Rolex. A fine and very rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with black lacquer dial and bracelet
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Rolex. A fine and very rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with black lacquer dial and bracelet

SIGNED ROLEX, ANTI MAGNETIC, REF. 2811, CASE NO. 039702, CIRCA 1935

Details
Rolex. A fine and very rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with black lacquer dial and bracelet
Signed Rolex, Anti Magnetic, ref. 2811, case no. 039702, circa 1935
Cal. 13''' based on Valjoux 22 mechanical movement, 17 jewels, black lacquer dial, applied Arabic numerals, railway fifth of a second combined with Arabic five minutes divisions, telemetre scale, outer tachymetre scale graduated to 500 units per hour, two sunken engine-turned subsidiary dials for constant seconds and 30 minutes register, circular case, snap on back, associated stainless steel Gay Frères, deployant clasp, case, dial and movement signed
32.5 mm. diam.; overall length approx. 185 mm.
Special notice
On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 8% on both the premium as well as the hammer price.

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Lot Essay

Preserved in good and original overall condition, the present watch is fitted with an attractive black lacquer dial. This combination is probably the most sought-after version that a connoisseur could hope for. Reference 2811 was produced in gold and in stainless steel. The first generation, such as the present watch, features olive-shaped chronograph buttons, the second generation rectangular ones.
Reference 2811 is an exceedingly rare model from pre-war Rolex production. Since the beginning of this century only one other representative of the reference has been sold by Christies in May 2013 for 50'000 CHF. The present example is fitted with a stainless steel Gay Frères bracelet. Arguably the most prominent Genevois bracelet maker of the past century, creations by Gay Frères can be found on the most important and distinguished timepieces of the 1900s. Such bracelets are as rare as they are exquisitely crafted, and are considered collectibles in their own right.

Similar examples of reference 2811 are described and illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex- La Legenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 94, 96 & 98.

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