29
Rolex
Ref. 6098
Oyster Perpetual Ovettone "Stelline"
A fresh-to-the-market and extremely rare yellow gold wristwatch with “star dial” and associated 14K yellow gold bracelet
Full-Cataloguing
• Extremely rare with “grené” dial with coveted star hour markers and rose gilt movement
• Excellent overall condition
• Fresh to the market from the Estate of Edwin R. Carseth
The present reference 6098 with cream-colored “grené" (or grained) dial and delightful, luminous star-shaped hour markers is fresh-to-the market and preserved in outstanding condition, with the dial impeccably preserved. Rolex adorned very rare versions of their watches with star-shaped hour makers – only five references (6024, 6062, 6088, 6098, and 6090) - beginning in 1946 but mostly 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 special timepieces.
It was originally owned by Edwin R. Carseth (1919-2009), a Northwestern University graduate and member of the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four Bronze Service Stars, American Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. His service was in China, Burma, and India theater of operations flying B25s, C46s, and C47s. Carseth was based in Burma and carried supplies across the Himalayan Mountains to China. Post war, he not only taught flight instruction, but he also started the Aviation Division of Outboard Marine Corp and worked as their chief pilot for 38 years.
It is interesting to note a similar 6098 with “waffle” dial was sold by Phillips on June 12, 2022 with the case number 911’992, only two digits away from this example. Fitted with a superb 14 karat gold bracelet by the original owner, its clasp is stamped ‘C+B’. This extremely rare, all original, and beautifully preserved example is a pure expression of horology and a wonderful wearable watch that will delight all collectors.
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.