cites as their first official chronometer rating was issued for an earlier ladies~~' ~~wristwatch movement;~~ the ~~Prince calibers extend the observatory~~-~~testing lineage from 1928 forward, but~~ the ~~1914 milestone predates~~ the Prince ~~family~~.		Three calibers carry the family. Cal. 300 is the base Prince movement, 15 jewels at 18,000 vph with about 50 hours of power reserve, produced 1928 to 1937. It is architecturally identical to the Gruen Cal. 877 of the Gruen Techni-Quadron, a sibling from the same Aegler family sold under another brand, and some early Prince literature carries the confusion across and lists "Cal. 877" for the Rolex. Oren Hartov's [https://www.analogshift.com/blogs/transmissions/a-brief-history-of-the-doctor-s-watch Analog/Shift history of the doctor's watch] traces that misattribution to the Gruen sibling relationship; it does not belong in a canonical Prince caliber listing.

			Cal. 350 also runs 15 jewels, 18 on some examples, and is documented on multiple 1490 examples catalogued at Phillips and Monaco Legend. The Cal. 7¾′′′ T.S. 300, Très Soigné, is the Ultra Prima movement — 18 jewels, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance with micrometer regulator, Breguet overcoil hairspring, rhodium-plated and adjusted in six positions, produced 1932 to 1938.

	~~== Reference guides ==~~		Grading runs on a separate axis from caliber number. Aegler and Rolex applied a tiered finishing hierarchy across the Prince calibers, rising through Prima, Extra Prima, and Ultra Prima with each step adding regulation, hand-finishing, and chronometer testing. The "Chronometer" or "Observatory" dial designation belongs to the Extra Prima and Ultra Prima grades; a Prima-grade movement does not earn the dial mark.

	~~Cross-family material that applies~~ across ~~multiple~~ Prince ~~references:~~

	* [[Reference:Movements\|Movements]] — the Aegler shaped-movement family (Cal. 300, ~~Cal. 350~~, ~~Cal. 7¾′′′ T.S. 300) and the Prima /~~ Extra Prima / Ultra Prima ~~grading tiers.~~
	* [[Reference:Serial-~~numbers\|Serial numbers]] — Rolex serial conventions across the Prince era~~, ~~including Glasgow~~ and ~~London assay date letters that often pin a 9K example~~ to a ~~single year~~.

			The Kew-Teddington observatory testing tradition runs through the Prince era. Rolex submitted Prince movements to the National Physical Laboratory at Kew for independent rate certificates separate from the Swiss Bureaux Officiels Suisse de Contrôle. Kew ran a 45-day protocol against the Swiss bureau's 15 days, and James Dowling, co-author with Jeffrey Hess of ''The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches'', has cited Rolex pass rates of 136 out of 145 Class A submissions in the 1940s and 1950s. The 1914 Class A Kew certificate that Rolex commonly cites as its first official chronometer rating was issued for an earlier ladies' wristwatch movement, so that milestone predates the family. The Prince calibers carry the observatory-testing lineage forward from 1928.

	== Related families ==		== Related families ==
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	* [[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] — the parallel Oyster line. The same 1928–1948 window, same Aegler-supplier relationship, same Wilsdorf catalogue. Different case shape, different brief.		* [[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] — the parallel Oyster line. The same 1928–1948 window, same Aegler-supplier relationship, same Wilsdorf catalogue. Different case shape, different brief.
	* [[Reference:air-king\|Air-King]] — the post-war successor. The 1945 4925 / 4365 / 4499 originating Air-Kings open the line that effectively replaces the Prince in the catalogue.		* [[Reference:air-king\|Air-King]] — the post-war successor. The 1945 4925 / 4365 / 4499 originating Air-Kings open the line that effectively replaces the Prince in the catalogue.



	== Shared references ==		== Shared references ==

	* [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|Serial numbers by year]] — date ~~any Prince from its serial~~		* [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|Serial numbers by year]] — Rolex serial conventions across the Prince era, including the Glasgow and London assay date letters that often pin a 9K example to a single year
	* [[Reference:Movements\|Movement reference]] — the ~~calibers used across~~ the ~~Prince line~~		* [[Reference:Movements\|Movement reference]] — the Aegler shaped-movement family (Cal. 300, Cal. 350, Cal. 7¾′′′ T.S. 300) and the Prima / Extra Prima / Ultra Prima grading tiers
	* [[Reference:Bracelets\|Bracelet & clasp guide]] — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes		* [[Reference:Bracelets\|Bracelet & clasp guide]] — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes

Admin: Strip bold-for-emphasis in narrative prose (CLAUDE.md rule 8): em-dash and list structure already carry the labels

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Strip bold-for-emphasis in narrative prose (CLAUDE.md rule 8): em-dash and list structure already carry the labels

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:44, 8 August 2026
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	The Prince runs on Aegler shaped movements, manufactured in Bienne under H. Wilsdorf's exclusive supplier arrangement (a relationship that remained a supplier-only contract until Rolex purchased Aegler outright from the Borer family in April 2004, per Tim Mosso's Quill & Pad reporting). The shaped-movement family includes:		The Prince runs on Aegler shaped movements, manufactured in Bienne under H. Wilsdorf's exclusive supplier arrangement (a relationship that remained a supplier-only contract until Rolex purchased Aegler outright from the Borer family in April 2004, per Tim Mosso's Quill & Pad reporting). The shaped-movement family includes:

