Rolex. An unusual stainless steel and gold automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and white honeycomb dial
This lot is offered without reserve. On lots mark… Read more
Rolex. An unusual stainless steel and gold automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and white honeycomb dial

Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, Turn-O-Graph, Officially Certified Chronometer, Ref. 6202, case no. 953'665, manufactured in 1953

Details
Rolex. An unusual stainless steel and gold automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and white honeycomb dial
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, Turn-O-Graph, Officially Certified Chronometer, Ref. 6202, case no. 953'665, manufactured in 1953
MOVEMENT: automatic, cal. A260, 18 jewels
DIAL: white honeycomb, applied dart numerals with luminous accents, luminous alpha hands, sweep centre seconds
CASE: stainless steel and yellow gold, tonneau-shaped, revolving engine-turned gold bezel calibrated for 60 units, stainless steel screw back stamped IV.53 and 18 to the inside, also stamped 18 on reverse of lower left lug, gilt screw down crown, 35.5 mm. diam.
SIGNED: case, dial, movement
Special Notice
This lot is offered without reserve. On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 8% on both the premium as well as the hammer price.

Lot Essay

The present watch is a rare example of the celebrated "Turn-O-Graph" reference 6202 model, fitted with the less common white honeycomb dial. Marketed as a "tool" watch, the Turn-O-Graph is commonly accepted as one of the "godfathers" of all Rolex sports watches preceding most notably the Submariner and consequently the Sea Dweller and also the GMT-Master.

The Turn-O-Graph was presented at the Basel Fair in 1953, the year of production of the present watch. The model was always fitted with a rotating bezel with five minute divisions, referred to as a "time-recording-rim" by Rolex. Designed to be used as a simplified chronograph version for timing events for up to an hour, it 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".

The Turn-O-Graph was available with a black dial, the 'De Luxe Model', such as the present watch, featured a "magnificent white 'honey-comb' dial".

Despite its brilliant concept, the model was at the time not as successful as Rolex expected, mainly due to the simultaneous in-house competition from the Submariner and the GMT-Master.

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