Property from an Important Private Collector
1058
Rolex
Ref. 1655
Seadweller
A fine and rare stainless steel wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, helium escape valve, thin case, bracelet and fitted presentation box
- Estimate
- HK$200,000 - 280,000€23,500 - 32,900$25,000 - 35,000
HK$275,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1971
- Reference No
- 1655
- Movement No
- D003389
- Case No
- 2'926'875
- Model Name
- Seadweller
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, 1570, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel <em>Rolex Oyster</em> bracelet, 185 mm. maximum length
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel <em>Rolex </em>twinlock folding deployant clasp
- Dimensions
- 39 mm. diameter
- Signed
- <em>Case, dial and movement signed </em>
- Accessories
- With <em>Rolex </em>product literature, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The present double red Seadweller is a highly charismatic example. The luminous dots and hands have aged to a beautiful ivory tone. The case of the present lot is known as the thin case as later generations were fitted with a larger, fatter case. It is interesting to note that the 2.9 million serial number would indicate a date of manufactured in 1971, however, on the inside of the case back, the watch is stamped for 1967. It is well known on the market that many of these early Seadwellers were fitted with case back in stock because a number of pieces are known with a similar serial number and a back from 1967. Consigned by an important private collector, this watch is a beautiful example.
Literature
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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