Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 10, 2013

LOT 392

ROLEX REF. 216570 - 'WHO DARES WINS' - THE EXPLORER II STEEL SPECIAL EDITION FOR THE BRITISH 22ND SPECIAL AIR SERVICE - THE `SAS` - THE FIRST TO BE OFFERED AT AUCTION Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, Explorer II, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified, case No. G840678, Ref. 216570. Made as a special edition for the SAS, sold in December 2012. Fine and extremely rare, two-time-zone, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel Chronometer wristwatch with special 'SAS' caseback and case engraving, date, independently adjustable 12-hour hand and a stainless steel Rolex Fliplock bracelet with Easylink clasp. Accompanied by a Rolex fitted box, hang-tags, Guarantee (now void) and instruction manual.

CHF 20,000 - 40,000

HKD 165,000 - 330,000 / USD 21,000 - 43,000

Sold: CHF 35,000

Three-body, polished and brushed, the band engraved 'Who Dares Wins', special screw-down case back embossed with the SAS emblem and '22 Special Air Service', screw-down crown with crown guard, steel bezel graduated in 24 hours, sapphire crystal with cyclops lens. White with black-edged luminous round, baton and triangular indexes, outer minute divisions, aperture for the date. Large luminous black skeleton hands, 24-hour red arrow hand for the second time zone. Rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

DIAM. 42 mm. THICKNESS 12 mm. Approx. overall length 195 mm. Fully authorized by Rolex and entirely of Rolex manufacture, this watch is the only example of this highly exclusive edition so far to be seen publically, indeed until the present watch surfaced this year, this edition for the SAS was only rumoured to exist. It is not known exactly how many examples were made but it was only available to members of the elite regiment and Rolex confirm that the batch of watches was delivered to a British military base. The case back is dedicated with the regimentâ??s emblem and name and the side of the case engraved with the SAS motto â??Who Dares Winsâ??. In recent years Rolex have only sanctioned the issue of one other special edition - the Sea-Dweller â??Sommozzatoriâ?? for the Italian State Police diving unit of which 78 pieces were made. The SAS and Sommozzatori editions are therefore the rarest modern steel Rolexes produced and highly prized.