Rolex Prince Railway L 862

The Rolex Prince Railway ref. L 862 was produced in the early 1930s and is part of the historic Rolex Prince family, recognized for its rectangular form and dual-dial layout. This specific reference is often called the ‘Railway’ due to its bold, legible minute track that resembles the markings found on railway station clocks. The L 862 features a rectangular 28 mm x 42 mm case in either sterling silver or 18k gold, with a stepped bezel design and fixed lugs, paired with a manually wound Rolex Caliber 300. The movement was highly precise for its era, offering approximately a 42-hour power reserve and showcasing Rolex’s emphasis on chronometry. The dial includes a large central time display and an oversized sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock, designed to aid readability—particularly appreciated by professionals at the time. Dials were typically two-tone silver or champagne with applied baton or stylized Arabic numerals, depending on the production run. This model is now highly prized among vintage collectors due to its historical significance, iconic rectangular architecture, and association with Rolex’s early pursuit of technical innovation.