The Rolex Prince has true historical value, and has proven to be one Rolex's most longstanding models to date, despite being somewhat overshadowed by some of their more prolific watches. The original stylish rectangular case and easy-to-read dial sets it apart from more modern watches, and gives it a distinctly nostalgic feel. It comes in a choice of two different cases, the aforementioned rectangular case, and the more recent addition of the circular, more modern looking Brancard design.
The Prince is an unusual model in the Rolex collection, as it was originally not intended as a sports watch. In the 1930s, the brand was mainly concentrated on producing waterproof, self-winding watches, which lead to the acclaimed Oyster series. The Prince was marketed very differently, as an expression of luxury in hard times, being advertised as ‘the watch for men of distinction’. It hailed back to the days when extravagance was the norm, and luxury dress watches such as the Prince had more of a place in society.
The accuracy of the watch is due to the high quality balance wheel, which unlike most wristwatches uses solid gold screws to add extra weight and momentum. The patented movement design placed the winding barrel and balance at opposite ends of the watch, which allowed them both to be far larger than in the closer arrangement used by most other timepieces.
There are several different colour and material choices for the Rolex Prince, being cast in gold, silver, platinum, and more recently stainless steel, with the choice of two-tone combinations available.