Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1953 Reference No: 6034 Case No: 907'496 Model Name: Oyster Chronographe Material: Stainless Steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 72, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Dimensions: 36mm. Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
The model Reference 6034 was only the second Oyster cased chronograph to be manufactured by Rolex during the earlier half of 1950s and the first of the highly coveted series of chronograph models beginning with the 6000 reference numbers.
The majority of the watches were cased in stainless steel or 18k gold, a small series in 14k gold, often with various dial configurations. One of the rarest configurations for the steel model featured both the colourful red and blue outer base and telemeter scales, as seen on this particular example. Furthermore, another unusual and desirable detail found on this watch is not only the early 'T Swiss T' text, but the added understated elegance of the steel hands with steel indexes which allows the red and blue scales to stand out compared with the gold hands more frequently seen on this model.
The fact that the dial is printed with “T SWISS T” denoting Tritium is interesting, as there is no sign of Tritium present. As the watch dates to 1953, and Tritium was only introduced in 1964, we believe this dial is most likely a Rolex service dial, made either for a 6034 or 6234. After 1964, dials were usually stamped “T SWISS T" and were manufactured without luminous dots. Only when the dial was handed out or mounted on the watch, the luminous material was applied, but as in this case, not so.
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.