Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT Geneva Saturday, November 10, 2018 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1938
    Reference No: 2057
    Case No: 12'271
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Dimensions: 32mm Width
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    This cushion-shaped watch is an exceedingly rare specimen. Made for the French market, it not only features a single button chronograph function, but also displays a two-tone pulsations dial with Breguet numerals. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first of its kind to ever appear on the auction market, making this watch an incredibly rare example.

    A detail of particular note is the Rolex France symbol, which is still crisp and visible on the outside case back, as well as the French hallmark punched on the caseband. Furthermore, all the graphics are printed in French.

    The dial is particularly impressive, as is hardly displays any signs of tarnishing or spotting. Displaying a silvered and grené finish, the graphics are all legible and crisp, showing how little intervention it has seen throughout its lifetime.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    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.

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Ref. 2057
An extremely rare and attractive yellow gold cushion-shaped single button chronograph wristwatch with two-tone pulsations dial and Breguet numerals

Circa 1938
32mm Width
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF15,000 - 25,000 
€13,200-22,000
$15,400-25,600

Sold for CHF27,500

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Sale
+41 22 317 81 89
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT

Geneva Auction 10-11 November 2018