Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong - Kong, Oct 09, 2010

LOT 343

Rolex Beta 21 Rolex, ?Quartz?, No. 226, inside case back No. J5100 and 139. Made in the 1970s. Very fine and rare, heavy and large, tonneau-shaped, center seconds, 18K yellow gold quartz wristwatch with date and an integrated 18K yellow gold Rolex bracelet with concealed deployant clasp.

HKD 55,000 - 75,000

USD 7,000 - 10,000 / EUR 5,500 - 7,500

Sold: HKD 85,000

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, reeded bezel, geometrical- shaped hooded lugs, sapphire crystal with cyclops lens. D. Champagne with applied yellow gold baton indexes, outer 1/5th seconds/minute divisions, aperture for the date. Yellow gold baton hands. M. Cal. RE10, based Beta 21, 13 jewels, frequency of the quartz oscillator: 8192 Hz, reduced to 256 Hz by the frequency reducer. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 38.5 x 40.5 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Approx overall length 175 mm..


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Caliber Beta 21 In 1962 a group of 21 Swiss watchmakers, including Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Omega, Piaget and Patek Philippe, founded the Centre Electronique Horloger to develop an electronic wristwatch movement. The prototype of the Beta 21, 29 x 24.3 mm, 13 jewel, 8Khz quartz module was developed in 1967. In 1968 a consortium of Swiss watch manufacturers was created to mass-produce the Beta 21. The CEH designed the module and made the integrated circuit, Ebauches SA (now ETA) manufactured themechanical parts of the movement and 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.