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).