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Rotary RGS10001/04 Heritage Automatic Black Leather Strap Watch - W13284
Ref. RGS10001/04
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Stepping up in Rotary's range
Rotary has been making watches in Britain since 1895, and the Heritage Automatic draws on that long run of mid-century dress design — the proportions, the applied indices, the clean uncluttered dial — without reaching for nostalgia as a shortcut. The domed mineral crystal reinforces that quietly period feel, sitting slightly proud of the case in the way that defined the look long before flat sapphire became the default. The movement is a Miyota 8215, which is a sound and honest choice: self-winding, a 42-hour reserve, and reliable enough to run without much thought from the owner. At 14mm the case is not especially slim, but it wears comfortably under a shirt cuff and the 22mm leather strap — crocodile-grain embossed — beds in quickly and sits flat against the wrist in the way a good leather will.
- Reference
- RGS10001/04
- Brand
- Rotary
- Collection
- Heritage
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Mineral
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 8215
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Learn more about Rotary
Moise Dreyfuss started Rotary in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1895. Within a generation his sons Georges and Sylvain had opened a London office and begun exporting to Britain, which turned out to be the decision that defined the company: Britain became, and remains, Rotary's most important market.
The winged wheel logo arrived in 1925 and has barely changed since. It became familiar enough in British high streets that the brand is widely taken for British, despite the Swiss origin.
Rotary supplied watches to the British Army, and the wartime and post-war association gave it a foothold in a market where an affordable, dependable Swiss watch was exactly what most buyers wanted.
The family held the company for over a century, making it for a long time the oldest family-owned Swiss watchmaker still trading. Ownership passed to Hong Kong's Citychamp in 2014, and in February 2025 to the UK's Peers Hardy Group.
The modern range sits at the accessible end — quartz and automatic dress watches, divers and chronographs, with the Henley, Windsor and Legacy lines carrying the collection.
- 1895
- Founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds by Moise Dreyfuss.
- 1920s
- Georges and Sylvain Dreyfuss begin exporting to Britain.
- 1925
- The winged wheel logo is introduced.
- 2014
- Acquired by Citychamp after more than a century in family hands.
- 2025
- Bought by the UK's Peers Hardy Group.
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Rotary's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | RGS10001/04 |  16040-402 |  1710694 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £139 | £139 | £169 |
| Case size | 42mm | 40mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 50m | 50m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | — | — | 36 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Will the glass scratch?
It can, over time. Mineral glass handles daily wear but will pick up fine scratches that sapphire would not.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
F.Hinds is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are F.Hinds?
F.Hinds has been run by the same family since 1856 and is now in its fifth generation, with more than 115 shops across England and Wales. They are a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and an Authorised Diamond Dealer.
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