Vintage Rolex Sky-Rocket Watch 29mm WWII Era 17 Jewels Cal. 59 Swiss Wristwatch

Watch Overview

Offered here is a rare and historically significant Rolex Sky-Rocket wristwatch dating to the early 1940s — a distinctive manual-wind model produced during the World War II era.

The Sky-Rocket belongs to Rolex’s manually wound era — a period when the brand was refining its waterproof case technology while producing durable, purpose-driven wristwatches during World War II.

It is a manual-wind watch powered by a the original Rolex Calibre 59 (based on FHF 30) mechanical movement with 17 jewels and sweep second hand. This Swiss-made timepiece beats at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour with an approximate 40-hour power reserve.

The white dial features Arabic numerals, an inner 24-hour red scale, minute/second track, matching hands, and a central red sweep seconds hand. The dial is signed “Rolex Oyster,” “Sky-Rocket,” and “Shockproof,”.

Research and surviving examples show that many Sky-Rocket models were sold in North America during the wartime years. Due to production limitations in Switzerland during WWII, documented pieces often feature cases supplied by external manufacturers, while retaining Rolex-signed dials and Swiss manual movements. This model was military approved for the Canadian Service Airmen.

The watch is housed in a 29.2mm compact stainless steel round case with smooth fixed bezel — a direct descendant of Rolex’s original waterproof Oyster case introduced in 1926. The watch comes with a brown leather one piece strap.

The Rolex Sky-Rocket represents an important transitional period in Rolex history — bridging early Oyster waterproof technology and the brand’s later aviation and tool-watch development. Surviving examples remain relatively uncommon and highly collectible among vintage Rolex enthusiasts.

Product Details

General Specifications

• Brand: Rolex
• Type: Wristwatch
• Model: Sky-Rocket
• Year / Era: Circa 1943/1945 – Vintage
• Gender: Men's
• Country of Manufacture: Switzerland

Dial & Display

• Display: Analog
• Color: White
• Features: Arabic numerals, inner 24-hour, sweep seconds

Movement

• Type: Manual-wind
• Caliber: Rolex 59 (based on FHF 30)
• Jewels: 17
• Movement Functions:
  • Center sweep seconds
  • Dustproof
  • Shockproof
  • Anti-magnetic

Case & Band

• Case Shape: Round
• Bezel: Fixed, smooth
• Back: Screw
• Band: Brown leather one-piece strap

Case Measurements (mm)

• Case Size: 29.2
• Case Diameter w/Crown: 32.2
• Case Lug to Lug: 36
• Case Thickness: 12.3
• Lug Width: 16
• Band Width: 16

Additional Info

• Box & Papers: NO
• Condition: The watch is in good condition, some signs of wear consistent with age and use, a solid case and dial.
• Extras: This timepiece has been fully inspected and authenticated by our in-house watchmaker, confirming that it runs accurately. It is ready to wear.

About Second Hand Horology

At SECOND HAND HOROLOGY, we offer a curated selection of watches ranging from vintage to modern, including both brand-new and pre-owned timepieces. We’re committed to quality, accuracy, and integrity. Our listings feature:

Professional, unedited photography and clear, transparent descriptions. Every watch is thoroughly inspected and securely packaged to ensure a confident, seamless buying experience.

We also warmly invite you to visit our physical shop and explore the collection in person.

Contact Us

We appreciate you checking out our listing! Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, offers, or just to talk watches — we love what we do and enjoy connecting with fellow enthusiasts.

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