Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1942 Reference No: 4048 Case No: 206'407 Model Name: “Barilotto” Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. VZH13, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex pin buckle Dimensions: 35.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and pin buckle signed
Catalogue Essay
This remarkable reference 4048 is an incredibly unusual specimen. It is understood that reference 4048 was exclusively cased in stainless steel. Research indicates that less than 100 examples of this attractive landmark model have been produced. It was Rolex's first "Oyster" chronograph to feature three subsidiary registers.
This watch most notably displays the signature "Dobbies Ltd." on the dial below 12 o'clock. A jeweler and watch retailer, Dobbies in Nairobi, Kenya has stamped its name on a highly limited number of watches, making the present example extremely rare.
The case is preserved in remarkable condition with a crisp milled edge and sharp numbers punched on the case back. A simple polishing would have dulled the edges, yet this case remains crisp and defined. This watch even retains its original Oyster Patent crown - a feature that many existing examples do not have anymore. The dial does not display any signs of restoration, and has aged with warm patina, giving the watch a lot of character.
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.