Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1957 Reference No: 4325 Movement No: 13’833 Case No: 280’334 Model Name: Chronomètre "Metropolitan" Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 700, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K pink gold Gay Frères bracelet, max length 185mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold Gay Frères folding clasp Dimensions: 35mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed, bracelet signed Gay Frères
Catalogue Essay
A Rolex with a lean profile, straight lugs, fine engine-turned bezel cased in dashing splash of gold, this is the standard for gentlemen of the golden age of the 1950s. Marketed by Rolex as the Rolex Metropolitan, the reference 4325 is the benchmark for “the elegant businessman”. The present example is a remarkably handsome specimen of the model. Its wonderful state of preservation not only includes the crisp edges on the grooved bezel, the original engraved serial number and “MODELE DEPOSE” on the snap caseback still remains crisp which are often lost due to polishing, furthermore the hallmark on the lugs remains visible. The most jaw-dropping of all is its pink on pink configuration, cased in 18K pink gold the dial radiates a beautiful salmon dial with applied dotted indexes. Sized at 35mm, the present ref 4325 is paired with a matching gold Gay Frères bead of rice bracelet that elevate its style up a notch. Equally fitting for the gentleman suited up like Cary Grant or combed with a slick-back hair like Elvis Presley, this pink on pink Metropolitan is certainly one of the most attractive time-only wristwatch from the 50s. To our knowledge, no more than a handful of pink on pink examples have surfaced in the market making this present example a rare treat for vintage Rolex lovers.
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.