56
Rolex
Ref. 8717
An elegant and attractive yellow gold wristwatch
- Estimate
- CHF4,000 - 6,000€3,700 - 5,500$4,100 - 6,200
CHF6,875
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- 1953
- Reference No
- 8717
- Movement No
- E90'779 and 17'585
- Case No
- 931'593 inside case back 588
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 10.5''', 18 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Gold plated pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 36mm. Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial and movement signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Whereas today Rolex is associated with masculine sports watches with robust Oyster cases and rather massive associated bracelets, we should not forget that the famous Geneva marque has a distinguished history also in elegant dress watches of which the present reference 8717 is a superb example. Featuring a rare, oversized yellow gold stepped case with elongated lugs, it is fitted with a beautifully aged ivory dial with faceted diamond-shaped and dagger indexes. Together with its timeless faceted dauphine hands and curved crystal, this Rolex 8717 is a potent dress watch with inimitable charm and cachet that easily competes in terms of sophistication with the watches of the other two great Geneva brands - Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin - for which the production of such elegant watches are famously known.
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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