Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: NINE Hong Kong Monday, November 25, 2019 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1961
    Reference No: 6558, inside caseback stamped 6556
    Movement No: N919’736
    Case No: 731’701
    Model Name: Oyster Perpetual Tru-Beat
    Material: Stainless Steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1040, 26 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex pin buckle
    Dimensions: 34mm Diameter
    Signed: Dial, case, movement and buckle signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    Unusual yet highly rare and appealing, it is uncommon for Rolex to be associated with the word complications. With an exception, Rolex launched the Oyster Perpetual Tru-Beat ref. 6556 in 1954 featuring “dead-beat” seconds allowing the seconds hand to “tick” per second instead of a smooth sweep. Developed and targeted to doctor’s, the “dead-beat” seconds allowed doctors to keep a more accurate pulse reading for patients. However, the reception of the Tru-Beat was also a dead beat as it was discouraged by collectors and the public due to its much degrading resemblance of a quartz watch. The caliber 1040 is what makes the present watch tick. Inspired and developed from the cal. 1030, the caliber 1040 was only featured for the reference 6556. The dead-beat seconds is achieved by featuring two gears attached on the seconds pinion with a spring in between. With the gears locked and unlocked by a pallet fork, the jump is achieved by reducing the five traditional sweeps into one big jump per second.

    The present example is an attractive example of a Rolex Tru-Beat ref. 6558 in stainless steel fitted with an extremely attractive “glossy” black lacquered dial. Furthermore, it is fitted with the correct caliber 1040. Presented in attractive overall condition, the present example with a rarely seen dial featuring red seconds hand is desirable.

  • 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.

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Σ903

Ref. 6558, inside caseback stamped 6556
A very fine and rare stainless steel wristwatch with dead-beat seconds and “glossy” black lacquered dial

Circa 1961
34mm Diameter
Dial, case, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
HK$155,000 - 235,000 
€17,700-26,800
$19,900-30,100

Sold for HK$212,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
thomasperazzi@phillips.com
+852 2318 2001

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: NINE

Hong Kong Auction 25-26 November 2019