Preserved in spectacular condition, this early Datejust was retailed by the jeweler Joyeria Riviera. In business since 1943 and based in Havana, Cuba, the famous shop has had the privilege of stamping their name on vintage Rolex watches, ranging from Killys, to Datejusts and even early chronograph models. Early Datejusts most notably featured a reeded bezel and this timepiece is no exception.
This case is preserved in excellent condition. So pristine is this watch that the inside caseback does not display any service markings. Still retaining its original crown, this watch displays a crisp and legible hallmark beneath the lugs. The Jubilee bracelet is from the period and stamped for 1955. Displaying non luminous hands and non luminous hour marks, the dial is equally remarkable. It has taken on a light layer of patina over time, which gives the watch so much charm and charisma. The red Datejust accents and date wheel are characteristic of Datejusts from the 1950s and are correct for the serial number.
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.
