Rolex Prince 1343

The Rolex Prince ref. 1343 is one of the earliest and most classically styled entries in the Prince series, dating to the early 1930s. It featured a rectangular case made primarily in 18k gold or sterling silver, measuring approximately 28 mm in width and 42 mm in length. The model was powered by the Rolex Caliber 300, a manually wound movement specially designed to accommodate the elongated format and dual-dial layout of the Prince range. This movement offered a 42-hour power reserve and was highly regarded in its day for its accuracy, making the Prince watches ideal for professionals, particularly doctors. The 1343 featured the signature Prince configuration: hours and minutes displayed in the upper half of the dial and a large sub-seconds register in the lower half. Dial designs typically employed two-tone finishes with Art Deco numerals or markers and railroad-style minute tracks. The 1343’s stepped bezel and crisp rectangular lines made it both visually striking and ergonomic. Today, the reference remains highly collectible as a representative of Rolex’s early horological achievements and its transition from pocket to wristwatches.