Antique Rolex from 1925: the Christmas secret engraved on the back

Someone unwrapped this antique Rolex on Christmas morning, almost a century ago. And the proof is still engraved on the back.

Turn our antique 1920s Rolex over and you'll find three magical words: Christmas 1925. This 9ct gold ladies Rolex Unicorn wristwatch is a genuinely rare vintage Rolex, and that tiny engraving tells a bigger story than you'd ever guess.

Because this watch wasn't just a lovely present. It was given at the exact moment the wristwatch was changing from a ladies' fashion accessory into the thing almost everyone in the world now wears. And Rolex, a company that started out above a London office, was about to pull off one of the most daring publicity stunts in watch history.

Read to the very end for why the date on that engraving is so special in watch history.

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Our antique Rolex Unicorn watch at a glance

Rolex | Antique 1920s 9ct Gold Unicorn Wristwatch | Ladies — £1,200

or 4 interest free payments of £300

Shop here

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When wristwatches were only for women

Here's something that surprises almost everyone. For a long time, a watch on the wrist was seen as ladies' jewellery. A proper gentleman carried a pocket watch on a chain, and plenty of men at the turn of the 20th century wouldn't have been seen dead in a "wristlet".

Women, on the other hand, wore pretty little watches set into bracelets, and jewellers made them as decorative as any brooch or bangle.

Then came the First World War. Fumbling for a pocket watch in a muddy trench, with a rifle in your hands, simply wasn't practical. Soldiers began strapping watches to their wrists, and by the time they came home, the wristwatch had become a symbol of courage rather than a fashion piece. That's where the name "trench watch" comes from, and it's why our watch has that squared, almost faceted shape.

By 1925, ladies' wristwatches were having a huge moment. Hemlines were up, sleeves were shorter, arms were on show, and a little gold watch on the wrist was the finishing touch to a 1920s outfit.

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Rolex began in London, not Switzerland

Most people picture Rolex as a Swiss giant, but the company began in London in 1905 as Wilsdorf & Davis, founded by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis. Wilsdorf was a young German who had been orphaned as a boy and moved to London to make his name in the watch trade.

He believed in the wristwatch long before most people did, and he wanted a brand name that was short and easy to say in any language. The story goes that the word "Rolex" came to him while he was riding on top of a horse-drawn bus through the City of London. The name was registered in 1908, and the company moved to Geneva in 1919.

Wilsdorf's big mission was to prove that a small watch on the wrist could keep time as accurately as a big pocket watch. In 1910 a Rolex became the first wristwatch to earn an official Swiss chronometer certificate, and in 1914 a Rolex wristwatch was awarded a top accuracy certificate at Kew Observatory in England, an honour that had usually gone to marine chronometers used to navigate ships. Those were enormous wins for a tiny watch.

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What is a Rolex Unicorn watch?

"Unicorn" was a brand name registered by Wilsdorf & Davis in 1919, and it became part of Rolex's range of beautifully made mechanical watches through the 1920s and 1930s. Many authentic examples have cases stamped "R.W.C. Ltd" alongside gold hallmarks.

🦄 Collectors adore them because they're so scarce today. Finding one is a little like finding a real unicorn.

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The hallmark that hid in plain sight

When this vintage Rolex was serviced in March 2026, the all-important mark came to light. Inside the case it's stamped R.W.C. Ltd, for Rolex Watch Company, alongside the 9ct gold hallmarks.

That "375" is a clue too. It means the case is 375 parts pure gold out of 1,000, which is exactly what 9ct gold is. 9ct was a hugely popular choice for British watches of the time because it's hard-wearing and keeps its warm colour beautifully, which is why this case still looks so rich a century later.

🔍 Tiny stamps like these are how antique watches reveal who made them. Curious how it works? Read what the tiny marks inside your ring actually mean.

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The details that make it so special

The octagonal shape was one of the most fashionable choices for ladies' watches during the 1910s and 1920s, and it still looks incredibly chic on the wrist today.

💙 Ours has a warm, rosy 9ct gold case, a dial that has mellowed to a soft ivory, crisp Arabic numerals and wonderfully vivid blue hands. The expanding bracelet fastens with a box clasp and a figure-eight safety catch, so it sits securely all day.

Those blue hands aren't just pretty. On many watches of this period, steel hands were heat-treated until they turned that deep blue colour, which also helped protect them. It's one of those small finishing touches that collectors look for.

Freshly serviced in March 2026 and built by one of the greatest names in watchmaking, this watch is ready for its next chapter. Wind it each morning and enjoy the little ritual of a true mechanical watch, the same ritual its first owner enjoyed in 1925.

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Antique and vintage Rolex FAQs

What is a Rolex Unicorn watch?

Unicorn was a brand registered by Wilsdorf & Davis in 1919 and used on mechanical watches in the 1920s and 1930s. Many authentic examples are stamped "R.W.C. Ltd" inside the case.

How can I tell if an antique Rolex is genuine?

Case marks and gold hallmarks are a key clue, as on ours. The best advice is to buy from a jeweller you trust and ask to see close photographs of the marks. We're always happy to show you ours.

Is a 1920s Rolex worth buying?

Early Rolex watches are highly collectible, especially rare, hallmarked, well-kept ones with a story, like the "Christmas 1925" engraving on ours. Value depends on condition, originality and rarity.

What does R.W.C. Ltd mean on a Rolex?

It stands for Rolex Watch Company. On our watch it appears inside the case beside the 9ct gold hallmarks.

Where can I buy an antique Rolex in Scotland?

You can see ours in person at Eloise Jewellery, 156 High Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, or buy it online through our website.

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What our customers say

Why "Christmas 1925" is such a special date

Whoever received this watch on Christmas 1925 was wearing a wristwatch at a thrilling moment. Just the following year, in 1926, Rolex introduced the Oyster, its first waterproof wristwatch case.

And Wilsdorf knew exactly how to tell the world about it. In 1927, a young London typist called Mercedes Gleitze set out to swim the English Channel, and she wore a Rolex Oyster for one of her long, freezing swims. When she came out of the water hours later, the watch was still keeping perfect time. Rolex celebrated with a full advertisement on the front page of the Daily Mail, and the idea of a tough, everyday wristwatch was born.

🎄 So this watch comes from the very last Christmas before that breakthrough, given to a woman who was wearing a Rolex before most of the world had even heard of one. We've kept the engraving exactly as it is, because it's a beautiful chapter in the watch's story.

For the full story of how we discovered the hallmark, read From 1925 With Love: The Story of our Rare Rolex Unicorn. Interested in gold? Read 9ct vs 18ct gold.

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One watch. One story. One lucky new owner.

Some watches are special because of their name. This one is special because of the love still engraved on its back. There is only one, so if it's calling to you, pop into our Kirkcaldy boutique or snap it up online before someone else does.

Dreaming of something completely one of a kind? Our workshop can make it happen. See our bespoke commission work.