
Penelope Andrews
Head of Department
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Sold for £28,160 inc. premium
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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.