Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1949 Reference No: 5029 Movement No: G19331 Case No: 651'517 Model Name: Oyster Perpetual Material: 18k yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, Super Balance, 730 Bracelet/Strap: 18k yellow gold Rolex Oyster stretch bracelet Clasp/Buckle: Folded concealed clasp, stamped 4.51 Dimensions: 35mm. Diameter Signed:Movement, case and dial signed
Catalogue Essay
The present reference 5029 in yellow gold is one of the most attractive examples of this timeless classic of the late 1940s. The extremely well preserved case is in excellent overall condition with very sharp lines and still retaining its original finishing. The case is of masculine proportion and fitted with a screw back and enjoys popularity thanks to its diameter of 35 mm. The absolutely most striking element of this watch is however the dial. Its surface is finished with the highly sophisticated honeycomb technique. The applied hour markers are either faceted baton or (at 3, 6 and 9) Arabic numerals. The dial, a work of art, is in beautiful original condition. Presented with its period gold Oyster bracelet the present watch is a highly charismatic example presented in remarkable condition.
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.