100
Rolex
Ref. 3835
A very rare and fine yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with champagne dial and triple stepped lugs, retailed by Monetti
Full-Cataloguing
- Chronograph
- Features rare three-stepped lugs, giving a powerful Art Deco apperance
- Preserved in exceptional and original condition
- Retailed by Neapolitan retailer, Monetti
Please see the Archivio Pucci Papaleo digital archive record here.
Since its debut in the early 1940s, the Rolex Reference 3835 has remained an exceptionally rare timepiece, with only a handful of examples ever produced. While primarily crafted in pink gold, this particular model is a rare yellow gold variant featuring a striking champagne dial. Its distinctive triple-stepped lugs—reminiscent of the Chrysler Building’s iconic silhouette—exude a powerful Art Deco influence, lending the watch a sculptural, commanding presence.
It is believed that only a very small number of these non-Oyster antimagnetic reference 3835s were ever made, the yellow gold models apparently rarer than the pink gold models. Extremely few have appeared on the international auction market in the past 15 years. The present lot is most probably one of the best examples we have seen at international auction.
Because of this bold, geometric architecture, the case is incredibly vulnerable to over-polishing. The present example is superbly crisp and well preserved. The champagne dial beautifully complements the yellow gold case and the black printing boldly stands out. This example remains entirely crisp, showcasing sharp lines that suggest it was treasured rather than frequently worn. The beautiful champagne dial is in pristine condition and proudly bears the signature of the historic Neapolitan retailer, Monetti. Still in business today, Monetti in Naples is a historic watch retailer founded in 1904 by Guglielmo Monetti Senior.
Preserved in magnificent, original condition, this non-Oyster, antimagnetic chronograph stands out as a true connoisseur's dream, elevated by its charismatic, unblemished dial and prestigious double-signing.
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.