ROLEX. A SUPERB AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, TROPICAL DIAL AND BRACELET, FORMERLY OWNED BY A CIA OPERATOR AT THE BAY OF PIGS INVASION
ROLEX. A SUPERB AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, TROPICAL DIAL AND BRACELET, FORMERLY OWNED BY A CIA OPERATOR AT THE BAY OF PIGS INVASION
ROLEX. A SUPERB AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, TROPICAL DIAL AND BRACELET, FORMERLY OWNED BY A CIA OPERATOR AT THE BAY OF PIGS INVASION
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ROLEX. A SUPERB AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, TROPICAL DIAL AND BRACELET, FORMERLY OWNED BY A CIA OPERATOR AT THE BAY OF PIGS INVASION
6 More
ROLEXMILGAUSS REF. 6541
ROLEX. A SUPERB AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, TROPICAL DIAL AND BRACELET, FORMERLY OWNED BY A CIA OPERATOR AT THE BAY OF PIGS INVASION

SIGNED ROLEX, MILGAUSS MODEL, REF. 6541, CASE NO. 412'206, CIRCA 1958

Details
ROLEX. A SUPERB AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, TROPICAL DIAL AND BRACELET, FORMERLY OWNED BY A CIA OPERATOR AT THE BAY OF PIGS INVASION
SIGNED ROLEX, MILGAUSS MODEL, REF. 6541, CASE NO. 412'206, CIRCA 1958
Movement: Automatic
Dial: Tropical
Case: 38 mm. diam.
With: Stainless steel C&I Rolex Oyster rivet bracelet and deployant clasp, overall length approximately 205 mm., Rolex Superlative Chronometer Guarantee dated 1968, COSC Certificate dated 1959, original sales receipt, copy of attestation from the family of Robert Pichardo regarding his involvement in the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Remark: From a surviving CIA operator at the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Further details
Christie's is honored to offer this fantastic Rolex Milgauss reference 6541 that was formerly owned by a CIA operator who took part of 3 separate covert missions including the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. Incredibly, this superb timepiece features a honeycomb dial has turned to a beautiful 'tropical' brown color, and is paired with its original Rolex Superlative Chronometer Guarantee, COSC Certificate, and sales receipt.

Roberto Pichardo, the Brigade 2506, and the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Born in Havana, Cuba in 1936, Mr. Roberto Pichardo, a radio, radar, avionics technician, and ham radio operator since the age of 13 witnessed revolutionary changes to his home country of Cuba. When Fidel Castro rose to power in 1959, there was great fear amongst the Cuban population as ordinary citizens who were suspected of supporting the former government were persecuted, imprisoned, or often killed. Mr. Pichardo personally witnessed this intimidation in 1960 while working as a radio technician at the Havana airport. Two officers of Castro's secret police accused Pichardo of supporting the anti-Castro government, and stated that if Cuba was ever invaded, they would personally shoot him. This pivotal event convinced Roberto to flee his homeland for Miami, Florida, where many of his fellow countrymen and women sought refuge.

Upset, angry, and disturbed by this sudden change of events in his life, while in Miami, he often heard of rumors about an American-backed army comprised mostly of Cuban refugees who planned to overthrow Castro. Excited by this idea, he was able to confirm the legitimacy of the operation and found himself part of the legendary Brigade 2506.

With his newly found brigade, leading up to the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Pichardo underwent grueling training exercises conducted by the CIA and US Navy's frogmen (later known as Navy Seals) for months in a undisclosed camp in the jungles of Guatemala. Here, he learned the important tools and tactics of warfare that would later keep him alive. In total, Brigade 2506 had about 1,400 soldiers and operators. His first mission he took part for the CIA was called Operation Pluto (later renamed Zapata).

By 1961, with the rise in tension between the US and Cuba, John F. Kennedy granted permission to the infamous Bay of Pigs Invasion to overthrow Castro. As many may know, the operation did not go to plan and ended with unfortunate and tragic results for the United States and Brigade 2506. Pichardo and his comrades had their first signs of red flags the night before the invasion when CIA officers mistook corals reefs as clouds and seaweed from the U-2 spy plane images. This would later lead to the soldier's demise the following morning when their watercrafts crashed into the reefs, forcing the invading soldiers to swim 100 meters to shore with many not making it.

For those who arrived at the beaches, such as Pichardo, the supporting American air support failed to take out much of Castro's army, leaving the remaining Brigade 2506 in hiding along the airfield forest. For 3 days, Roberto fearfully awaited for the reinforcements that would never come. He and his fellow soldier Roberto García knew they had to take matters into their own hands. They attempted to create a raft from driftwood to escape by sea, but were soon caught and surrendered to Castro's army.

He spent the following 20 months in a Cuban prison until he and the remaining men were freed by the Kennedy association. Upon his return to Miami on Christmas day in 1962, he and his fellow surviving team members were honored at the Orange Bowl by J.F.K.

A few years later in 1968, Mr. Pichardo purchased the present Milgauss ref. 6541 at Slater Jewelry Company in Miami, Florida for $180.25. Incredibly and not unheard of due to the unpopularity of the Milgauss, this watch sat in the store for almost a decade as it was manufactured in 1958-1959. What is fascinating to reflect on is that the year of manufacture of the watch correlates with Fidel Castro's rise to power and when Mr. Pichardo's life was turned upside down.

Reference 6541
Introduced to the market in the mid-late 1950s, the Rolex Milgauss was a tool watch designed for scientists and professionals. Equipped with an interior faraday cage, the watch was resistant to electro-magnetic radiation, such as found in research labs or power stations. This feature was crucial to the watch as the influence of radiation and magnetism on the movement could greatly effect the movement's accuracy. Interestingly, the model's name derives from the French word 'mille' meaning 1000 and 'gauss', a unit of measurement of magnetic fields.

This iconic reference 6541 may perhaps be one of the rarest and most sought-after vintage sports models from Rolex. It is commonly believed that less than 200 examples were manufactured in total with far fewer watches resurfacing today. Furthermore, the smooth bezel variation, such as in the present lot was also believed to be manufactured for the American market.

The watch comprises of iconic features such as the lightning bolt seconds hand, honeycomb dial, and non-luminous cream plots with dagger quarters. Due to the interior faraday cage, the watch has a sizeable and contemporary presence measuring 38 mm. with a noticeable thickness, making it wear well for a large array of wrist sizes.

Brought to you by

Remi Guillemin
Remi Guillemin Head of Watches, Europe and Americas

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