Before the Daytona was born, Rolex had a long history of crafting chronograph watches that laid the groundwork for this iconic collection. The early chronographs began with the release of the legendary reference 2508 in the mid-1930s, which featured a non-Oyster case. As Rolex experimented with waterproof Oyster cases starting in the late 1930s—while non-Oyster references were still in production—more models emerged, eventually leading to the adoption of Oyster cases across their entire lineup.

The current reference 3484 is one of the rare early non-Oyster models, produced from 1939 to 1949 and available in either stainless steel or gold. While most known examples feature a silvered dial, this particular lot is distinguished by a rare and unusual non-luminous gilt black dial without a tachymeter, which required a more complex galvanic process for its creation. A trained connoisseur might notice the “Erbe-Basel” signature below the Rolex name on the dial as this watch is one of the rarer examples retailed by this Swiss retailer in Basel, reflecting a long partnership with Rolex from the 1930s to the 1950s.

The Valjoux chronograph family is among the most significant series of chronograph movements, renowned for their reliability and production spanning over 60 years since the introduction of the first movement in 1914. Valjoux SA's true breakthrough occurred two years later, in 1916, with the launch of the manually wound Valjoux 23. This downsized 13 lignes chronograph movement featuring a column wheel and numerous upgrades and became the cornerstone of chronograph watchmaking and a defining element in horological history. Including this watch, it was widely adopted by numerous prestigious manufacturers and is integral to some of the most important watch references, including the Rolex Daytona, Heuer Carrera, and Patek Philippe's references 1518 and 2499.

The condition of the present watch is another aspect worthy of attention. To the best of our knowledge, this timepiece has not been polished, as evidenced by the crisp case and reference numbers on the caseback, which are particularly sensitive to wear and careless polishing. The dial is equally impressive, with all details well-preserved and clean, appearing as if it has been kept in a time capsule. Accompanied by a sought-after Gay Frères bracelet, this rare chronograph is highly desirable and should be a prized addition to any serious vintage Rolex collector's collection.