Live Auction 1398Important Watches
Rolex. A rare and attractive 18K gold wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date and lapis lazuli dial
Lot 148

Rolex. A rare and attractive 18K gold wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date and lapis lazuli dial

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, SUBMARINER, 1000FT=300M, SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED, REF. 16618, CASE NO. N269343, MANUFACTURED IN 1992

Closed11 November 2013

Price Realised

CHF 52,500

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Rolex. A rare and attractive 18K gold wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date and lapis lazuli dial
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, Submariner, 1000ft=300m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, Ref. 16618, case no. N269343, manufactured in 1992
Cal. 3135 automatic movement, 31 jewels, lapis lazuli dial, luminous dot, baton and dagger numerals with gold surround, luminous mercedes hands, sweep centre seconds, magnified window for date, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, rotating blue bezel calibrated for 60 units, screw back, screw down crown, gilt Rolex buckle, case, dial and movement signed
40 mm. diam.

Specialist note

The present Submariner with date is in excellent overall condition and comes adorned with an attractive and rare lapis lazuli dial. Reference 16618 belongs to the 16000 series of watches, which came out in the late 1980s and were equipped with the robust and very accurate calibre 3135. Replacing movement calibre 1575, the use of calibre 3035 marked a departure from previous automatic movements with an increase in beats per hour (BPH) from 19,800BPH to 28,800BPH.

Lapis lazuli is an attractive and deep blue gemstone, which has been cherished for centuries for its intense colour and is speckled with golden inclusions of pyrides that shimmer like stars in the night sky.