	* ~~'''~~Cal. 300~~'''~~ — 15 jewels, 18,000 vph, approximately 50 hours of power reserve, produced 1928–1937. The base Prince caliber. Architecturally identical to the Gruen Cal. 877 used in the Gruen Techni-Quadron — the two are sibling movements in the same Aegler family, sold under different brands. Some early Prince literature lists "Cal. 877" for the Rolex Prince; this is a misattribution traceable to the Gruen-Rolex sibling relationship and should be excluded from canonical Prince caliber listings, per Oren Hartov's [https://www.analogshift.com/blogs/transmissions/a-brief-history-of-the-doctor-s-watch Analog/Shift Doctor's Watch piece].		* Cal. 300 — 15 jewels, 18,000 vph, approximately 50 hours of power reserve, produced 1928–1937. The base Prince caliber. Architecturally identical to the Gruen Cal. 877 used in the Gruen Techni-Quadron — the two are sibling movements in the same Aegler family, sold under different brands. Some early Prince literature lists "Cal. 877" for the Rolex Prince; this is a misattribution traceable to the Gruen-Rolex sibling relationship and should be excluded from canonical Prince caliber listings, per Oren Hartov's [https://www.analogshift.com/blogs/transmissions/a-brief-history-of-the-doctor-s-watch Analog/Shift Doctor's Watch piece].
	* ~~'''~~Cal. 350~~'''~~ — 15 jewels (some examples 18 jewels). Documented on multiple 1490 examples at Phillips and Monaco Legend.		* Cal. 350 — 15 jewels (some examples 18 jewels). Documented on multiple 1490 examples at Phillips and Monaco Legend.
	* ~~'''~~Cal. 7¾′′′ T.S. 300~~'''~~ — Très Soigné, 18 jewels, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance with micrometer regulator, Breguet overcoil hairspring, rhodium-plated, adjusted in 6 positions, produced 1932–1938. The Ultra Prima movement variant.		* Cal. 7¾′′′ T.S. 300 — Très Soigné, 18 jewels, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance with micrometer regulator, Breguet overcoil hairspring, rhodium-plated, adjusted in 6 positions, produced 1932–1938. The Ultra Prima movement variant.

	Movement grading is a separate axis from caliber number. Aegler / Rolex used a tiered finishing hierarchy on the Prince calibers — ~~'''~~Prima~~'''~~, ~~'''~~Extra Prima~~'''~~, ~~'''~~Ultra Prima~~'''~~ — corresponding broadly to ascending levels of regulation, hand-finishing, and chronometer testing. The "Chronometer" or "Observatory" dial designation corresponds to Extra Prima or Ultra Prima grading; a Prima-grade movement does not earn the dial mark.		Movement grading is a separate axis from caliber number. Aegler / Rolex used a tiered finishing hierarchy on the Prince calibers — Prima, Extra Prima, Ultra Prima — corresponding broadly to ascending levels of regulation, hand-finishing, and chronometer testing. The "Chronometer" or "Observatory" dial designation corresponds to Extra Prima or Ultra Prima grading; a Prima-grade movement does not earn the dial mark.

	The Kew-Teddington observatory testing tradition runs through the Prince era. Rolex submitted Prince movements to the National Physical Laboratory at Kew for independent rate certificates against the Swiss Bureaux Officiels Suisse de Contrôle. The Kew protocol was a 45-day test against the Swiss bureau's 15 days; James Dowling has cited Rolex pass rates of 136 out of 145 Class A submissions in the 1940s and 1950s. The 1914 Class A Kew certificate that Rolex commonly cites as their first official chronometer rating was issued for an earlier ladies' wristwatch movement; the Prince calibers extend the observatory-testing lineage from 1928 forward, but the 1914 milestone predates the Prince family.		The Kew-Teddington observatory testing tradition runs through the Prince era. Rolex submitted Prince movements to the National Physical Laboratory at Kew for independent rate certificates against the Swiss Bureaux Officiels Suisse de Contrôle. The Kew protocol was a 45-day test against the Swiss bureau's 15 days; James Dowling has cited Rolex pass rates of 136 out of 145 Class A submissions in the 1940s and 1950s. The 1914 Class A Kew certificate that Rolex commonly cites as their first official chronometer rating was issued for an earlier ladies' wristwatch movement; the Prince calibers extend the observatory-testing lineage from 1928 forward, but the 1914 milestone predates the Prince family.

