Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE Hong Kong Monday, November 30, 2015 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1990
    Reference No: 16238
    Movement No: 5'449'465
    Case No: L793327
    Model Name: DateJust
    Material: 18k yellow gold and malachite
    Calibre: Automatic, 3135, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Brown leather strap
    Clasp/Buckle: 18k yellow gold Rolex buckle
    Dimensions: 36 mm. diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    Hardstone dials were named by Rolex "special dials" and were manufactured in very small numbers and were not even listed in their "master catalogue". Dials made from ferrite, howlite, aventurine, diaspore, onyx, lapis lazuli, mother of pearl, pink coral, tiger's eye and malachite were fitted to Day-Date and DateJust models. There were many hard stones used however it is impossible to list them all.

    This reference 16238 dazzles with its exceptional quality, malachite hardstone dial with gold graphics, gold frame fitted around the date, its overall unpolished case and exceptionally crisp numbers between the lugs. It is not known how many Date-Justs were manufactured with malachite dials but what is known is that they seldom come to market.

  • 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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Σ147

Ref. 16238
A fine and very rare yellow gold wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date and malachite hardstone dial

1990
36 mm. diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$70,000 - 90,000 

Sold for HK$125,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
thomasperazzi@phillips.com

Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
ziyongho@phillips.com

Jill Chen
Specialist
+852 2318 2033
jillchen@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE

Hong Kong Auction 1 December 2015 11am