Rolex - Geneva Watch Auction: TWO Geneva Saturday, November 7, 2015 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1955
    Reference No: 4325
    Movement No: E90795
    Case No: 63'425
    Model Name: Chronomètre "Metropolitan"
    Material: 18k yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 700, 18 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18k yellow gold, max length 185mm.
    Clasp/Buckle: Folding clasp
    Dimensions: 35mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Provenance: Mondani Collection, Antiquorum, 14.5.06 Lot 100

  • Provenance

    Mondani Collection, Antiquorum, 14.5.06 Lot 100

  • Catalogue Essay

    The word "elegant" perfectly sums up the style and period of dress watches produced by Rolex in the 1950s.

    Rolex’s marketing literature at the time of this watch’s production called the reference 4325 the “Metropolitan” and stated that it was “the elegant businessman’s chronometer”

    This example has a beautiful champagne dial with stylistic silver printed Roman and baton numerals, creating an elegant aesthetic, and also showing the retailer's name of Ronchi, Milano.

    Ronchi of Milano opened in 1929 and they become a prestigious reference point for all watch lovers, always combining the passion for high level watchmaking with the love for fine timepieces. They are still an authorised retailer of Rolex watches.

  • 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

148

Ref. 4325
A very elegant and rare yellow gold wristwatch with champagne dial and gold bracelet, retailed by Ronchi Milano

1955
35mm. Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF10,000 - 15,000 

Sold for CHF13,750

Contact Specialist
Nathalie Monbaron
+41 22 317 81 83

Geneva Watch Auction: TWO

Geneva Auction 7 & 8 November 2015 6:30pm