162
Rolex
Ref. 6098
Oyster Perpetual Ovettone Stelline
A spectacular, extremely rare, and supremely elegant yellow gold wristwatch with star-set numerals
Full-Cataloguing
- One of a handful of known examples with star-set numerals
- Appears only for the second time on the market
- Preserved in extraordinary condition with beautiful cream honeycomb dial and extremely crisp case
During the 1950s, Rolex produced a variety of time-only wristwatches to cater to the tastes and whims of the period. Fitted with a rounded automatic movement, these watches featured a larger case diameter than the fashionable "bubble backs" of the 1930s and 1940s, giving them a greater presence on the wrist. Rolex arguably produced some of the most creative and attractive watches during the postwar period—while some were fitted with a honeycomb dial, others featured applied Arabic numerals and even cloisonné enamel works of art. The possibilities and combinations were endless.
Among those produced, one of the most exclusive and desirable variants of the time-only wristwatch featured a dial with eight faceted stars in lieu of numerals, such as the present watch. It is also known as the "Galaxy" from advertising of the period.
The present reference 6098, with cream “honeycomb” dial and delightful star-shaped hour markers, comes to the market for the second time only and is preserved in peerless condition, with the dial impeccably maintained and each dot of luminous material on the stars perfectly plump and intact. Rolex adorned very rare versions of their watches with tiny stars—only five references (6024, 6062, 6088, 6098, and 6090)—beginning in 1946, but most commonly in the years between 1950 and 1953. To further set this piece apart, the automatic caliber A260 is the special gilt, copper-colored movement that Rolex placed in only the most exceptional timepieces.
Sublime in so many ways, this example is one of the most exciting, striking, and beautiful time-only wristwatches that Rolex produced in the 1950s. Lovingly preserved in extraordinary condition since 1953, it offers everything that a collector could dream of acquiring.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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.