Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1946 Reference No: 4062 Case No: 569'335 and 418 Material: 18K pink gold and stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 23, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel buckle Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
Reference 4062 was produced from 1942 until approximately 1963. The model was cased in a variety of metals, ranging from yellow gold, pink gold, and stainless steel, as well as stainless steel and gold combinations. The reference sometimes features a ribbed band, giving the watch a very unusual appearance compared to its peers. Square pushers furthermore complement the thin and elegant case.
Preserved in particularly excellent condition, the present watch features a striking coin-edge finish to the case band. A slight polish would have instantly dulled the edges, attesting to its superior state of preservation. Furthermore, the case numbers and Rolex coronet on the case back are crisp and legible.
Hardly displaying any signs of tarnishing or spotting, the dial most notably displays French graphics - fitting, as the movement is signed "FAB SUISSE" indicating this watch was made to be exported.
Founded 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.