Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Hong Kong, Jun 08, 2008

LOT 115

Ref. 6556 Tru-Beat Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual, Tru-Beat, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified", case No. 453700, Ref. 6556. Made in 1959. Very fine and very rare, center-seconds, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with dead beat seconds and a stainless steel Oyster riveted bracelet.

HKD 110,000 - 140,000

USD 14,000 - 18,000 / EUR 9,000 - 11,000

Sold: HKD 186,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, curved lugs. D. Black with applied steel indexes, luminous dots, outer minute/seconds divisions. Luminous steel dauphine hands, red seconds hand. M. Cal. 1040, rhodium-plated, 25 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating blued steel Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Approx overall length 175 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 6556
This reference was produced predominantly in stainless steel, with very few examples in gold. The 1960 catalogue stated that the system would be replaced by the new reference 1020 but this never happened.
The interesting extra mechanism for the dead seconds is made of beryllium and feaures a lever that allows the seconds wheel to jump, therefore allowing the usual going seconds hand, with a beat of 18,000, to beat once per second