OVETTONE 'DOUBLE SECONDS HAND' MODEL, REF. 5028, MOVEMENT NO. 25816, G9469, CASE NO. 412'191, CIRCA 1946

The Rolex Ovettone reference 5028 is among the most unusual and elusive automatic wristwatches produced by Rolex during the early post-war period. Housed in a large 36 mm. stainless steel Oyster case—substantial for its era—the present example is distinguished by an exceptionally rare and fascinating “double seconds” configuration, featuring both a subsidiary seconds register and a sweeping center seconds hand. Very little documented information exists regarding these watches, further enhancing their intrigue among seasoned collectors, though a similarly configured complication is known to appear in a small series of Omega wristwatches from the same period.
The present reference 5028 is especially attractive for its wonderfully preserved dial, adorned with raised gold Art Deco Arabic numerals that lend the watch remarkable warmth and character. These are beautifully complemented by elegant gold feuille hour and minute hands, as well as a matching gold subsidiary seconds hand, while the blued sweep center seconds hand introduces a pleasing and highly legible contrast. The watch is further enhanced by a smooth stepped bezel, a correct Rolex Oyster screw-down crown, and a period Oyster stretch rivet bracelet, all contributing to its vintage appeal.

Whereas most known reference 5028 examples feature only sweeping center seconds—and the sister reference 5026 is typically fitted solely with subsidiary seconds—the present watch occupies an exceptionally rare position within the early Rolex automatic lineage. Combining technical curiosity, aesthetic refinement, and extreme rarity, the reference 5028 “Double Seconds Hand” stands as a captivating and highly collectible example of Rolex experimentation during one of the manufacture’s most formative eras.