Here we have an eye-catching 1979 Roy King Bangle watch. It has a 925 Sterling Silver case with the original silver bangle bracelet. It showcases the best of his design, with the smooth stepped case design, clear feature hallmarking and silver bangle bracelet which has the belt buckle style fastening. It has the clean and classic white dial with the Roman numeral hour markers and the Roy King signing. The hands are of plume style with the black painted finish to match the hour markers. To the right is the coin edge crown set with the Roy King logo. To the rear the hallmarking is bold and clear, an eye-catching feature. The movement is a 17 jewel FHF manual wind calibre, which is shock-protected and keeping reliable time.
It comes with its original inner and outer box, with the signed paperwork. It is uncommon to come across a full set Roy King!
Dress pieces from the 70s and 80s are currently very popular with collectors and it is easy to see why. Examples such as this highlight the quality and craftsmanship associated with the pieces, with the mastery of precious metal cases. The way in which the bracelets integrate into the design of the case, create a luxurious harmony of timekeeping and jewellery.
The dial is a clean and classic design, very much in the Cartier vein of styling. It has the gloss white base tone and the exaggerated roman numerals in a black tone, with the rectangular railroad track for the minutes. It has the stylised ‘Roy King’ logo below 12 O’clock. The hands are simple and elegant, of Plume style in a black painted tone to match the numerals.
The case measures 34.25mm wide with a length of 31.2mm. This makes it a well proportioned unisex wear, equally at home on a gents or ladies wrist. It has a slim depth of 7.5mm which makes it a comfortable wear on the wrist. The lug width of just under 20mm gives the watch further presence, with the seamless design of the bangle.
It is a rounded rectangle with the smooth double stepped design. It is a single piece case with the press fit crystal to the front. To the right is the original coin edge crown with the Roy King logo crown, uncommon to see. The rear has the classic bold hallmarking which was a key feature of Roy Kings design in the period. It has the original lightly brushed finish which has some wear.
The bracelet design follows that of the case with the two piece bangle form. It is marked with the silver hallmarking on each side, with the full hallmarking on the flexible belt style clasp. The clasp is shaped like a belt buckle, with the belt section feeding through and the tang snapping the pieces together firmly. It has a good size to it, fitting between a 6 and 7.5” wrist circumference.
Inside is the FHF calibre 69 manual wind movement. It has a jewel count of 17 and a semi hi-beat rate of 21,600 BPH. It is shock protected and is a good quality, reliable movement. It is keeping reliable time to within +20 seconds a day.
Roy King
Roy Cecil King was a leading British watch designer and jeweller with a wide range of high-end customers. His items were worn by Saudi princes and famous musicians such as the Beatles and Tom Jones.
In 1952 he produced five strawberry leaf tiaras for duchesses to wear at the Coronation. In the early 1950s, King began exporting his pieces to offset the effects of the huge 100 per cent tax on luxury goods in Britain.
He soon began to concentrate on watch manufacture, or, as he described it, “jewellery that tells the time”.
When restrictions on the import of Swiss watch movements were lifted in 1960, King decided to integrate these into his own designs. He realised that whoever the manufacturer might be people still wanted the Swiss Made signing. King signed an exclusive agency agreement with Bueche-Girod, which enabled him to focus on design.
In 1961, the Roy King workshop excelled at the British Modern Jewellery Exhibition, winning two first prizes, as well as one second and one third prize. The winning pieces are now in the permanent collection of Goldsmiths’ Hall.
The watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference. Full condition report below.
Dial: The dial is original and is in good condition. It has some light marking associated with age, but the overall tone is bright and even. The signing is good and clear.
Hands: The hands are original and are in good condition with the even tone and no bending.
Glass: The original acrylic crystal is fitted. It has some light marking associated with age and wear.
Crown: The crown is original and has wear to the plated finish.
Case: The case is in strong condition. It has some light marking and discolouration associated with age.
Caseback: The case back is in strong condition. It has some light markings associated with age and wear to the brushed finish in areas. The hallmarking is good and clear.
Bracelet: It comes on its original silver bracelet. It is decent condition for the age, with the hallmarking remaining clear. It has tarnishing associated with age and wear. The buckle has some marking associated with age. It will fit up to a 7.5” wrist circumference.
Movement: The movement is an FHF calibre 13-69. The service history is unknown, but it is in good running condition. It’s keeping time to within +20 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 300 degrees and a beat error of 0.2m/s.
Case Dimensions: Case width: 34.25mm Case width with crown: 35.75mm
Case length: 31.2mm Case depth: 7.3mm Lug width: 20mm