A solid fourteen carat pink, or rose gold Rolex Oyster Elegante. This Rolex reference 4270 is an early example of Rolex's iconic Oyster case, circa 1944. This reference is a 'boys' size case coming in at 30.5mm. These handsome examples have a much cleaner look without the date window at the three o’clock position, so no cyclops on the crystal as a result, and a central seconds instead of a subsidiary seconds dial. Unusually this example, which is made in fourteen carat yellow gold, were made exclusively for the American market. These watches were made with a variety of dials, with this example being a luminous painted Arabic numeral dial which has formed an amazing 'tropical' patina now.

The dial is stamped "Swiss Made" at the foot of the dial. The blued steel frame pencil hands have a small central area running through the center within which Radium luminous material was added. All of the original material is present on both the dial and hand set. The central seconds hand is a gorgeous matching pink gold.

Watches in this very original condition are exceptionally hard to find today as this watch is over seven years old. In pink gold, with a classic smooth bezel, being 30.5mm case size may seem small, it has a great presence on the wrist.

The case is in superb condition. It is unpolished, with strong lines throughout. The Swiss hallmark is still noticeable on the inside of the lug, and even on the side of the case. Being a 1940's watch the engraved serial number is present on the case back. This was before they were engraved between the lugs.

The watch is powered by the iconic and early Rolex 710 caliber. The caliber 710 belongs to an important period in the development of the company’s wristwatch movements, when precision, reliability and the pursuit of chronometer certification were becoming central to the identity of Rolex.

By the middle of the 20th century, Rolex had established itself as one of the leading manufacturers of waterproof wristwatches. The introduction of the Perpetual automatic winding system in the 1930s had been a significant achievement, while the company’s manually wound movements continued to undergo considerable refinement. Accuracy and reliability remained central to Rolex’s ambitions, with chronometer certification providing an important distinction between its more conventional movements and those specially adjusted for precision.

The caliber 710 was developed from the earlier caliber 700, a movement belonging to the family of mechanisms produced by Aegler, the Swiss movement manufacturer whose long association with Rolex was fundamental to the company’s early success. Unlike the caliber 700, which featured a subsidiary seconds dial, the 710 incorporated a centrally mounted seconds hand, giving the watch a more contemporary appearance. A 'three hand' watch, as they are known.

Measuring approximately 23.4mm in diameter, the manually wound caliber 710 operated at 18,000 vibrations per hour and was produced in different configurations, including 15- and 17-jewel versions. Its traditional construction incorporated a lever escapement, with certain examples featuring a Breguet overcoil hairspring, designed to improve the consistency of the balance’s oscillation and, consequently, its timekeeping performance.

This example is the more premium version of this caliber featuring the chronometer designation found on both the movement and dial of this watch. During this period, the term Chronometer carried considerable significance, identifying a movement that had been specially adjusted and subjected to more demanding standards of precision than an ordinary production watch. The corresponding signatures on the dial and movement are an important feature of this example, reflecting Rolex’s longstanding commitment to accurate timekeeping.

The caliber 710 appeared in a number of Rolex’s manually wound Oyster models during the 1940s and 1950s. These watches represent an interesting chapter in the company’s history, particularly as Rolex continued to develop its automatic movements while maintaining a range of traditionally constructed, manually wound watches.

Today, these early Rolex chronometer movements are appreciated for their traditional construction, careful regulation and historical importance. They belong to a period when precision was not simply an expectation but a distinction worthy of being prominently displayed on both the dial and movement.

Overall, this is a very rare watch with its original dial. So handsome, and striking. These are exceptionally hard to find today, especially in this condition. The watch came directly from the family of the original owner, and as can be seen on the case back engraving, it was presented in January of 1945.

There is no box or original paperwork presented with the watch.