Rolex Prince Eaton Quarter Century watch

Rolex Prince made for Timothy Eaton department store in Canada. These watches were known as Quarter (1/4) Century Club watches and given as gifts to employees celebrating 25 years of employment with the company.
The men were offered a wrist or pocket watch, both made by Rolex, while the women were offered a gold Rolex cocktail watch or a diamond ring.
This watch is one of the first series of watches ordered by Eaton’s from Rolex, the flared case Rolex Prince model 1490.
The watch is modeled in 14 karat yellow gold and exhibits all the proper hallmarks and case stampings.
Inside the watch is powered by a 15 jewel Rolex calibre 300 that is timed and adjusted to 6 positions. The movement is also marked as a Chronometer and graded as an Extra Prima model within the Rolex hierarchy. This was the pinnacle of Rolex watchmaking at the time. The earliest Quarter Century Prince models were given out in the mid 1930’s and were the same model as this example a reference 1490. Some have speculated that Eatons purchased them in bulk orders and dispensed them as needed. Adding to that theory was the fact that as late as the 1950’s Eatons was still presenting Rolex Princes to their employees.
This watch was presented to W.A. Page in 1936.
This watch features the original silver plate dial with enamel pattern and lettering spelling out 1/4 CENTURY CLUB at the hour markers. This corporate arrangement is the only example of a re-branded Rolex Prince that is known to exist.
The watch has been serviced and is running flawlessly.
The yellow gold case measures 23 mm wide across the narrowest section and where the lugs flare, 26 mm. The case is an elongated 42 mm long. The case uses solid lugs bars and a brand new strap has been installed.