In 1905 Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis founded a watch company in London, England named Wilsdorf and Davis. By 1920 their company had moved to Geneva, Switzerland, and changed their name to Montres Rolex SA. In those early days of Rolex, their aim wasn’t to craft high-end luxury watches but rather to create durable timepieces for the everyday man. It took James Bond and Paul Newmann to launch the company’s reputation into the rarified air of luxury watches. The history of Rolex is quite nearly a rags to riches tale of a watch company. One that pioneered innovative designs focused on creating watches that remained functional in a variety of conditions, from dust-proofing their watches to pioneering techniques in crafting waterproof watches.

Today the company is known primarily for its wristwatches, and that’s what makes this Rolex pocket watch such a rare and interesting find of great significance. The estimated date of production of this Rolex is 1926. It is housed in a gorgeous hallmarked sterling silver case. In line with the company’s humble origins as a watchmaker for the everyday man, their dials were not signed—an essential indicator that this is an all-original Rolex pocket watch from the company’s earlier days.

The case is engraved with the initials E.C., attaching the ownership of this watch to someone who, along with this historic timepiece, was there for the events of the 20th century that shook the world. If you’re a fan of the Rolex brand or enjoy owning a piece of horological history, this fine-crafted Rolex from the first half of the 20th century makes an excellent addition to your collection or as an interesting pocket watch to wear for daily use.