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Lot 139
Rolex. A very fine, rare and large 18K pink gold automatic triple calendar wristwatch with moon phases
SIGNED ROLEX, PERPETUAL, PRECISION, REF. 8171, MOVEMENT NO. 10'469, CASE NO. 066, CIRCA 1950
Closed10 November 2014
Price Realised
CHF 149,000
More Information
Specialist note
With Rolex presentation box.
Rolex's celebrated reference 8171, affectionately called "Padellone" or "big pan" by collectors, together with reference 6062, the Oyster version with screw back, is the firm's only two models of a calendar wristwatch with the addition of the moon phase indication.
Reference 8171 was made in a small series in yellow or pink gold, stainless steel and rare examples in steel and gold, between 1949 and 1952. To the best of our knowledge only 350 were produced in pink gold and only 24 are identified back to the market.
The case is a three body with snap on back and bezel and the lugs were welded separately onto the case. The case maker was Favre-Perret located in La-Chaux-de-Fonds as indicated by the hallmark engraved inside the case back. In fact, the hammer is the equivalent of La-Chaux-de-Fonds and the number 115 of Favre-Perret.
The original MK I dial made by Stern Freres has perfectly survived over 60 years, further enhancing the overall appeal of this rare timepiece.
The combination of the full case, probably polished once in the past then worn regularly by the owner and the perfectly aged charismatic dial make this watch one of the rare opportunities for the Rolex connoisseur to add a trophy specimen to his collection.
This model is illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by J. Goldberger, pp. 76-78.
Rolex's celebrated reference 8171, affectionately called "Padellone" or "big pan" by collectors, together with reference 6062, the Oyster version with screw back, is the firm's only two models of a calendar wristwatch with the addition of the moon phase indication.
Reference 8171 was made in a small series in yellow or pink gold, stainless steel and rare examples in steel and gold, between 1949 and 1952. To the best of our knowledge only 350 were produced in pink gold and only 24 are identified back to the market.
The case is a three body with snap on back and bezel and the lugs were welded separately onto the case. The case maker was Favre-Perret located in La-Chaux-de-Fonds as indicated by the hallmark engraved inside the case back. In fact, the hammer is the equivalent of La-Chaux-de-Fonds and the number 115 of Favre-Perret.
The original MK I dial made by Stern Freres has perfectly survived over 60 years, further enhancing the overall appeal of this rare timepiece.
The combination of the full case, probably polished once in the past then worn regularly by the owner and the perfectly aged charismatic dial make this watch one of the rare opportunities for the Rolex connoisseur to add a trophy specimen to his collection.
This model is illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by J. Goldberger, pp. 76-78.