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Lot Essay
Rolex produced a very limited number of complicated models. Historically, the company was focused on professional, reliable timepieces rather than grand complications. The brand, for example, never made a perpetual calendar wristwatch, and overall very few models went beyond dual-time timepieces, or simple calendar or chronograph watches. The present reference, however, not only represents one of the scarcest examples of more complicated Rolex timepieces, but it furthermore is the earliest representative of what will become the longest-lived line of complicated Rolex models: the triple calendar chronograph, known as “Datocompax” or “Jean-Claude Killy”, because of the appearance of reference 6236 on the wrist of the Olympic ski legend. The Datocompax line comprises ref. 4767, the non-oyster ref. 4768, 5036, 6036 and 6236.
The archetype for this legendary line of watches is here represented by this steel version of reference 4767. The present watch is furthermore one of the earliest examples of the reference: ref. 4767 was launched in 1947 (and remained in production for around four years only) and indeed this watch was manufactured that same year. The dials for this reference were made by Stern and Beyeler, and at least five different models are recognized so far. All of them feature beady numerals at 2, 5, 7 and 11, and differentiate from each other for the presence or roman or Arabic applied or painted numerals for the other positions. The model was available in stainless steel and pink and yellow gold, all the cases made by Spielmann. A very rare reference, it is estimated that only around 200 pieces were realized in steel. Of them, so far about 30 are known from the market.
Consigned by a private collector, fresh to the market and preserved in overall very appealing original condition, this early Killy ref. 4767 is a superb representative of this rare model.
Different versions of reference 4767 in regard to case material and dial layout are illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 372 - 375.
The archetype for this legendary line of watches is here represented by this steel version of reference 4767. The present watch is furthermore one of the earliest examples of the reference: ref. 4767 was launched in 1947 (and remained in production for around four years only) and indeed this watch was manufactured that same year. The dials for this reference were made by Stern and Beyeler, and at least five different models are recognized so far. All of them feature beady numerals at 2, 5, 7 and 11, and differentiate from each other for the presence or roman or Arabic applied or painted numerals for the other positions. The model was available in stainless steel and pink and yellow gold, all the cases made by Spielmann. A very rare reference, it is estimated that only around 200 pieces were realized in steel. Of them, so far about 30 are known from the market.
Consigned by a private collector, fresh to the market and preserved in overall very appealing original condition, this early Killy ref. 4767 is a superb representative of this rare model.
Different versions of reference 4767 in regard to case material and dial layout are illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 372 - 375.