The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wrist...

Geneva, May 14, 2006

LOT 157

Ref. 6015, So-Called ?Ovetto Bubble-Back, Super Oyster Crown? Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual, Officially Certified Chronometer", with ?Super-Oyster? crown, Ref. 6015. Case No. 680473. Made in 1950. Very fine and unusual, center seconds, waterresistant, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with steel Rolex buckle.

CHF 4,000 - 6,000

EUR 2,500 - 4,000 / USD 3,000 - 4,700

Sold: CHF 6,136

C. Two-body, polished, stainless steel screwed-down case back, ?Super-Oyster? crown, engine-turned bezel with hour divisions. D. Matte silver with applied luminous tipped dart and luminous triangular indexes, outer minute/seconds divisions. Luminous steel ?Alpha? hands. M. Cal. 620, 9 3/4''' rhodium-plated, 15 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 32 mm. Thickness 13.5 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-6

Good

Slightly oxidized
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

Poor

HANDS Original

Notes

This type of case is called ?Bubble-Back? by English speaking collectors. The Italian collectors call the watch an ?ovetto? due to the olive like outline of the case. Ref. 6015 and 5015 are identical except that the 6015 has a ?Super-Oyster? crown and the 5015 (see lot 175) has a traditional Oyster crown. The caliber 620, was created in 1936 and was in regular production between 1940 and 1951. The ?Super-Oyster? winding crown was an attempt by Rolex to create a waterproof winding crown which did not need to be screwed down. The system itself worked, however in time the rubber seal perished and this crown type was phased out after only a few years of production. This watch is illustrated in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 2001 Edition, p 152.