Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1950 Reference No: 4645 Movement No: N77’121 Case No: 668’250 Model Name: Perpetual "Cioccolatone" Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex pin buckle Dimensions: 30.5mm Width x 28.5mm Length Signed: Dial, case, movement and buckle signed
Catalogue Essay
Introduced in the 1940’s, it was nicknamed the “Cioccolatone” due to its case resembling very much like a block of chocolate. Encased in a square-shaped case, it was one of Rolex’s very few reference featuring a self-winding caliber that was not housed in an Oyster case. Fitted in the square-shaped stepped case with straight lugs is a brushed silvered dial with applied gold indexes with “12” in Arabic numeral and small center seconds.
The present example is presented in an attractive overall condition with a layer of patina on the case beautifully transmitting a vintage appeal to the present watch in 18K yellow gold.
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.