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Lot Essay
The present reference 3525 is doubtlessly one of the most charismatic, exclusive and well-preserved examples of the legendary chronograph to appear in public in recent years. From the references early production, it features the reference and serial number to the outside of the case back as opposed to between the lugs as found in later models.
Its superb dial has aged to an extremely attractive, uniform salmon tone, free of any cosmetic enhancements. The hard enamel numerals and scales are full, the colours vibrant. The case retains excellent proportions with incredibly crisp and clearly readable reference and serial numbers to the outside of the screw back, the original Oyster Patent crown is still present.
It comes to little surprise that two of the world leading scholars, Pucci Papaleo and John Goldberger, chose to illustrate this exact watch in their widely esteemed Rolex tomes I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda respectively 100 Superlative Rolex Watches. This additional fact further underlines that this reference 3525 is acknowledged as one of the world's most beautiful and best preserved examples of this landmark reference.
Reference 3525, one of the manufacturer’s first “Oyster” chronograph wristwatches, was produced between 1939 and 1945, and was available in a variety of metals. It is affectionately nick-named “monoblocco” by Italian collectors, referring to the fact that with the exception of the case back the entire case consists of one block including bezel and lugs.
Its superb dial has aged to an extremely attractive, uniform salmon tone, free of any cosmetic enhancements. The hard enamel numerals and scales are full, the colours vibrant. The case retains excellent proportions with incredibly crisp and clearly readable reference and serial numbers to the outside of the screw back, the original Oyster Patent crown is still present.
It comes to little surprise that two of the world leading scholars, Pucci Papaleo and John Goldberger, chose to illustrate this exact watch in their widely esteemed Rolex tomes I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda respectively 100 Superlative Rolex Watches. This additional fact further underlines that this reference 3525 is acknowledged as one of the world's most beautiful and best preserved examples of this landmark reference.
Reference 3525, one of the manufacturer’s first “Oyster” chronograph wristwatches, was produced between 1939 and 1945, and was available in a variety of metals. It is affectionately nick-named “monoblocco” by Italian collectors, referring to the fact that with the exception of the case back the entire case consists of one block including bezel and lugs.