Rolex. An attractive and very rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch

Reference 4242 is so elusive that until 2012 it was unknown to the auction market. It is an important piece of the puzzle of the evolution of Rolex waterproof timepieces, evolution that culminates in the familiar oyster case. The present model, while already with screw back and screw down crown, is still quite far away from the final oyster design, much closer instead to typical period designs.
On top of the historical interest of the model, this specific example shines for its remarkable condition, both of the dial and of the case as well.