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

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1941
    Reference No: 1490
    Movement No: 1984
    Case No: 55'858
    Model Name: Prince
    Material: Stainless steel and pink gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 350 7 1/2''', 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Steel
    Dimensions: 42mm. Length, 24mm. Width
    Signed: Case, movement and dial signed. Case further stamped 58

  • Catalogue Essay

    Introduced in 1928, the stylish Art Deco Rolex Prince was known as the doctor’s watch on account of the additional seconds dial, ideal for measuring a patient’s pulse rate.
    This particular watch from the Reference 1490 series was also known as the ’Wide Brancard’, as it not only features the desirable ‘stretcher shaped’ borders to the two-tone dial, but also the more desirable, larger, flared case sides. In outstandingly crisp and throughout original condition, this example here also impresses its beholder with its wonderful play between the pink gold flares and the steel main body of the case, together with the pink three-tone dial finished with black hard enamel.

  • 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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241

Ref. 1490
A rare and very attractive rectangular-shaped stainless steel and pink gold doctor's wristwatch with two-tone pink dial

1941
42mm. Length, 24mm. Width
Case, movement and dial signed. Case further stamped 58

Estimate
CHF15,000 - 25,000 

Sold for CHF26,250

Contact Specialist
Nathalie Monbaron
+41 22 317 81 83

Geneva Watch Auction: TWO

Geneva Auction 7 & 8 November 2015 6:30pm