Reference:1343: Difference between revisions

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{{#seo:

|title=Rolex Prince 1343; Classic Rectangular, 1928–1935 | Rolexopedia

|description=The 1343 is ~~the Rolex Prince Classic;~~ the unflared rectangular ~~case that anchors every other~~ Prince ~~article. Launched 1928–1929 alongside~~ the ~~971 Brancard, produced~~ through c.1935 ~~across~~ silver, ~~9ct/14K/18K~~ gold, stainless steel, and ~~the 1343B Tiger Stripe~~ two-colour ~~variant~~.

|description=The 1343 is the unflared rectangular Prince Classic, documented from the late 1920s through about 1935 in silver, gold, stainless steel, and two-colour cases.

|keywords=Rolex, 1343, Prince, Classic, Aegler, specifications, reference guide

|image=Ref 1343 hero.webp

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== Where it sits in the line ==

Rolex enters the rectangular Prince market in the late 1920s with two distinct case architectures. The Brancard, French for ''stretcher'', named for its flared, waisted profile; runs as 971 from 1928–29 onward, with the larger 1490 picking up the line into the 1930s and 1940s. The Classic runs in parallel as 1343, with the 1862 succeeding it later in the Classic lineage. Friedberg's ''Rolex's Charming Prince'' essay (TimeZone, 23 January 2001) sets out the English-language taxonomy used here, and the ~~case~~-~~flare distinction (waisted~~ versus parallel-sided~~) is~~ the ~~visual rule Friedberg uses to anchor every other~~ Prince case.

Rolex enters the rectangular Prince market in the late 1920s with two distinct case architectures. The Brancard, French for ''stretcher'', named for its flared, waisted profile; runs as 971 from 1928–29 onward, with the larger 1490 picking up the line into the 1930s and 1940s. The Classic runs in parallel as 1343, with the 1862 succeeding it later in the Classic lineage. Friedberg's ''Rolex's Charming Prince'' essay (TimeZone, 23 January 2001) sets out the English-language taxonomy used here, and Friedberg uses the waisted-versus-parallel-sided distinction to separate the early Prince case families.

The 1343 uses the smaller, parallel-sided Classic case and the same Aegler shaped-movement family found across the early Prince line. Production overlaps with the 971 Brancard (both running 1928–29 through the early 1930s), and pre-dates the longer-faced 1490 Brancard, the stepped Railway 1527 (1935), and the centre-seconds Aerodynamic 3361 (1939 Zurich exhibition). The 1862 Classic and the 3937 late Brancard close the family.

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The end-year reading is firmer. The Bonhams catalogue text places production through 1935. The Bucherer-signed 14K white gold 1343A at Gardiner Houlgate (lot 45, 23 May 2018) is dated c.1935 and is the latest 1343 surfaced in the auction record. No 1343 dated post-1938 has surfaced at major auction. The 1490 Brancard runs significantly later, into the early 1940s, but the 1343 Classic appears to wind down at roughly the same time the 1862 Classic is taking over.

Total production output is not published by Rolex for any Prince reference. The available auction record contains fewer 1343 examples than later Prince references. The Mondani Collection Antiquorum sale (14 May 2006, lot 794) is one documented 1343A example~~; it sold for CHF 10,620 against an estimate of CHF 10,000–14,000~~.

Total production output is not published by Rolex for any Prince reference. The available auction record contains fewer 1343 examples than later Prince references. The Mondani Collection Antiquorum sale (14 May 2006, lot 794) is one documented 1343A example.

Catalogue text across Bonhams, Antiquorum, Heritage, and Gardiner Houlgate documents three variants: 1343 (no suffix, typically silver examples), 1343A (standard production across multiple metals), and 1343B (the 18K two-colour gold "Tiger Stripe" variant). No source explicitly explains the suffix mapping. The surfaced catalogues associate 1343B with the two-colour case, while 1343 and 1343A appear on several metal types; that pattern should not be treated as a complete factory suffix table. Two lots, Christie's Geneva, 15 November 2000, lot 338, and Antiquorum Geneva, 13 November 1999, lot 243; catalogue a 1343A with a flared, stepped-side case running 42–43 mm long, matching the 1490 Brancard's own case envelope rather than the 20 mm-wide unflared Classic body every other documented 1343/1343A lot shares, including Antiquorum's own 2006 Mondani lot, also labelled 1343A, at the standard 20 mm width. The descriptions may reflect confusion with the 1490 family. Neither catalogue resolves the discrepancy.

