Rolex. A fine and rare large 18K gold self-winding triple calendar wristwatch with phases of the moon and unusual two-tone dial

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Rolex. A fine and rare large 18K gold self-winding triple calendar wristwatch with phases of the moon and unusual two-tone dial

SIGNED ROLEX, PERPETUAL, MOVEMENT NOS. G4882 AND 10254, CASE NOS. 676'619 AND 629, REF. 8171, CIRCA 1950

Details

Rolex. A fine and rare large 18K gold self-winding triple calendar wristwatch with phases of the moon and unusual two-tone dial
Signed Rolex, Perpetual, movement nos. G4882 and 10254, case nos. 676'619 and 629, ref. 8171, circa 1950
With nickel-finished jewelled lever movement, the two-tone silvered dial with applied baton numerals, gold dauphine hands, outer date ring with central date hand, two windows for day and month, subsidiary dial indicating phases of the moon combined with constant seconds, the large circular case with calendar correctors in the band, downturned lugs, snap on back, 18K gold Rolex buckle, case, dial and movement signed
38 mm. diam.

Special notice

Prospective buyers are advised that we cannot arrange delivery of Corum, Rolex, Piaget or Franck Muller watches to the United States due to import restrictions. For further information please contact our specialists in charge of the sale.

Lot Essay

The present watch is a rare and lesser known variant of reference 8171 in yellow gold: whereas the vaste majority of all reference 8171 watches feature the Rolex crown above the calendar windows, the present watch stands out by having an inverted layout, the Rolex crown below the calendar windows and the "Perpetual" above them. One must assume that Rolex intended to emphasize the fact that this watch was a rare combination of full calendar and automatic winding, a formula which many other distinguished Geneva manufacturers did not introduce for nearly a decade.

Rolex has produced only two different models of moonphase wristwatches, references 8171 and 6062. Both models are automatic, however reference 8171 has a snap on back, while reference 6062, the Oyster version (see the previous lot), has a water-resistant-type screw back.

Reference 8171 is considered very rare as it was produced in a small series between 1949 and 1952. It was made in stainless steel (see lot 347 in this auction), 18K pink or yellow gold.

The model is illustrated in The Best of Time - Rolex Wristwatches by James M. Dowling & Jeffrey P. Hess, p. 209.

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