Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE Hong Kong Monday, November 30, 2015 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1944
    Reference No: 3372
    Movement No: 3'219
    Case No: 301'690
    Model Name: 'Bubble back'
    Material: 18k pink gold and stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic
    Bracelet/Strap: Brown leather strap
    Dimensions: 32 mm. diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Provenance: Property from An Important Collector
    Literature: For another reference 3372, however in pink gold and two-tone dial, please see Rolex Collecting Modern and Vintage Wristwatches Volume II by Osvaldo Patrizzi, page 125.

  • Provenance

    Property from An Important Collector

  • Catalogue Essay

    Rolex first introduced the reference 3372 in 1940. It featured a 'machined' bezel with double baton at 12 'clock, single baton at the other quarters and dots at every other hour. The case was constructed from three pieces that screwed together: the bezel, case and case back.

    The present watch is a terrific example of the reference 3372, which truly stands out with its incredibly crisp case, sharp milled band to the case back and original factory finishes to the 'machine' bezel, making us realize that it has never been polished.

    The dial perfectly matching the case in terms of condition, is finished with large luminous Arabic and baton numerals. The inner circle features the 24 hours and the hands, constructed from blued steel are filled with luminous material which perfectly matches the aging to the numerals.

  • 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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197

Ref. 3372
An exceptional and very rare pink gold and stainless steel wristwatch with 24 hours and two-tone dial

1944
32 mm. diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$80,000 - 120,000 

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