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* Sterling silver; Heritage Auctions (lot 5023-61304, c.1930, 43 × 23 mm), Bonhams 16896 (December 2009, 20 × 39 mm)

* 9ct yellow gold; Bonhams 17800 (1343A, June 2010~~, sold £2,280~~)

* 9ct yellow gold; Bonhams 17800 (1343A, June 2010)

* 14K white gold; Gardiner Houlgate (1343A, May 2018, Bucherer-signed, c.1935)

* Stainless steel ("Rolesium"); Antiquorum / Mondani (1343A, May 2006~~, hammer CHF 10,620~~)

* Stainless steel ("Rolesium"); Antiquorum / Mondani (1343A, May 2006)

* 18K two-colour gold "Tiger Stripe"; Bonhams 24632 (1343B, December 2018~~, est. £7,000–9,000~~) and re-offered at Bonhams 25394 (February 2019)

* 18K two-colour gold "Tiger Stripe"; Bonhams 24632 (1343B, December 2018) and re-offered at Bonhams 25394 (February 2019)

* White gold filigree; documented white-gold filigree example, 20 × 40 mm, seven-position chronometer

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A documented white gold 1343 carries a restored doctor's-dial sweep-seconds layout. The ~~doctor's~~ complication ~~on the Prince family canonically lives on~~ the 1491 ~~jump-hour; a~~ documented ~~doctor's~~-dial 1343 is unusual, and restoration is the likelier explanation for ~~the~~ layout. Treat any 1343 with a doctor's complication as suspect unless backed by major-house auction provenance.

A documented white gold 1343 carries a restored doctor's-dial sweep-seconds layout. The jump-hour doctor’s complication is associated with the 1491. A documented doctor’s-dial 1343 is unusual, and restoration is the likelier explanation for this layout. Treat any 1343 with a doctor's complication as suspect unless backed by major-house auction provenance.

The Roman / Breguet numeral, sector, black, salmon, tropical, and Cartier / Tiffany / Asprey / Beyer / Hofkens / Serpico y Laino retailer-signed 1343 configurations have not surfaced in the auction record. Their absence is not proof; the Prince family is documented thinly compared to the post-1953 Oyster sport refs, and additional dial variants may surface as auction catalogues digitise older sales. The Bucherer-signed 1343A is the only documented retailer signature.

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The 18K two-colour white-and-yellow gold case with alternating vertical stripes is a documented 1343 variant; the ~~"Tiger Stripe"~~ name follows the auction catalogue language. The Bonhams 24632 December 2018 lot (Glasgow assay 1929, retailed by Charles Packer & Co Ltd, 76 Regent St London W~~) is the documented anchor: estimate £7,000–9,000, did not sell, and~~ was re-offered at Bonhams 25394 in February 2019 ~~at £7,000–9,300, again unsold. The~~ watch ~~remained~~ unsold ~~at both offerings~~.

The 18K two-colour white-and-yellow gold case with alternating vertical stripes is a documented 1343 variant; the “Tiger Stripe” name follows the auction catalogue language. The Bonhams 24632 December 2018 lot has Glasgow assay marks dated 1929 and was retailed by Charles Packer & Co Ltd, 76 Regent St London W. It was re-offered at Bonhams 25394 in February 2019; both catalogues record the watch as unsold.

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See also the [[Reference:prince|Prince family index]], [[Reference:Movements|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers|serial numbers by year]].

