The Speedking is a fine, mid-sized Stainless Steel, manually wound, sweep second hand watch. This example was manufactured in 1968 and is a classic mid-sized Oyster, with a brushed sunburst silver dial with clean three-dimensional applied baton hour markers with Tritium lume plots. It has a 30mm Stainless Steel case to Oyster specification with screw down crown and coin edge screw case back. It has a brushed finish to the top of the case, with polished sides and a notched polished bezel holding the acrylic crystal. Between the lugs it is marked with the registered design 6430, with the serial number 5,313,XXX.
Inside the case is signed with the reference 6430, with the date code for 1968. The movement is a calibre 1225 which is manually wound, with shock proofing and a jewel count of 17. 
The watch comes on a 1978 17mm Steel Oyster bracelet ref 7835, with 551 end links and screw links. It has an extra link which means it will fit up to an 8" wrist circumfrence. 
 
This is a pleasing example with light wear. 
 
Subtle design touches add balance to the dial with the Rolex logo at 12 O’clock, countered by the differentiated 3, 6, 9 markers with the brushed face. 
 
The matching serial and clasp code to the in-between lug and the bracelet indicate they were replaced during a 1978 service with genuine parts. Note the inside of case mark is 1968. 
 
Model history:
The Rolex Speedking made its first appearance in the mid 1930s and brought with it a classic design that has remained relevant even with the passage of time. It was named after the ‘King of Speed’ Sir Malcolm Campbell, breaker of speed records and a Rolex fan to his core. In September 1935, he set a land speed record of over 300 MPH, while wearing his Rolex watch. As such, with its name and shock proof benefits, it was a popular watch with motor enthusiasts.
 
It was also a popular watch during the second world war with British pilots buying the watches due to the shock resistant properties. 
 
The Speedking is also well-known for its claim to fame as the ‘POW watch’. During the second world war, Rolex offered British prisoners of war in Germany the opportunity to purchase a Rolex watch to be delivered to their POW camp but could be paid for after the war finished. The Speedking was the most popular choice due to its relative affordability.
 
These two war related aspects were the reason why Rolex celebrated the success of its models during the war, and commemorated this with the introduction of the Air-King. Both were very closely related watches in terms of movements, dials and cases throughout the 50s and 60s.
 
The 1225 movement and earlier versions were based on the 10.5 half hunter movement by Aegler which is robust and reliable. 
 
The more compact case size of the Speedking has certainly prevented it becoming the recognised classic that some of the other models in this period have become. At 30mm, it is certainly more at home on a ladies wrist with today’s taste.
 
The model continued into the late 1970s, with some for sale in authenticated dealers as New Old Stock examples in the 1980s. 
 
Final thoughts:
We love this reference due to its compact case and effortlessly clean and balanced design. It makes it a pleasure to wear with its quiet, un-deniable quality. If you can get used to its size, it represents a classic Rolex model with an intriguing and reassuring history.
 
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
 
Dial: 
The silver tone dial has the brushed sunburst finish and is in very good original condition. It has the original lume plots on the hour markers. The applied markers and Cornet are good, as is the signing.
 
Hands: 
The hands are original of luminous index design, in a silver tone. They are in good condition with little signs of ageing. The lume in-fill is original. The central second hand is original and has corrosion spotting. 
 
Glass: 
The acrylic crystal is good condition, with some light surface scratches.
 
Crown: 
The Steel Rolex crown is original and in good condition, functioning as it should, screwing down well. The thread is good.
 
Case:
The case is formed of Stainless Steel and is in decent condition with light surface scratching. The brushed finish on the top is good, with polished finish to the sides. The lugs are well shaped with little signs of wear to the drilled lugs. The polished sides of the lugs have some dints visible in the images. The polished bezel is good, but has a more noticeable scratch at 1 O’clock.
 
Caseback:
The case back is stainless steel and is in good condition with the polished finish. The polished finishing has some light surface scratching. The coin edge is very good and sharp with no signs of poor opening attempts. 
 
Strap: 
The watch comes on a 1978 Stainless Steel screw link 17mm Oyster bracelet. The bracelet is in good condition, with tight links and no sag or wear. The finish has some light scratching. The clasp locks tightly. It has some light marking to the brushed finish. The Cornet is clear and defined.
 
Movement: 
The movement is a Rolex calibre 1225. It is a manual wind movement with sweep second hand. It has a jewel count of 17, a higher beat frequency of 21,600 BPH and a 58-hour power reserve. It has KIF-Ultraflex shock protection and Kif-Duofix escape wheel capping.
 
The movement service history is unknown, but it is in good condition cosmetically and is a good timekeeper. It’s keeping time to within -18 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 290 degrees and a beat error of 0.3m/s.
 
Case dimensions: 
Case width: 30.7mm
Case width with crown: 33.5mm 
Case length: 29mm 
Case length lug to lug: 37mm
Case Depth: 9mm
Lug width: 17mm