Important Collectors Wristwatches, Po...

Geneva, Nov 14, 2009

LOT 263

Ref. 3525, ?Monoblocco? Rolex, ?Oyster Chronographe, Antimagnetic?, case No. 150773, Ref. 3525. Made in the 1940's. Very fine and very rare, antimagnetic, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch, round button chronograph, register, tachometer, telemeter and a stainless steel Rolex buckle.

CHF 45,000 - 55,000

USD 45,000 - 55,000 / EUR 30,000 - 37,000

C. Two-body, polished and brushed, concave bezel, curved lugs, engraved screwed-down case back and crown. D. Matte silver with applied yellow gold baton indexes and Arabic numerals, inner minute/ seconds track, subsidiary seconds and 30-minute register dials, outer telemeter scale, outermost tachometer scale. Yellow gold baton hands. M. 13''', rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, self compensating Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-7-03

Good

Oxidized

HANDS Period

Notes

Ref. 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 1935 Rolex catalogue (see illustration above), it cost 285 Swiss Francs in stainless steel; in 18K gold it cost 880 Swiss Francs.