Second Batch · Prisoner of War
Early Chronographs (pre-Daytona) POW 3525 — Second Batch · Prisoner of War
c. 1942
Black gilt-print dials with radium hands, ordered by Allied officers in German camps on Rolex’s pay-after-the-war terms. Documented serials cluster within 80 numbers: 186'045 (Lt. John F. Williams), 186'052 (Flt. Lt. Gerald Imeson) and 186'124 (Wg. Cdr. Douglas Dickins), probably all delivered to Stalag Luft III.
Identifying details
- Chronograph
Stopwatch function with registers.
- “Monoblocco” case
Case and bezel machined from one block of metal, closed only by a screw-down back.
Variants of 3525
Reference overview →| Variant | Production |
|---|---|
| First Batch | 1939 |
| Second Batch | c. 1942 |
| Second Batch · Prisoner of WarCurrent | c. 1942 |
| Third (Post-War) Batch | c. 1945–? |
Case & movement
- Reference
- 3525
- Production
- c. 1942
- Case serials
- c. 186,045–186,124
- Case diameter
- 35 mm
- Movement
- Manual winding
- Date
- No
- Caliber
- Valjoux 23
Dial, bezel & hands
- Dial finish
- Gilt
Movement
Valjoux 23
13-ligne hand-wound column-wheel chronograph, the two-register base of Rolex’s early chronographs including the 3484, 3525 and 4500.
Read more
- On the Block: Rolex “Monoblocco” Chronograph Used in Planning the Real-Life Great EscapeRead more at HODINKEE (opens in a new tab)
- The Story Of RAF Wing Commander Douglas S. Dickins And His Rolex Chronograph 'POW'Read more at Phillips (opens in a new tab)
- Found: A Magnificent World War II Rolex 3525 And The Story Of The RAF Officer Who Wore ItRead more at HODINKEE (opens in a new tab)