Ref 1343 hero.webp|1343 Prince Classic with parallel-sided case

Ref 1343 dial-champagne.webp|Matte champagne dial with gold batons

Ref 1343 doctors-dial.webp|Restored doctor's-dial example

Ref 1343 tiger-stripe.webp|1343B Tiger Stripe two-colour case

</gallery>

== Sources ==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{#seo:
 |title=Rolex Prince 1343; Classic Rectangular, 1928–1935 &#124; Rolexopedia
-|description=The 1343 is the Rolex Prince Classic; the unflared rectangular case that anchors every other Prince article. Launched 1928–1929 alongside the 971 Brancard, produced through c.1935 across silver, 9ct/14K/18K gold, stainless steel, and the 1343B Tiger Stripe two-colour variant.
+|description=The 1343 is the unflared rectangular Prince Classic, documented from the late 1920s through about 1935 in silver, gold, stainless steel, and two-colour cases.
 |keywords=Rolex, 1343, Prince, Classic, Aegler, specifications, reference guide
 |image=Ref 1343 hero.webp
@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 == Where it sits in the line ==
-Rolex enters the rectangular Prince market in the late 1920s with two distinct case architectures. The Brancard, French for ''stretcher'', named for its flared, waisted profile; runs as 971 from 1928–29 onward, with the larger 1490 picking up the line into the 1930s and 1940s. The Classic runs in parallel as 1343, with the 1862 succeeding it later in the Classic lineage. Friedberg's ''Rolex's Charming Prince'' essay (TimeZone, 23 January 2001) sets out the English-language taxonomy used here, and the case-flare distinction (waisted versus parallel-sided) is the visual rule Friedberg uses to anchor every other Prince case.
+Rolex enters the rectangular Prince market in the late 1920s with two distinct case architectures. The Brancard, French for ''stretcher'', named for its flared, waisted profile; runs as 971 from 1928–29 onward, with the larger 1490 picking up the line into the 1930s and 1940s. The Classic runs in parallel as 1343, with the 1862 succeeding it later in the Classic lineage. Friedberg's ''Rolex's Charming Prince'' essay (TimeZone, 23 January 2001) sets out the English-language taxonomy used here, and Friedberg uses the waisted-versus-parallel-sided distinction to separate the early Prince case families.
 The 1343 uses the smaller, parallel-sided Classic case and the same Aegler shaped-movement family found across the early Prince line. Production overlaps with the 971 Brancard (both running 1928–29 through the early 1930s), and pre-dates the longer-faced 1490 Brancard, the stepped Railway 1527 (1935), and the centre-seconds Aerodynamic 3361 (1939 Zurich exhibition). The 1862 Classic and the 3937 late Brancard close the family.
@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 The end-year reading is firmer. The Bonhams catalogue text places production through 1935. The Bucherer-signed 14K white gold 1343A at Gardiner Houlgate (lot 45, 23 May 2018) is dated c.1935 and is the latest 1343 surfaced in the auction record. No 1343 dated post-1938 has surfaced at major auction. The 1490 Brancard runs significantly later, into the early 1940s, but the 1343 Classic appears to wind down at roughly the same time the 1862 Classic is taking over.
-Total production output is not published by Rolex for any Prince reference. The available auction record contains fewer 1343 examples than later Prince references. The Mondani Collection Antiquorum sale (14 May 2006, lot 794) is one documented 1343A example; it sold for CHF 10,620 against an estimate of CHF 10,000–14,000.
+Total production output is not published by Rolex for any Prince reference. The available auction record contains fewer 1343 examples than later Prince references. The Mondani Collection Antiquorum sale (14 May 2006, lot 794) is one documented 1343A example.
 Catalogue text across Bonhams, Antiquorum, Heritage, and Gardiner Houlgate documents three variants: 1343 (no suffix, typically silver examples), 1343A (standard production across multiple metals), and 1343B (the 18K two-colour gold "Tiger Stripe" variant). No source explicitly explains the suffix mapping. The surfaced catalogues associate 1343B with the two-colour case, while 1343 and 1343A appear on several metal types; that pattern should not be treated as a complete factory suffix table. Two lots, Christie's Geneva, 15 November 2000, lot 338, and Antiquorum Geneva, 13 November 1999, lot 243; catalogue a 1343A with a flared, stepped-side case running 42–43 mm long, matching the 1490 Brancard's own case envelope rather than the 20 mm-wide unflared Classic body every other documented 1343/1343A lot shares, including Antiquorum's own 2006 Mondani lot, also labelled 1343A, at the standard 20 mm width. The descriptions may reflect confusion with the 1490 family. Neither catalogue resolves the discrepancy.
