Rolex. A fine and rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with dead-beat jump centre seconds and bracelet
This lot is offered without reserve. On lots mark… Read more TRU-BEAT
Rolex. A fine and rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with dead-beat jump centre seconds and bracelet

Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, Tru-Beat, ref. 6556, case no. 139'166, manufactured in 1956

Details
Rolex. A fine and rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with dead-beat jump centre seconds and bracelet
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, Tru-Beat, ref. 6556, case no. 139'166, manufactured in 1956
Movement: automatic, cal. 1040 "Tru-Beat", 26 jewels
Dial: silvered “soleil”, applied baton numerals with luminous accents
Case: screw-down back and crown
Signed: case, dial and movement
Dimensions: 34 mm. diam. overall length of bracelet approximately 195 mm
With: stainless steel Rolex Oyster riveted bracelet stamped 7205, endlinks stamped 57
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 Tru-Beat ref. 6556 was introduced into the market in 1954, fitted with calibre 1040, a modified and more sophisticated version of the well-known calibre 1030. Aesthetically similar to a normal Oyster Perpetual, the major difference of the model was the dead beat sweep seconds hand: instead of continuously sweeping on the dial, the second hand stops at each seconds mark before jumping to the next one, performing exactly like the hands of an analogue quartz watch.

Dead beat watches were already made in the early days of watchmaking and have always been considered as the symbol for a very finely engineered watch. At the time of its introduction however, this particularity did not enjoy much success and consequently the production of the Tru-Beat was discontinued after five years.

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