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Lot Essay
It is with great pleasure that Christie’s are able to present this yellow gold reference 6062 ‘Stelline’ after more than a decade as part of one of the greatest collections of vintage wristwatches in the world.
It is certainly one of the most attractive yellow gold examples to be offered at auction in recent years and features the most exclusive of all dial versions, with luminous star-shaped hour markers. Surviving in wonderful and exceptional original condition.
This watch is also memorable having once been owned by Gordon Bethune, former CEO of Continental Airlines 1994-2004, a world-renowned watch collector, famed for the condition and originality of the pieces in his collection.
The return to auction of this storied reference 6062 ‘Stelline’, one of the most fabled and desired of all collectable vintage Rolex, offers international collectors a prime opportunity to obtain a very fine example of this landmark model with reassuring traceability and provenance from two of the most formidable collections of recent times.
REFERENCE 6062 - AN OVERVIEW
Following the launch of the ‘Oyster’ case in the mid-1940s, Rolex introduced a variety of different models with a diversity of movements for the celebrated waterproof case. The most prestigious version was reference 6062, upgraded with a full calendar and moon phase indication and fitted with an in-house automatic movement. Introduced at the Basel Fair of 1950 and produced for approximately 10 years, it is one of only two Rolex models to feature a triple calendar, the other being the so-called ‘Padellone’ reference 8171. These two models were Rolex’s only watches ever made in series with moon phases, until the introduction of the Cellini reference 50535 in 2017. The difference between ref. 6062 and 8171 is the case: reference 6062 is fitted with the iconic Rolex ‘Oyster’ case whereas reference 8171 features a snap-on back. Reference 6062 was available in yellow gold, pink gold and stainless steel.
Ref. 6062 - Dials
The dials were probably made by Beyeler and delivered and mounted by Stern Frères, six known dial variants exist for ref. 6062, the famous star or 'Stelline' dials are distinguished by their matte grainé silvered finish, blue date scale and pink gold stars with either luminous accents or separate luminous dots next to the stars. The moon phase of blue champlevé enamel on a gold plate was supplied by Stern Frères.
Ref. 6062 Cases
The two-piece gold waterproof ‘Oyster’ cases for reference 6062 were made by Genex in Geneva. Originally the case department of Gay Frères, it later became a Rolex company. The casemaker’s mark for Genex, a number 12 inside a key, is punched on the inside of the case backs. Two kinds of crowns are seen on this reference, the most usual is the Super-Oyster, some examples are known with a Twin-Lock crown including the present watch.
Ref. 6062 Movements
The movement used for the ref. 6062 was the calibre 655, especially developed for the model. It was available with either 25 or 26 jewels, depending if the movement base was 17 or 18 jewels (17 was mostly for the US Market when taxes were much higher for 18 jewels) and fitted with the latest patented Rolex Super-Balance. The automatic module is modified to let the calendar pushers through the case band.
It is certainly one of the most attractive yellow gold examples to be offered at auction in recent years and features the most exclusive of all dial versions, with luminous star-shaped hour markers. Surviving in wonderful and exceptional original condition.
This watch is also memorable having once been owned by Gordon Bethune, former CEO of Continental Airlines 1994-2004, a world-renowned watch collector, famed for the condition and originality of the pieces in his collection.
The return to auction of this storied reference 6062 ‘Stelline’, one of the most fabled and desired of all collectable vintage Rolex, offers international collectors a prime opportunity to obtain a very fine example of this landmark model with reassuring traceability and provenance from two of the most formidable collections of recent times.
REFERENCE 6062 - AN OVERVIEW
Following the launch of the ‘Oyster’ case in the mid-1940s, Rolex introduced a variety of different models with a diversity of movements for the celebrated waterproof case. The most prestigious version was reference 6062, upgraded with a full calendar and moon phase indication and fitted with an in-house automatic movement. Introduced at the Basel Fair of 1950 and produced for approximately 10 years, it is one of only two Rolex models to feature a triple calendar, the other being the so-called ‘Padellone’ reference 8171. These two models were Rolex’s only watches ever made in series with moon phases, until the introduction of the Cellini reference 50535 in 2017. The difference between ref. 6062 and 8171 is the case: reference 6062 is fitted with the iconic Rolex ‘Oyster’ case whereas reference 8171 features a snap-on back. Reference 6062 was available in yellow gold, pink gold and stainless steel.
Ref. 6062 - