Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Nov 12, 2006

LOT 365

Ref. 3346, ?Zerograph? Rolex, ?Oyster, Zerograph?, case No. 146271, Ref. 3346. Made in the 1930s. Very fine and important, center seconds gentleman`s wristwatch with push-button fly-back chronograph.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

EUR 38,000 - 50,000 / USD 48,000 - 65,000

Sold: CHF 59,000

C. Two-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down back and crown, revolving bidirectional inward-tilting bezel graduated for 60 seconds, with red markers for the quarters, bezel rim with serrated edges. D. Matte silver with painted yellow dauphine numerals, outer black seconds track, outer red minutes division. Luminous blued steel ?skeleton? hands. M. Cal. 10 1/2''' hunter, rhodium-plated, 18 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Superbalance timed to 6 positions, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator, the single button on the 2 is for start-stop and return to zero functions of the chronograph. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 32 mm. Thickness 9.5 mm. Property of a Genevan Gentleman


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 4-8-10-01

Fair

Slightly scratched

Patinated

HANDS Original

Notes

The names ?Zerograph? and ?Centrograph? were both used for watches with identical functions and bearing either reference number 3346 (with calibrated bezel), or 3462 (with milled bezel). To our knowledge, this was an experimental watch, produced in only a very limited number of examples for a brief period of time. It was the first ?Oyster? chronograph. A similar wristwatch is published in ?Rolex, Collecting Modern and Vintage Wristwatches? by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Guido Mondani Editore, 2005, vol. II, p. 120.