Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV Geneva Friday, November 5, 2021 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 2003
    Reference No: 16610LV
    Movement No: 39'964'623
    Case No: Y962987
    Model Name: Submariner, "Kermit Flat Four"
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3135, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster extendable bracelet stamped "93250" and "AD 93250" to the endlinks, max length 195mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped "AD 8" and "93250"
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex punched Guarantee stamped by Hong Kong retailer "Chow Sang Sang Jewellery Co. Ltd." and dated November 28, 2003, 2004/2005 calendar card, green document holder, green wooden box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    To celebrate the Submariner’s 50th anniversary in 2003, Rolex for the first time released a new Submariner model with a bold and charismatic green bezel, which became instantly popular among collectors worldwide. While the reference is discontinued today, it still enjoys enormous popularity among collectors' circles.

    Preserved in astounding condition, the watch spent very little time on the wrist, but its most notable feature is the "flat four" bezel, which can only be found on earliest generation reference 16610LVs and is recognised by the top of the number “40” on the bezel which is markedly wider (“flatter”) than later iterations. Due to its rarity, this variant is particularly popular among collectors today.

    The present example is furthermore offered with its original guarantee and box, classifying this as a highly collectible piece to treasure for generations.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    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.

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Ref. 16610LV
An early and very desirable stainless steel automatic diver's wristwatch with center seconds, date, green "Flat Four" revolving bezel, bracelet, guarantee and box

2003
40mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
CHF15,000 - 25,000 
€14,000-23,300
$16,200-27,100

Sold for CHF47,880

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East Director
AGhotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV

Geneva Auction 5 & 7 November 2021