Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, May 08, 2010

LOT 294

Rolex Chuck Yaeger Ref. 16710 Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual Date, Chuck Jaeger, GMT Master II, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, The Real McCoy?s? case No. P289504, Ref. 16710. Retailed by The Real McCoy?s, sold on May 30th, 2001. Fine and very rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, two time zone, stainless steel wristwatch with special 24-hour bezel and hand, independently adjustable 12-hour hand and a stainless steel Oysterlock bracelet. Accompanied by fitted box and The Real McCoy?s guarantee of Authenticity.

CHF 15,000 - 20,000

USD 14,000 - 19,000 / EUR 10,000 - 14,000

Sold: CHF 16,200

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, graduated bi-directional revolving steel bezel with red and black insert for the second time zone in 24 hours, sapphire crystal with cyclops lens, case back engraved with ?General Chuck Yaeger, The Real McCoy?s? and a P-51 and X-1 logo. D. Black with applied luminous steel triangular, round and baton indexes, outer minute divisions, aperture for the date, ?Chuck Yaeger? written in red. Luminous steel skeleton hands. M. Cal. 3185, rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 31 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 12 mm. Approx. overall length 180 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager (born February 13, 1923) is a retired major general of the United States Air Force and a well known test pilot. He is considered to be the first pilot to break the sound barrier on October 14, 1947 flying the experimental Bell X-1 at Mach 1 at an altitude of 13,700 m (45,000 ft). Yeager was promoted to major general on the Air Force's retired list 20 years later for his military achievements. During this test the pilot had a Rolex Oyster Perpetual in stainless steel. In 1997 the Real McCoy?s, a Japanese firm specializing in commercializing pilot articles decided to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this flight by personalizing a Rolex ?GMT-MASTER? with a special dial and dedicated case back. Only a limited number of Ref. 16700 and Ref. 16710 are known on the market, making the present lot a very collectible item for all Rolex and aviation enthusiasts.