Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1955 Reference No: 6285 Movement No: 95'566 Case No: 47'906 Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 9 3/4''', 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K pink gold Rolex brick link bracelet, max length 185mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold Rolex deployant clasp stamped 2.55 Dimensions: 34mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Catalogue Essay
Incredibly understated yet impossibly glamorous, the present watch is a sight to behold. This rarely-seen model, reference 6285, most notably features a threaded bezel which is preserved in excellent condition. Each vertical finish is present and defined. A crisp hallmark is present beneath the lug.
It furthermore displays a black lacquer dial that has aged gracefully over time, displaying barely any signs of aging. Particularly impressive are the round beads on the edge of the dial - each one is perfect and does not show signs of aging. The gold text shines through in almost relief, evoking the effect of the lacquer on beloved sports models.
The combination of pink gold case and black dial is very striking and arresting. As an even nicer touch, it's accompanied by a beautiful brick link bracelet stamped for 1955 - an incredibly rarity in its own right.
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.
