Rolex. A very fine and unusual stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, bracelet and off-white dial
Lot 75

Rolex. A very fine and unusual stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, bracelet and off-white dial

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, EXPLORER, OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHONOMETER, REF. 6610, MOVEMENT NO. N892865, CASE NO. 359502, MANUFACTURED IN 1958

Closed13 May 2013

Price Realised

CHF 171,750

More Information

How to sell

Rolex. A very fine and unusual stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, bracelet and off-white dial
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, Explorer, Officially Certified Chonometer, ref. 6610, movement no. N892865, case no. 359502, manufactured in 1958
Cal. 1030 mechanical movement, 25 jewels, off-white dial, luminous baton, triangular and Arabic numerals, luminous mercedes hands, sweep centre seconds, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, screw down crown and screw back, stainless steel Rolex Oyster riveted bracelet with clasp stamped 1.60, case, dial and movement signed
36 mm. diam.

Specialist note

With fitted green Rolex presentation box.

Reference 6610 was launched in 1955 and fitted with calibre 1030 movement as well as the white printed centre seconds hand, typical for Rolex sports watches from the period. One of Rolex's most popular sports watches, the Explorer, is easily recognizable by its black dial with the luminous triangle at 12, luminous Arabic numerals for the other three quarters and luminous baton numerals for the remaining hours.

The present watch however is particularly unusual and rare as it is fitted with a highly attractive off-white dial and matching ivory-coloured luminous material to numerals and hands. This unusual dial was almost certainly made by special order.

A similar watch reference 1016 with off-white dial is described and illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 226 & 227.