@@ Line 110: / Line 110: @@
 * Sterling silver; Heritage Auctions (lot 5023-61304, c.1930, 43 × 23 mm), Bonhams 16896 (December 2009, 20 × 39 mm)
-* 9ct yellow gold; Bonhams 17800 (1343A, June 2010, sold £2,280)
+* 9ct yellow gold; Bonhams 17800 (1343A, June 2010)
 * 14K white gold; Gardiner Houlgate (1343A, May 2018, Bucherer-signed, c.1935)
-* Stainless steel ("Rolesium"); Antiquorum / Mondani (1343A, May 2006, hammer CHF 10,620)
+* Stainless steel ("Rolesium"); Antiquorum / Mondani (1343A, May 2006)
-* 18K two-colour gold "Tiger Stripe"; Bonhams 24632 (1343B, December 2018, est. £7,000–9,000) and re-offered at Bonhams 25394 (February 2019)
+* 18K two-colour gold "Tiger Stripe"; Bonhams 24632 (1343B, December 2018) and re-offered at Bonhams 25394 (February 2019)
 * White gold filigree; documented white-gold filigree example, 20 × 40 mm, seven-position chronometer
@@ Line 143: / Line 143: @@
 [[File:Ref 1343 doctors-dial.webp|thumb|right|220px|alt=9K gold two-tone striped doctor's-dial 1343, Christie's lot 306, case 66840|9K gold two-tone striped doctor's-dial 1343, Christie's lot 306, case 66840]]
-A documented white gold 1343 carries a restored doctor's-dial sweep-seconds layout. The doctor's complication on the Prince family canonically lives on the 1491 jump-hour; a documented doctor's-dial 1343 is unusual, and restoration is the likelier explanation for the layout. Treat any 1343 with a doctor's complication as suspect unless backed by major-house auction provenance.
+A documented white gold 1343 carries a restored doctor's-dial sweep-seconds layout. The jump-hour doctor’s complication is associated with the 1491. A documented doctor’s-dial 1343 is unusual, and restoration is the likelier explanation for this layout. Treat any 1343 with a doctor's complication as suspect unless backed by major-house auction provenance.
 The Roman / Breguet numeral, sector, black, salmon, tropical, and Cartier / Tiffany / Asprey / Beyer / Hofkens / Serpico y Laino retailer-signed 1343 configurations have not surfaced in the auction record. Their absence is not proof; the Prince family is documented thinly compared to the post-1953 Oyster sport refs, and additional dial variants may surface as auction catalogues digitise older sales. The Bucherer-signed 1343A is the only documented retailer signature.
@@ Line 154: / Line 154: @@
 [[File:Ref 1343 tiger-stripe.webp|thumb|right|220px|alt=1343B Tiger Stripe two-colour gold, Bonhams 24632 lot 47|1343B Tiger Stripe two-colour gold, Bonhams 24632 lot 47]]
-The 18K two-colour white-and-yellow gold case with alternating vertical stripes is a documented 1343 variant; the "Tiger Stripe" name follows the auction catalogue language. The Bonhams 24632 December 2018 lot (Glasgow assay 1929, retailed by Charles Packer & Co Ltd, 76 Regent St London W) is the documented anchor: estimate £7,000–9,000, did not sell, and was re-offered at Bonhams 25394 in February 2019 at £7,000–9,300, again unsold. The watch remained unsold at both offerings.
+The 18K two-colour white-and-yellow gold case with alternating vertical stripes is a documented 1343 variant; the “Tiger Stripe” name follows the auction catalogue language. The Bonhams 24632 December 2018 lot has Glasgow assay marks dated 1929 and was retailed by Charles Packer & Co Ltd, 76 Regent St London W. It was re-offered at Bonhams 25394 in February 2019; both catalogues record the watch as unsold.
 <span id="1343a-bucherer-signed"></span>
@@ Line 212: / Line 212: @@
 See also the [[Reference:prince|Prince family index]], [[Reference:Movements|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers|serial numbers by year]].
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
+Ref 1343 hero.webp|1343 Prince Classic with parallel-sided case
+Ref 1343 dial-champagne.webp|Matte champagne dial with gold batons
+Ref 1343 doctors-dial.webp|Restored doctor's-dial example
+Ref 1343 tiger-stripe.webp|1343B Tiger Stripe two-colour case
+</gallery>
 == Sources ==