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Rolex
Ref. 3335
An exceptionally well-preserved and large pink gold chronograph wristwatch with pink dial, retailed by Monetti
Full-Cataloguing
- Chronograph with three counters
- Very low production numbers and one of largest chronographs made by Rolex
- Preserved in exceptional condition with beautiful pink dial
- Retailed by Monetti
Please see the Archivio Pucci Papaleo digital archive record here.
Since its founding in 1905, Rolex has consistently demonstrated an avant-garde approach to watchmaking, creating designs that have not only stood the test of time but, in many respects, have remained remarkably ahead of their era. Decades after their creation, these timepieces continue to feel as relevant and compelling today as they did when they were first produced.
The Rolex references 3330 and 3335 chronographs, manufactured in the early 1940s, are exemplary of the brand’s exceptional design ingenuity. One of the largest vintage Rolex chronographs and produced in limited numbers and distinguished by their generously proportioned cases and striking aesthetics, these rare chronographs are today regarded among the most desirable vintage chronograph models ever created by Rolex. While reference 3330 is distinguished by its flat bezel, reference 3335 (the present watch) is distinguished by its concave bezel. in both references, steel examples have curved lugs, and gold examples have angled lugs.
Recognizable by its over-sized twelve-hour register, a feature that was not available from other distinguished firms, and its well-proportioned case, only a handful of reference 3335s have appeared at auction in the past 15 years, underscoring this model’s utter exclusivity. The case most notably features angled lugs - the model responds particularly badly to polishing, as even the lightest intervention dulls its sharp angles.
At first glance, one cannot help but marvel at the extraordinary condition of the case. It is, in our opinion, among the few examples to have remained in unpolished condition today. Featuring an incredibly sharp hallmark beneath the lug, it also displays extraordinary bevels on the case. The pink dial is also impressive, with barely any signs of ageing and crisp graphics. It displays the retailer name Monetti. Monetti is one of Naples’ historic names in fine watchmaking and jewellery, with a history dating back to 1904. The company was founded by Guglielmo Monetti Senior, a watch enthusiast and technically trained craftsman. The original shop opened at Via Santa Brigida 60, which remains the historic home of the business
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.