Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 16, 2014

LOT 189

ROLEX ROLEX REF 1831/1850 PLATINUM DAY DATE NO. 001/8 Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, Day-Date, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, No. 001, case No. 5055759, Rolex Ref 1831/1850. Made in 1977. Very fine and very rare, tonneau-shaped, center seconds, self - winding, water-resistant, platinum and diamonds wristwatch, day, date and a platinum Rolex bracelet with platinum double deployant clasp.

CHF 25,000 - 45,000

HKD 205,000 - 375,000 / USD 26,500 - 48,000

Sold: CHF 165,750

Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, screwed- down case back and crown, bezel set with diamonds, plastic crystal with Cyclops lens. Blue with 8 round and 2 baguette diamond indexes, outer minutes / seconds divisions, apertures for the day of the week and the date. White gold baton hands. Cal. 1566, rhodium-plated, 26 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.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2-9

Very good

Scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case, and movement signed. DIAM. 37 mm. THICKNESS 13 mm. Approx. overall length: 180 mm. Known to be produced in only 8 pieces, the elusive reference 1831 is the ultimate day-date produced in platinum on platinum bracelet in the massive heavy Oysterquartz case. According to our research it seems that these watches were ordered exclusively by the Shah of Iran to be gifted to dignitaries. Unseen and unknown to the market and being the first delivered of the series (No. 01), this is the fourth known of the eight to surface to the market (No. 02 serial 5086929 and No. 04 serial 5086931) and has a beautiful dark blue dial with diamond indexes (out of the four known, two had stella dials and two had dials with diamond markers). Worn only on a few very rare occasions and kept in excellent condition, it has been preserved in almost as new condition with all hallmarks and engravings crisp and deep. Weighing in at a massive perfect 300 gramms, there is no doubt that this watch will hold a coveted place within any serious Rolex collector's vault. For a similar example see Antiquorum Geneva, 17th March, 2013, lot 530.