Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI Hong Kong Saturday, November 28, 2020 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1997
    Reference No: 16700, repeated inside caseback
    Movement No: 7’912’299
    Case No: U453’541
    Model Name: GMT-Master “Chuck Yeager”
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3175, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “78790”, endlinks stamped “501,B”, max length 205mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “U4”
    Dimensions: 40mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by The Real McCoy’s Rolex Chuck Yeager guarantee dated 14th October 1997 stamped The Real McCoy’s, instruction manual, product literature, 1997 – 1998 calendar card, green card holder, green passport holder, hang tags, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The present Rolex GMT-Master ref. 16700 is an interesting one as it bears “Chuck Yeager” in red on the glossy black dial. Becoming the first man on the planet to break the speed of sound, Chuck Yeager and his jet Bell X-1 broke that record at the Mojave Desert on the 14th October 1947.

    Released as a limited edition of 50 examples, the present Rolex GMT-Master ref. 16700 was customized by Japanese firm, The Real McCoy’s in honor of celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Chuck Yeager’s outstanding achievement of being the first man to break the speed of sound. The dial features “Chuck Yeager” in red above “GMT-Master” and “The Real McCoy’s” in white under “Officially Certified”. Furthermore, the caseback has been engraved with a motif of the Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1 with its limited edition number underneath. Presented with its original guarantee from The Real McCoy’s, the present example numbered 21/50, is offered in attractive overall condition and is certainly one of the more interesting limited edition commemorative timepiece.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.

    One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.

    View More Works

862

Ref. 16700, repeated inside caseback
A fine and rare limited edition stainless steel dual-time wristwatch with center seconds, date, “Chuck Yeager” dial, guarantee and presentation box, numbered 21 of a limited edition of 50 pieces

Circa 1997
40mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$120,000 - 250,000 
€12,900-26,900
$15,400-32,100

Sold for HK$252,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi

Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001

WatchesHK@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI

Hong Kong Auction 29 November 2020