Live Auction 14715Important Watches
ROLEX. A VERY FINE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE, BRACELET AND LAPIS LAZULI DIAL
Lot 2428 THE PROPERTY OF A DISTINGUISHED SOUTH EAST ASIAN PRIVATE COLLECTOR

ROLEX. A VERY FINE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE, BRACELET AND LAPIS LAZULI DIAL

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, SUBMARINER, LAPIS SUB MODEL, REF. 16618, CASE NO. X706637, CIRCA 1991

Closed29 May 2017

Price Realised

HKD 400,000

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ROLEX. A VERY FINE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE, BRACELET AND LAPIS LAZULI DIAL
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, SUBMARINER, LAPIS SUB MODEL, REF. 16618, CASE NO. X706637, CIRCA 1991
MOVEMENT: Automatic, Cal. 3135, 31 jewels
DIAL: Lapis lazuli, dot and baton numerals, luminous accents, Mercedes hands, sweep centre seconds, window for magnified date
CASE: 18k gold, screw down back stamped 16610, screw down crown, rotating blue calibrated bezel, 40 mm. diam.
BRACELET/CLASP: 18k gold Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped 92908, deployant clasp stamped R 10, dive extension link, end links stamped 46 B, overall length approximately 185 mm.

Specialist note

Reference 16618, the all-gold Submariner, was launched in the mid-1980s, fitted with the calibre 3135 movement and quick-set calendar functions. The model was available with a variety of dial versions, the present lapis lazuli variant being amongst the rarest, due to the challenges in manufacturing stone dials and the short production run with examples only appearing in the E, X and N serial ranges.

The present example is in excellent condition and is one of only a few Submariners with lapis lazuli dials to ever come to market. It can rightly be considered one of the rarest and most beautiful trophies for collectors of Rolex sports watches.