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Rotary RGS10081/04 1895 Automatic Black Leather Strap Watch - W13329
Ref. RGS10081/04
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Rotary's 1895 line draws on the company's late-Victorian archive, and this reissue is notably faithful to that source — the crosshair dial layout in particular is lifted almost directly from the period, giving the black face a structural calm that most modern dials do not attempt. At 49.5mm lug-to-lug, it sits with the easy, slightly loose presence that vintage proportions tend to produce on the wrist. The domed mineral glass is doing more work than it might appear to: the curve introduces a faint, shifting distortion across the dial that reads quite differently from flat crystal, and catches light at angles that make the watch feel considered in a way the price bracket does not always deliver. Lift the caseback and the Miyota 8215 is visible — a solid, unfussy movement that winds reliably and keeps good time, without any pretension to being a showcase piece.
- Reference
- RGS10081/04
- Brand
- Rotary
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Mineral
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- Miyota 8215
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- 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.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,847), Stainless Steel Watches (3,197), Automatic Watches (1,736), Leather Strap Watches (1,049), Dress Watches (546) and Automatic Watches Under £500 (352).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
Rotary RGS10081/04 1895 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | RGS10081/04 | 96A243 | RA-AC0F05B30B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £189 | £199 | £185 |
| Case size | 40mm | 40mm | 41.6mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 30m | 50m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | — | 42 hours | 40 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.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
It can, over time. Mineral glass handles daily wear but will pick up fine scratches that sapphire would not.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
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.
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