A ladies automatic eighteen carat white gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust reference 6917 model. This is an exceptionally rare watch to find in all white gold, with the original bracelet, not to mention the real stone lapis dial. The dial, with its silver printed logo, features the anomaly of being stamped "T Swiss T". This meant the dial had Tritium luminous markers applied to the hour markers. However, being a stone dial, it features no luminous material either on the dial, or on the clean, white gold baton handset. This is not unusual, as many of the early stone dials, both for this size and the largers sizes, had the "T Swiss T" stamping at the six o'clock position. It is actually a quirk which quite interesting to the see.
The watch is powered by a Rolex, Swiss made, twenty eight jewel automatic calibre 2130 movement that powered the majority of all Rolex ladies models since its launch in 1970. What made this movement all the more impressive is that an automatic movement launched with a forty two hour power reserve was able to be just twenty millimeter across and just over five millimeters thick. Not only that, but due to its accuracy it was sent off to the Swiss regulating authority and obtained COSC certification for accuracy. This is why you find the text "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" also stamped on the lower portion of the dial.
This case, being the earlier version, has the spring bar holes exposed from the side; a 'holes' case. This was updated around the late 1980's, early 1990's to the ladies watches where the holes were filled. The watch is fitted to its original Rolex Jubilee solid eighteen carat white gold bracelet. Unlike its stainless steel, or two tone counterpart, this solid white gold version is very different in its construction. This is hard to see from the front. But, when viewed from the side it has very beautifully, open work, oval shaped links which almost appear to have two eyes either side, where the bracelet links are pinned to each other. The deployant buckle is fully signed with the Rolex trademarks, "750" for eighteen carat gold, and the Helvetia Swiss control mark for gold.
The watch was made circa 1974 with serial number 3711XXX. The watch is in original condition, quite possibly unpolished, with wear commensurate with age, with nothing to detract. This really is a rare opportunity to own a very interesting and beautifully understated piece of Rolex history. With the appearance of being a classic stainless steel version, this watch can fly under the radar of most eyes, being noticed by only the most discerning eye. The watch comes with a Foundwell one year warranty against mechanical failure.
