Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1953 Reference No: 6102 Movement No: 96'770 and F84'351 Case No: 902'588 Model Name: Oyster Perpetual "Bombé" Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 645, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: Yellow gold Rolex pin buckle Dimensions: 32.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed.
Catalogue Essay
During the late 1940s and 1950s, Rolex along with other celebrated Geneva watchmakers, such as Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin to name a few, would offer their most important customers their most exclusive watches. In certain instances, these watches would have translucent or cloisonné enamel dials depicting different themes, typically featuring maps of various parts of the world, or mythical creatures.
The present Rolex reference 6102, also referred to as the “Bombé”, was made in 1953, and impresses with its richly shimmering dial of sapphire blue. Renowned Genevan dial maker, Stern Frères, made stunning dials such as these and each one is designated with its own code. The first number would be the company, which in this instance is Rolex, followed by a star for the dial maker, Stern. The final part of the code is the actual job number, which is specific to each dial. The job number helps us to figure out how many of each dial was made, along with the designated name of the dial decoration.
Along the outer rim of the enamel dial is a minute track made of hand engraved "pearls". The dial is graced with beautiful faceted hour markers and gilt writing. After surviving more than 70 years, this watch is presented in wonderful condition and is a superb gem for collectors.
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.
