Important Collectors Wristwatches, Po...

Geneva, Nov 14, 2009

LOT 272

Rolex Beta 21 Rolex, ?Quartz?, No. 183. Made in the 1970's. Very fine and exceptionally rare, heavy and large tonneaushaped, center seconds, 18K white gold quartz wristwatch with date and an integrated 18K white gold Rolex bracelet with concealed deployant clasp.

CHF 20,000 - 30,000

USD 20,000 - 30,000 / EUR 13,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 28,800

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, reeded bezel, geometrical- shaped hooded lugs, sapphire crystal with cyclops lens. D. Silvered with applied white gold baton indexes, outer 1/5th seconds/minute division, aperture for the date. White gold baton hands. M. Cal. Beta 21, 13 jewels, frequency of the quartz oscillator: 8192 Hz, reduced to 256 Hz by the frequency reducer. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 38.5 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Approx overall length 185 mm..


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Caliber Beta 21 In 1962 the Centre Electronique Horloger was founded by a group of 21 Swiss watchmakers, including Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Omega, Piaget and Patek Philippe, to develop an electronic movement for wristwatches. The result was the Beta 21, 29 x 24.3 mm, a 13 jewel, 8Khz quartz module first seen as a prototype in 1967. In 1968 a consortium of Swiss watch manufacturers was created to mass-produce the Beta 21, in a truly collaborative effort. The CEH designed the module and produced the integrated circuit, Ebauches SA (now ETA) manufactured themechanical parts of the movement as well as the quartz oscillator, and Omega produced the micro-motor driving the hands. The caliber was ready for production in 1969 and was presented at the 1970 Basel Fair.