Rolex Prince 1490

The Rolex Prince ref. 1490, introduced in the early 1930s, is one of the rarest and most elegant executions of the Rolex Prince line. It is especially distinguished by its curved tonneau-shaped case, setting it apart from the more commonly rectangular Prince references. Crafted primarily in 18k yellow or rose gold, the case measured approximately 28 mm wide and 43 mm long, designed to sit comfortably on the wrist with a subtle contour. The watch is powered by the Rolex Caliber 300, a manually wound movement celebrated for its high precision and long power reserve of about 42 hours. The dial typically featured a two-tone design with a clear separation between the main time display and a large subsidiary seconds register at 6 o’clock, often flanked by a railway minute track and stylized numerals. As part of the Rolex Prince family, the 1490 was targeted at professionals and individuals who valued technical excellence and aesthetic sophistication. Today, the 1490 is extremely scarce and highly collectible, representing one of the most graceful and technically impressive wristwatches from Rolex’s pre-Oyster period.