Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1955 Reference No: 6034 Case No: 92’379 Model Name: Oyster Chronograph Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 72, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Period 14K pink gold bracelet, max overall length 165mm Clasp/Buckle: 14K pink gold Rolex clasp, stamped 8BK Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
Catalogue Essay
The reference 6034 was released by Rolex in 1950 as the successor to the reference 4537 and only produced for approximately five years. The two-body case featured a polished bezel with round chronograph pushers and housed the reliable, manually wound caliber 72.
The present, extremely rare reference 6034 chronograph in 18 karat pink gold is offered for the first time at auction by the family of the original owner. A medical doctor, he was head of Neurology at the largest hospital in Caracas Venezuela, as well as a professor at Central University of Venezuela. Clearly cherished by the owner and his descendants, the watch is beautifully preserved, having in our opinion, never been polished. The gold case has formed a delightful purple tarnish, retaining its factory proportions and extremely crisp hallmarks on its case back. The dial is original and nicely aged with its original luminous hour markers and hands that have aged to a light brownish hue. The original owner would later purchase a matching bracelet in 14 karat rose gold, as recalled by the family, which features a Rolex clasp – most likely locally produced under license by Rolex.
While already incredibly rare in stainless steel, examples in rose gold such as the present watch are far and few in between. The present watch in this configuration is an exceedingly rare example with only a few examples with the current dial configuration having appeared on the auction market.
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.
