Rolex. A Stainless Steel Wristwatch with Wide-Stepped Bezel
Lot 61

Rolex. A Stainless Steel Wristwatch with Wide-Stepped Bezel

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER, ULTRA PRIMA, LIFESAVER MODEL, REF. 2849, CASE NO. 36'592, CIRCA 1940

Closed17 December 2013

Price Realised

USD 13,750

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Rolex. A Stainless Steel Wristwatch with Wide-Stepped Bezel
Signed Rolex, Oyster, Ultra Prima, Lifesaver Model, Ref. 2849, Case No. 36'592, Circa 1940
Mechanical jewelled movement, matte black dial, luminous inner circle and hour markers, outer minute divisions, subsidiary dial for constant seconds, circular water-resistant-type case, wide stepped bezel, screw back, case, dial, and movement signed
32.5mm diam.

Specialist note

Advertised as "Oyster de Luxe", reference 2849 is sometimes collectively known as "Lifesaver" for its close resemblance to the lifebelts found in the nautical world.

At the time the model went into production, men's watches were becoming larger, and the concept behind the design of the "Lifesaver" was an attempt by Rolex to emphasize the smallness of the watches rather than hide it, with wide bezel and a tiny dial. The model is also the first exaggerated style Rolex "Oyster".