The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wrist...

Geneva, May 14, 2006

LOT 152

Ref. 3525 ?Medical Chronograph? , So-Called ?Stainless Steel Monoblocco? Rolex, ?Oyster Chronograph, Antimagnetic?, Ref. 3525. Case No. 186090. Made in 1941. Very fine and exceptionally rare, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with black dial, round button chronograph, register, pulsometer and a stainless steel Rolex Oyster expanding bracelet. Accompanied by the original box.

CHF 100,000 - 150,000

EUR 65,000 - 100,000 / USD 80,000 - 120,000

Sold: CHF 368,900

C. Two-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown. D. Gloss black with luminous gilt-edged baton indexes and Arabic 6 and 12, outer gilt minute/seconds track, subsidiary seconds and 30-minute register dials, outermost gilt pulsometer scale. Luminous gilt "baton" hands. M. 13''', rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, selfcompensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial and movement signed Rolex, case signed Oyster Watch Co. Diam. 35 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-5-01

Good

Poor

HANDS Original

Notes

Reference 3525 was one of the first Oyster Chronograph references and was available in stainless steel as well as 18K pink and yellow gold. The condition of the present watch and the rarity of the black dial make it one of the best and most desirable watches of this reference to appear at auction in the last decade. When this watch first appeared In the early 1940s it cost 350 Swiss Francs in stainless steel, in 18K gold it cost 935 Swiss Francs. This watch is illustrated in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 2001 Edition, p. 420-421.