Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1940 Reference No: 4051 Movement No: 1285 Case No: 052'652 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 10 1/2"H, 15 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex pin buckle Dimensions: 34mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Catalogue Essay
In a Rolex market dominated by professional watches (Daytona, Submariner, GMT…), it is a pleasant surprise to rediscover the mastery Rolex had, already in the first half of the past century, also on less specialized timepieces. The deceptively simple watch here offered is the perfect occasion to point out how much attention to detail - both in the design and in its execution - Rolex poured even in their early creations. In the present instance the case is a remarkable piece of design, characterized by the sculpted lugs and the alternation of satin finish on the band and side of the lugs with the polish finish of bezel and lugs’ top. The dial itself, well preserved, impresses with its vibrant pink tone, in stark contrast with the steel case, and it is embellished by the metallic-finished Roman and baton numerals. The name “Beyer Zürich” indicates how this timepiece was originally sold by one of the most important watch retailers in Switzerland, and adds an additional layer of appeal to this remarkable timepiece.
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.