Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 13, 2016

LOT 138

ROLEX REF 1807 RED STELLA DIAMOND DIAL GIVEN BY THE SHAH OF IRAN TO GEORGE PAPADOPOULOS PINK GOLD Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, Day-Date, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified", case No. 722847, Ref. 1807/1803. Made in 1961. Very fine, rare and historically important, tonneau-shaped, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K pink gold wristwatch with day and date and bark-finished bezel with an 18k pink gold Rolex bark-finish bracelet with deployant buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box and 2 letters from Rolex Greece.

CHF 15,000 - 20,000

HKD 120,000 - 160,000 / USD 15,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 45,000

Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, bark-finished bezel, screwed down case back with dedication inscription "This watch was presented to G. Papadopoulos by Shah of Iran April 21, 1967" and crown, crystal with Cyclops lens. Red with applied yellow gold baton indexes and luminous dots, outer minutes/seconds divisions, apertures for the day and date. Luminous yellow gold baton hands. Cal.1555, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 26 jewels, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and five positions, straight line lever escapement, shock-absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance-spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 36 mm. THICKNESS 12 mm. Approx. overall length 195 mm. This rare and historical Day-Date was given by the Shah of Iran to the Greek dictator in honor of his coup d'etat on April 21st, 1967. GEORGIOS PAPADOPOULOS then led the country from 1967 until 1974. The watch was donated to his wife who then later sold it to the current owner who was his neighbor in Athens. It has remained in his possession since. While he was researching the watch, he sent it to ROLEX Geneva through the branch in Athens and they were able to confirm the serial number (last numbers partially erased but confirmed in writing as 722847) and also confirmed as pink gold. Not only is it the chance to acquire a historically important Day-Date but a rare pink gold red-dialed STELLA REF. 1807.