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Rolex. An extremely rare stainless steel 'Kew A' manual wind wristwatch presented to Sir Frederick Brundrett Oyster Speedking 'Kew A Certificate', Ref: 5056, Circa 1948 image 1
Rolex. An extremely rare stainless steel 'Kew A' manual wind wristwatch presented to Sir Frederick Brundrett Oyster Speedking 'Kew A Certificate', Ref: 5056, Circa 1948 image 2
Rolex. An extremely rare stainless steel 'Kew A' manual wind wristwatch presented to Sir Frederick Brundrett Oyster Speedking 'Kew A Certificate', Ref: 5056, Circa 1948 image 3
Lot 65

Rolex. An extremely rare stainless steel 'Kew A' manual wind wristwatch presented to Sir Frederick Brundrett
Oyster Speedking 'Kew A Certificate', Ref: 5056, Circa 1948

19 June 2025, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £28,160 inc. premium

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Rolex. An extremely rare stainless steel 'Kew A' manual wind wristwatch presented to Sir Frederick Brundrett

Model: Oyster Speedking 'Kew A Certificate'
Reference: 5056
Date: Circa 1948
Movement: Jewelled bi-coloured manual wind, inscribed Kew A tested, large jewels to centre, escape wheel and balance with end caps, freesprung compensated balance with timing screws, No.4233
Dial: Silvered, alternating luminous baton and applied Arabic numeral hour markers, black outer minute divisions with luminous dot 5 minute markers, subsidiary seconds at 6, blued steel leaf hands with luminous inserts
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back and crown, No.629519
Strap/Bracelet: Brushed riveted Oyster link
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp with presentation inscription, stamped 449
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 30mm

Footnotes

The Kew A Certificate watches are some of the rarest series watches made by Rolex. Since every one was numbered and listed separately, we know exactly how many were produced and that only 136 successfully passed through to attain the coveted 'KEW A' Certificate. The test is carried out over 45 days and includes temperature fluctuations and was designed by the Royal Navy for ship's chronometers.

Movement number 4233 was submitted for testing on the 24th July 1947 and was awarded 'A' certification on its first attempt.

The present example features an engraving on the clasp reading "To Sir Frederick Brundrett K.B.E. C.B, Chief R.N.S.S 1947-1950, From his colleagues, 30th June 1950" Sir Frederick Brundrett was a British civil servant and mathematician who served as Chief of the Royal Naval Scientific Service before becoming Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Defence. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1950 New Year Honours and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1956 New Year Honours. Brundrett died at the age of 79 in 1974.

Additional information

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