Rolex Rebberg Jean Aegler age determination
Share
- “Rebberg” does not refer to a model, but to the movement (clockwork) that was used in early Rolex watches (approx. 1905–1930).
- It was manufactured by Aegler SA in Bienne, in the so-called “Rebberg factory” (named after the street name in the Biel vineyard district).
- These works were purchased by Hans Wilsdorf (Rolex founder) and mounted in cases bearing the signature “Rolex”.
Chronological classification of the Rolex-Rebberg works
| Period | Serial number/serial number (approximately) | Typical characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| 1905–1910 | < 200,000 | Early Aegler hand-wound movements, mostly signed W&D (Wilsdorf & Davis). |
| 1910–1914 | 200,000 – 300,000 | The first models were officially labelled as "Rolex"; many featured 15–17 rubies. |
| 1915–1920 | 300,000 – 500,000 | "Rebberg" caliber with bridge construction, often in silver cases |
| 1920–1925 | 500,000 – 700,000 | Gold and silver case, Rolex logo on movement and dial |
| 1925–1930 | 700,000 – 900,000 | Late Rebberg, transition to caliber 600/700, screw balance |
| After 1930 | > 900,000 | Successor movements already exist (e.g., caliber 620, 630, etc.), no more "Rebberg" models. |
Case numbers (additional)
Case numbers can be helpful, especially for precious metal cases (silver/gold):
| Case number (approx.) | Year of manufacture |
|---|---|
| 20,000 – 50,000 | 1905–1910 |
| 50,000 – 150,000 | 1910–1915 |
| 150,000 – 250,000 | 1915–1920 |
| 250,000 – 400,000 | 1920–1925 |
| 400,000 – 600,000 | 1925–1930 |
Jean Aegler and his wife founded a watchmaking company in 1878. From 1881 , it was based in Biel , Switzerland, and initially specialized in small ladies' watches with lever escapements . From around 1910, they also produced very high-quality wristwatch movements , also with lever escapements . When Aegler was still independent, Clock movements manufactured under the Rebberg Depose brand.
Hans Wilsdorf , the founder of Rolex , became aware of Aegler when he was looking for high-quality movements for the These were watches from his new brand. At that time, the company was already managed by Hermann Aegler.
From 1914 the company operated as "Aegler SA, Rolex Watch Company" and in 1929 became a member of the Alpina Gruen Gilde SA for a few years.
Hermann Aegler became a member of Rolex's board of directors after purchasing a large block of Rolex shares. Aegler's nephew , Emile Borer, became technical director in the mid-1920s, and as the advertising ties between the two companies grew ever closer, the Aegler/Borer family decided that Rolex would only buy movements from Bienne and the factory in Bienne would only sell movements to Rolex.
This arrangement continued without interruption and almost without exception, with the exception of Valjoux chronographs and the use of Zenith El Primero movements modified by Rolex, beginning with the Daytona Ref. 16520 and continuing until 2004.
Source: Watchwiki, AI
