Hong Kong, Nov 26, 2022

LOT 484

ROLEX
REF. 8029, OVERSIZE, DOUBLE SECONDS (SUBSIDIARY AND CENTRAL), SILVER DIAL, CALIBRE WITH GOLD PATENTED AEGLER “SUPERBALANCE”; “PRECISION”; STAINLESS STEEL

HKD 120,000 - 240,000

EUR 15,300 - 30,500 / CHF 15,000 - 30,000 / USD 15,200 - 30,400

Sold: HKD 137,500

Stainless steel, manual-winding, “tonneau”-shaped, gentleman’s oversize wristwatch, snap-on case-back, silver colour dial with applied suspended Arabic numerals (2-4-6-8-10-12) and radial indexes, subsidiary seconds at 6 and centre-seconds.


Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-8-01

Very good

Slightly scratched

HANDS Original

Brand Rolex, Geneva

Model “Precision”

Reference 8029

Year circa 1950

Movement No. unnumbered

Case No. 714 191

Material stainless steel

Bracelet black leather Rolex strap

Buckle stainless steel Rolex buckle

Diameter 37.2 mm.

Caliber 10’’’ ½, gold patented Aegler “Superbalance”, 17 jewels

Signature dial, case and movement

Accessories copies of the invention patents

Notes

Rolex, Ref. 8029

Extremely rare version of Ref. 8029, an oversized wristwatch for its time (~ 37 / 38 mm.), which was normally produced with a central second. If Ref. 8029 is already a rare watch, this watch with the two types of seconds seems to be unique in the production of the Genevan manufacture “with the crown”.

A very fine example of Ref. 8089 “classic” (with centre-seconds) was recently sold by our house for a record price; see:
· Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, May 9, 2021, lot 148, sold for CHF 52 500.- (Estimate: CHF 20 000.- / 30 000.-).

It is interesting to note that on the example with two second hands presented here – and because of this horological complication – the word “Precision” is engraved on the dial at 12 o’clock and not at 6 o’clock.

Preserved in excellent condition, the Rolex crown and serial number can still be clearly seen on the case-back.

Comparable to the Omega wristwatch, Ref. 2545, nicknamed “Syncro Beat” (but here without the deadbeat function), these watches were often made as trial watches to test the precision of their movements (see: Omega, a Journey Through Time, p. 193).