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It would be a great find for any serious collector!
Up for sale is an exceptional and museum-grade piece of early horological history – an authentic Vintage ROLEX Trench Watch dating back to the WWI era (circa 1910s–1920s). Powered by the famous Aegler / Rebberg Caliber No. 53 movement (signed ROLEX on the ratchet wheel), this watch represents the legendary era when wristwatches were first adopted by officers on the battlefields of Europe.
The movement has been fully inspected, serviced, and oiled by our professional watchmakers. It runs strong and keeps great time for a piece over a century old!
RESTORATION & WORKSHOP DETAILS:
Dial Restoration: The original porcelain enamel dial suffered severe historical damage and cracking. To preserve its original identity, the damaged enamel layer was carefully removed, and a professional restoration was performed by applying fresh paint and crisp period-correct markers directly onto the original metal baseplate.
Custom Hands: Since the original hands were lost over time, our master watchmakers custom-crafted a set of beautifully blued steel hands specifically suited for this vintage piece.
Photo of the original enamel dial before professional restoration
DEFECTS: Honest minor vintage wear on the case as expected from a 100+ year old timepiece
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Switzerland
MANUFACTURER: Rolex (Aegler S.A.)
OVERALL CONDITION (10-point scale): 8-9
CASE
Classic antique metal case with wire lugs, hinged front/back cover construction, and a vintage onion crown.
Condition (10-point scale): 8
Inscriptions on the back cover: Case serial number 869483 stamped on the inside of the case back
GLASS
Practically new acrylic crystal, clear and crisp.
Material: Acrylic Glass
Condition (10-point scale): 9
DIAL
Professionally restored white dial with bold red 13-24 hour markers, black outer track, sub-seconds dial at 6 o'clock, and signed ROLEX. Restored on the original metal dial plate.
Condition (10-point scale): 9-10 (Restored)
Inscriptions on the dial: ROLEX
STRAP
Brand new high-quality genuine leather strap by "Element" designed specifically for wire lug trench watches.
Condition (10-point scale): 10
MOVEMENT
Mechanical: Hand-winding
Caliber: Authentic Aegler / Rebberg No. 53 (7 Jewels, signed ROLEX)
Features
Manual wind / Crown wind
Sub-second display at 6 o'clock
Vintage Swiss lever movement
Data
Jewels: 7 Jewels
Winding: Manual wind
Power reserve: Approx. 30-36 hours
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, FUNCTIONS
Width (Without crown) |
1.31 inch (33.5 mm) |
Width with crown |
1.41 inch (36.0 mm) |
Length (Lug to Lug) |
1.55 inch (39.5 mm) |
Depth (Thickness) |
0.45 inch (11.5 mm) |
Crystal diameter |
1.16 inch (29.5 mm) |
Total weight |
1.06 oz (30.0 g) |
Function |
Hours, minutes, sub-seconds |
Country made |
Switzerland |
Dimensions of watches

HISTORY & LORE
In the early 20th century, Hans Wilsdorf (founder of Rolex) partnered with the Aegler movement factory in Bienne, Switzerland, to manufacture ultra-precise, compact movements for wristwatches. Aegler’s famous "Rebberg" calibers quickly became the heart of early Rolex timepieces.
During World War I, officers in the trenches required quick and easy time checks without reaching into their pockets. Wristwatches with wire lugs and crown-winding movements - like this Aegler Rebberg No. 53 - became indispensable military tools, establishing the global era of wristwatches.
RECOMMENDATIONS
All Antique and vintage watches are mechanical. Repairs require precision, so please handle this historical artifact with care.
- Vintage mechanical watches should not be beaten or dropped - shocks can damage the balance staff.
- Vintage watches are generally NOT waterproof. Protect your timekeeper from direct contact with water, heavy rain, or high humidity.
- If your watch becomes wet it should be dried off quickly. Carefully open all covers and use a hair drier to blow dry the movement, dial, covers, crown. This will reduce the amount of rust.
- If your watch becomes wet with any kind of salt water you should immediately immerse or spray your watch with fresh (no-salt) water to remove all the salt from the works before drying the watch completely. Any salt left in the watch will combine with moisture in the air to rust metal components of the movement, case etc.
- Winding any mechanical watch tight may break the mainspring. Stop winding as soon as you feel the natural resistance tightening up.
- When adjusting the hands of your watch, move them in a clockwise direction only to prevent stress on the gear train.
- If you must adjust counter-clockwise make it for small adjustments only (i.e. for minutes, NOT hours).
- Be careful and gentle when adjusting the movement speed (faster or slower). Don't make sharp movements, and don't touch other components in the movement especially the pendulum mechanism.
- Every 2-3 years it is recommended to service, clean, and oil vintage watches to keep them running accurately for decades to come.
- IF the watch is dirty - allow the watch to run down, don't wind it again until you have it serviced by a qualified watch repair expert. Dust will absorb and remove important lubricants and cause the movement pieces to wear down.
- To clean the case, dial and crystal you should use a cloth that does NOT leave fibers as these may get caught up in the movement. Check with your Watch repair expert to get an appropriate cloth.
- Keep your watch away from strong magnetic fields (large speakers, modern computers, magnets) since magnetic exposure can alter the balance spring performance.
- Most Cases and Covers are fine components and will not handle abuse well. The watch should not be shaken, beaten, or stressed.
- Vintage mechanical watches naturally experience a daily deviation error of up to a few minutes. An accuracy of +/- 3 to 5 minutes a day is considered excellent for a classic timepiece.
PAYMENT
- Total amount due includes the final item price plus Shipping.
- Shipping charges are determined based upon the destination address. Please note that buyers are responsible for any applicable local customs procedures.
SHIPPING
We ship worldwide! This item will be securely packed and dispatched to you from Europe (Ukraine) via registered international airmail, complete with a tracking number and insurance coverage. Shipments are processed within 1-3 business days after payment clears.
Typical Delivery Timeframes:
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European Countries: approximately 7-10 days;
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USA, Canada, Japan & others: approximately 10-14 days.
NOTE: Actual delivery speeds depend heavily on your local customs handling and postal services. Rest assured, we pack all items with extreme care to guarantee they reach your doorstep in perfect condition!
RETURNS/REFUNDS
We accept returns in compliance with standard platform terms. Items must be returned in their original vintage condition as received. Return shipping costs are to be covered by the Buyer.
FEEDBACK
We strive for 100% customer satisfaction and look forward to earning your positive feedback! If you experience any issues or have any doubts upon receiving your parcel, please contact us immediately *before* leaving neutral or negative marks. We are always here to help resolve any issues amicably.
Thank you for your interest in our vintage treasures!
Please let us know if you have any questions. Good luck!
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