Rolex - The 2021 New York Watch Auction New York Saturday, December 11, 2021 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 2003
    Reference No: 16610LV
    Case No: F391977
    Model Name: Submariner, Kermit Flat Four
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3135, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 170mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp, stamped 93250 and CL5
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex Guarantee stamped Harts Jlrs, green leather Rolex presentation box, numbered green hang tag, red hang tag, anchor, green leather pouch with product literature, and outer packaging

  • Catalogue Essay

    Collectors have long cherished Rolex tool watches for their masculine sporty appeal, and durability with the Submariner model one of the most sought after today. First introduced in 1954 with the references 6200 and 6204, the Submariner has undergone changes from the addition of a date window in 1967 with the reference 1680, and more efficient calibres, to design changes with the addition of crown guards, however the overall DNA has remained over the last 67 years whether in a vintage 37mm or modern 41mm diameter case.

    In celebration of the Submariner’s 50th anniversary in 2003, Rolex for the first time released a new Submariner model with a bold and charismatic green bezel. It instantly became popular, and since then is now highly sought after. The new reference featured a black “maxi-dial”, referring to the large luminescent hour markers and an all new bezel color. It was this charismatic green bezel or “Lunette Verde” that added a new, eye-catching dimension. Nicknamed the “Kermit” by enthusiasts after the much-loved Muppet celebrity frog puppet, the green color was a logical choice for this edition. Green has a long tradition in Rolex’s history, with the brand’s use of green presentation boxes, green covered product literature, outer packaging, and marketing material spanning many decades. The earliest versions of the “Kermit”, like the present wristwatch, became known as the “Flat 4” due to the fat top found on the “40” numeral of the bezel.

    Presented in absolutely "new-old-stock" condition, this watch displays the original factory sticker on the caseback and retains its plastic protective case and bezel covers. This F series model is complete with accessories and the original guarantee, and is a modern reinterpretation of this beloved classic.

  • 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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Ref. 16610LV
An exceptional and like new stainless steel wristwatch with date and bracelet, accompanied by original guarantee, presentation box, and hang tags.

2003
40mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
$20,000 - 40,000 
CHF18,500-37,000
€17,800-35,500
HK$156,000-312,000

Sold for $47,880

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros

Head of Watches, Americas

+1 (212) 940-1293

WatchesNY@Phillips.com

 

The 2021 New York Watch Auction

New York Auction 11 - 12 December 2021