Admin: Sources section spacing

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← Older revision		Revision as of 18:04, 8 August 2026
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	* [[Reference:Movements\|Movement reference]] — the calibers used across the Prince line		* [[Reference:Movements\|Movement reference]] — the calibers used across the Prince line
	* [[Reference:Bracelets\|Bracelet & clasp guide]] — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes		* [[Reference:Bracelets\|Bracelet & clasp guide]] — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
	* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080319/17 "Rolex Reference 1490 Prince Brancard, Retailed by Beyer", Phillips, 2019-11-08]		* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080319/17 "Rolex Reference 1490 Prince Brancard, Retailed by Beyer", Phillips, 2019-11-08]

Admin: Add Sources section (hard rule #11); strip banned dealer attribution from reference table (hard rule #5)

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Add Sources section (hard rule #11); strip banned dealer attribution from reference table (hard rule #5)

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 ! Reference !! Production !! Case shape !! Movement family !! Key distinction
 |-
-| [[Reference:1343|1343]] || c.1928/1929–c.1935 || Unflared rectangular Classic || Aegler 7½ ligne shaped, 15j Observatory Quality || The Prince Classic; the unflared sister to the 971/1490 Brancards. Suffix system: 1343 (silver), 1343A (standard, multiple metals), 1343B (Tiger Stripe two-colour gold). Friedberg/Beckertime read 1343 + 971 as the 1928 launch pair; Everest Bands and Rolex Magazine 2017 read 1343 + 1490
+| [[Reference:1343|1343]] || c.1928/1929–c.1935 || Unflared rectangular Classic || Aegler 7½ ligne shaped, 15j Observatory Quality || The Prince Classic; the unflared sister to the 971/1490 Brancards. Suffix system: 1343 (silver), 1343A (standard, multiple metals), 1343B (Tiger Stripe two-colour gold). Friedberg reads 1343 + 971 as the 1928 launch pair; ''Rolex Magazine'' 2017 reads 1343 + 1490
 |-
 | [[Reference:971|971]] || c.1928–early 1930s || Early Brancard "stretcher" || Aegler shaped (early variants) || The original Brancard; Friedberg's 2001 Timezone article assigns the Brancard nickname here, while modern auction-house convention has shifted the nickname to the 1490
@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
 * [[Reference:Movements|Movement reference]] — the calibers used across the Prince line
 * [[Reference:Bracelets|Bracelet & clasp guide]] — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes
 [[Category:Prince]]
 [[Category:Family]]

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

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SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Prince}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Prince}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Prince — Art-Deco Reference Guide to Every Model \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Prince — Art-Deco Reference Guide to Every Model \| BezelBase
	\|description=The Rolex Prince family, 1928 to mid-1940s. Rectangular Art-Deco "Brancard" stretcher cases, duo-dial architecture with sub-seconds at six, Aegler shaped chronometer movements (Cal. 300 / 350 / T.S. 300) in Prima, Extra Prima, and Ultra Prima grades. References 971, 1490, 1491, 1527, 1862, 3361, and 3937, with retailer signatures spanning Bucherer, Beyer, Beguin, Cooke & Kelvey, and the Eaton 1/4 Century Club.		\|description=The Rolex Prince family, 1928 to mid-1940s. Rectangular Art-Deco "Brancard" stretcher cases, duo-dial architecture with sub-seconds at six, Aegler shaped chronometer movements (Cal. 300 / 350 / T.S. 300) in Prima, Extra Prima, and Ultra Prima grades. References 971, 1490, 1491, 1527, 1862, 3361, and 3937, with retailer signatures spanning Bucherer, Beyer, Beguin, Cooke & Kelvey, and the Eaton 1/4 Century Club.
	\|keywords=Rolex Prince, Brancard, Chronometer, Doctor's Watch, 971, 1490, 1491, 1527, 1862, 3361, 3937, Aegler, Cal. 300, T.S. 300, Ultra Prima, Extra Prima, Beyer, Bucherer, Eaton 1/4 Century Club, Art Deco, vintage Rolex, observatory chronometer		\|keywords=Rolex Prince, Brancard, Chronometer, Doctor's Watch, 971, 1490, 1491, 1527, 1862, 3361, 3937, Aegler, Cal. 300, T.S. 300, Ultra Prima, Extra Prima, Beyer, Bucherer, Eaton 1/4 Century Club, Art Deco, vintage Rolex, observatory chronometer
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	\|published_time=2026-04-28T04:25:49Z		\|published_time=2026-04-28T04:25:49Z
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Klaudiusz: Internal linking: shared-reference component links

2026-07-18T13:00:10Z

Internal linking: shared-reference component links

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	* [[Reference:air-king\|Air-King]] — the post-war successor. The 1945 4925 / 4365 / 4499 originating Air-Kings open the line that effectively replaces the Prince in the catalogue.		* [[Reference:air-king\|Air-King]] — the post-war successor. The 1945 4925 / 4365 / 4499 originating Air-Kings open the line that effectively replaces the Prince in the catalogue.



			== Shared references ==

			* [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|Serial numbers by year]] — date any Prince from its serial
			* [[Reference:Movements\|Movement reference]] — the calibers used across the Prince line
			* [[Reference:Bracelets\|Bracelet & clasp guide]] — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes

	[[Category:Prince]]		[[Category:Prince]]
	[[Category:Family]]		[[Category:Family]]

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-06-29T01:24:38Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:24, 29 June 2026
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	\|published_time=2026-04-28T04:25:49Z		\|published_time=2026-04-28T04:25:49Z
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