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Lot Essay
Accompanied by a Rolex Guarantee dated May 19, 1956, original invoice dated May 19, 1956, Rolex presentation box, and original sales tags.
The Turn-O-Graph model was released at the Basel Fair in 1953, the same year of production of the present watch. The model was fitted with a rotating bezel with five-minute divisions and dot markings, and was referred to as a "time-recording-rim" by Rolex. Early examples, such as the present watch, featured the dot markings in the middle of the bezel while later models featured the dots along the inner edge.
The Turn-O-Graph was designed to be used as a simplified chronograph, for timing events up to an hour, and was promoted as being able to calculate the "Timing of a transatlantic telephone call, the rate of a machine, a patient's pulse, the speed of a train, or the development of a film".
Despite this concept and marketing, the model was not as successful as expected by Rolex, mainly due to the simultaneous in-house competition from the Submariner and GMT-Master models. Today, the model enjoys popularity amongst collectors. The present example, with its original paperwork and sales tag showing a retail price of $72.50, will undoubtedly be enjoyed by an appreciator of Rolex history.
The Turn-O-Graph model was released at the Basel Fair in 1953, the same year of production of the present watch. The model was fitted with a rotating bezel with five-minute divisions and dot markings, and was referred to as a "time-recording-rim" by Rolex. Early examples, such as the present watch, featured the dot markings in the middle of the bezel while later models featured the dots along the inner edge.
The Turn-O-Graph was designed to be used as a simplified chronograph, for timing events up to an hour, and was promoted as being able to calculate the "Timing of a transatlantic telephone call, the rate of a machine, a patient's pulse, the speed of a train, or the development of a film".
Despite this concept and marketing, the model was not as successful as expected by Rolex, mainly due to the simultaneous in-house competition from the Submariner and GMT-Master models. Today, the model enjoys popularity amongst collectors. The present example, with its original paperwork and sales tag showing a retail price of $72.50, will undoubtedly be enjoyed by an appreciator of Rolex history.