Rolex. A very rare self-winding water-resistant wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, bracelet and highly unusual dial, made for the German market

The present watch is a rare example of a reference 6202, fitted with a "civil-dial" with applied dagger numerals - a feature reserved to the very early examples of this model. Furthermore the chronometer designation is worded in German, reading "Amtlich geprüfter Chronometer", leading to the conclusion that this watch was destined for the German market.

Marketed as a "tool" watch, the Turn-O-Graph is commonly accepted as one of the "god-fathers" of all Rolex sports-watches to follow, most notably the Submariner and consequently the Sea Dweller.

The Turn-O-Graph was presented at the 1953 Basle fair, the year of manufacture of the present watch. The model was always fitted with a rotating bezel with five minute divisions, referred to as a "time-recording-rim" by Rolex. Designed to be used as a simplified chronograph version for timing events to up to an hour, it was promoted as being able to calculate the "Timing of a transatlantic telephone call, the rate of a machine, a patient's pulse, the speed of a train or the development of a film".

Despite the Turn-O-Graph's brilliant concept, the model was at the time not as successful as expected by Rolex, mainly due to the simultaneous in-house competition from the Submariner. Since only very examples were produced and even fewer have survived, the present watch and its unusual "civil dial" represents a rare opportunity for the avid collector.