1

A Day
Observed

A story presented by

Scene 1:
‘Morning’

It was a bright cold day with glassy surfaces that looked hard.
Into the square frame he stood as if in a dream.

What emerged was precisely what he expected to find: a reflection of memory images. Contemplating his face in the photo frame he waited.

1960s lucite and chrome 3 image photo frame

By the steady hands of his watch, he listened to time. Every day for the past sixteen days he saw her. Silver lingered in the crease of
an open book.

Rolex burlwood dial, Jubilee bracelet Miniature
oar English university trophy, sterling silver.

So absorbed in his thoughts
he hardly saw the platinum catch-all, the key, or the revelation locked inside those lapis lazuli cufflinks tossed unmistakably in cold blue.

Hans Hanson catch-all. Mid-century, Danish sterling silver. Stirrup money clip, by Hermès. Padlock keyring, sterling silver " Tie bar-slide " Round lapis lazuli cufflinks" Square cufflinks, two tone rose and yellow gold, diamond."

Only by whirling on his heel could he hope to comprehend
the panorama.

Shoe horn, circa 1930. American sterling silver
Scene 2:
‘Noon’

He remained.Trapped in that enormous room,
unmistakably familiar in feeling yet so peculiar.

Above the mantle was
displayed an Austrian hound
of impeccable integrity.

Hagenauer sculpture, 1930

His gaze fell on the letter opener. By accident she had learnt more about his life from the contents of that letter than anywhere.

Dunhill letter opener with lighter top, circa 1950

Cleopatra’s eye reflected
the sun. Through the hypnotism
of precious metals there
emerged a dark slender shadow.

Cleopatra’s eye magnifying glass. Mid-century, gold plated
Hermès weighted pen. Silver plated.

A lighter presented itself, smooth to the touch
it gave the impression of
intelligent company.

Table lighter St Dupont, circa 1960. Gold plate
Scene 3:
‘Evening’

All this time light was receding from the room.

“I should explain why I spend so much time here”, said the silhouette. Leaves moved like shadows across her eyes.

Hermès rope bottle opener. Plated silver.

It’s not too late to turn back. Time moved with faint sounds.

Venini hourglass. Hand-blown lurid Murano glass.

He unscrewed the telescopic cup, rolled and remained still. Black eyes on the dice prophesied a new cycle.

Telescopic cup, J. E. Cauldwell. Gold plated. Dice,
Cartier for America. Vitreous enamel glass, silver

Staring down at the varnished surface her mouth worried him while her eyes examined the gold cufflink.

Audemar Piguet evening watch. gold plated, Roman dial, alligator strap
Scene 4:
‘Night’

Everything went crashing black.

Pale graceful hands placed
the gold stud box delicately
on the table.

Men’s Edwardian jewellery box, 1910. Gold plated.
Mid-century British cigar ashtray. Sterling silver and crystal.

He lit a match to make sure the watch had really stopped. Smoke lingered from its vesta case.

Realist wrapped tobacco leaf march vesta. Silver.

As the travel clock neared
one the figure vanished into dappled shadows.

Art Deco Jaeger LeCoultre travel clock.
Gold and silver plated. Retailed by Aspray.

On the newly varnished table two bronze shot cups sat alive like in a dream.

Tooth shot cup by Foundwell. Bronze and silver plated.
Set of 4, 3 silver 1 gold. Heath & Midleton champagne decanters circa 1900.
Sterling silver and glass.
The End

‘A DAY OBSERVED’
A story by FOUNDWELL
Photography Matthieu Lavanchy, creative direction OK-RM,
notes by Kate O’Brien and objects selected by Alan Bedwell

‘A DAY OBSERVED’
A story by FOUNDWELL
Photography Matthieu Lavanchy,
creative direction OK-RM
notes by Kate O’Brien
and objects selected by Alan Bedwell

Early and Rare Sterling Silver Gorham Martini Mixing Bucket

Golf Cocktail Shaker
and Matching Golf Bag Cup

Sterling Silver Woven Bottle Coaster

Foundwell

A SELECTION OF ITEMS BY THE PRODUCER OF
CRAFTED GOODS & PURVEYOR OF ANTIQUE WATCHES,
JEWELLERY & OTHER SUCH OBJECTS

Shopping Bag

Your cart is empty.


 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date model in stainless steel with a solid eighteen carat yellow gold capped case. This watch, unlike its more fragile gold plated cousin, is fitted with a fine cap of solid gold on top of the stainless steel case. This way scratches or heavy dings will not reveal the metal below, making it a lot more durable, and a much more expensive method of production. The process also provides the end user with a Rolex that looks to be solid gold once on the wrist. This watch has the less common reference number 1550, as opposed to the classic 1500, 1501 or the solid gold 1503 from this time period.

Not only is this an unusual method of manufacturing the case, that Rolex phased out in the 1970's due to the additional expense in making the cap and applying it, but, the dial fitted to the watch is a stunning and rare dial type known as a "radial dial". Not to be confused with a "rail dial", the radial dials have extended minute markers along the minute marker track. These dials were also found on the GMT model of this same time period; mid-1970's. These are sometimes called "mini dials', as the lume plots are smaller, and moved closer into the dial to allow for the extended minute track.

This dial is work of art for so many reasons; the base colour of the dial is a stunning, and very rare, deep coppery bronze metallic colour that transforms in bright light to this rich bronze colour, and returning to an almost deep charcoal under low light, or evening. The aforementioned extended minute markers are beautiful against the bronze dial being that they are a printed in a gilt colour.  The same goes for all the text on the dial, which looks stunning against the dial backdrop. The gold hour markers are not simply baton shaped, but coffin shaped. The original Tritium lume colour has aged beautifully into a light latte color. The original baton hand set is also complete with the original colour matched lume. Finally, the dial is in perfect condition.

The watch is powered by the classic Rolex Swiss made twenty six jewel automatic calibre 1570 that also powered the iconic sports watches such as the GMT and the Submariner during this time. A reliable workhorse of a movement that served Rolex very well in its nearly decade long usage.

This particular case appears untouched by a polishing wheel. This, oddly, seemed to be the case with capped gold cases. There is light scratching throughout, but nothing to detract from the overall beauty. Simply commensurate with now fifty years of light, careful wear. The case measures 34mm x 40mm.

Overall, this is perhaps one of the best looking, and most unusual Rolex Date models we have come across. It is a size that is very comfortable to wear, and a dial that nobody will ever get tired of looking at.


Price $4,895.00

×

Enquire
Item Dimensions
Case Width
1.338 inches (3.39852cm)