214
Rolex
Ref. 5018
"Bombé"
A highly rare and most beautiful stainless steel and diamond-set wristwatch with honeycomb dial, red chronometer rating and bombé lugs
- Estimate
- CHF15,000 - 25,000€12,900 - 21,400$15,900 - 26,500
CHF25,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1949
- Reference No
- 5018
- Movement No
- N84236
- Case No
- 608'645
- Model Name
- "Bombé"
- Material
- Stainless steel and diamonds
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 9 3/4'', 17 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 33mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
This medium-sized "Bombé" wristwatch is a superlative example, displaying all the features that make an outstanding timepiece.
Firstly, the watch is cased in steel, but features diamond-set numerals. Such watches are far and few in between, as Rolex hardly paired stainless steel with precious stones. In addition it features a honeycomb dial with luminous dots and hands, which have stood the test of time. All luminous dots remain intact and have aged consistently with the luminous on the hands. Rarer still is the presence of the word "Officially" printed in red script, while "Certified Chronometer" is rendered in black.
Adding even more flair is the bombé case, with the sculpted lugs giving the watch an incredible presence on the wrist. It even retains its original Rolex Oyster crown with the brevet logo in the center. These details come together, delighting the eye with its myriad of textures and patterns.
Firstly, the watch is cased in steel, but features diamond-set numerals. Such watches are far and few in between, as Rolex hardly paired stainless steel with precious stones. In addition it features a honeycomb dial with luminous dots and hands, which have stood the test of time. All luminous dots remain intact and have aged consistently with the luminous on the hands. Rarer still is the presence of the word "Officially" printed in red script, while "Certified Chronometer" is rendered in black.
Adding even more flair is the bombé case, with the sculpted lugs giving the watch an incredible presence on the wrist. It even retains its original Rolex Oyster crown with the brevet logo in the center. These details come together, delighting the eye with its myriad of textures and patterns.
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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