A rare and evocative Rolex pocket watch supplied to the British armed forces. Designated General Service, Mark II, this is distinct from the more common “General Service Trade Pattern” or G.S.T.P. watches. 

Specified to be “Keyless...strong lever, 3/4 or full plate type, in metal case, with strong crystal glass, fully luminous” and with a 15 jewelled movement. This type of watch was first put into commission in July 1929. A key instrument throughout the war, it was decommissioned in 1956. There had been a strong home-grown watch industry in the UK, but by 1935 supplies of British watches were so limited that His Majesty’s government was obliged to source GS MK II watches (like this Rolex) from overseas, to the value of £1,978!

Rolex certainly fulfilled the brief. Although not large as pocket watches go, the movement is exceptionally sturdy, and very precise, with top-quality thermo-compensated cut balance and blued Breguet balance spring. Housed in a nickel case with British Broad Arrow markings.

In addition to the watches Rolex supplied to the British military, they used movements from the same maker (Cortebert) for the watches they made for Panerai.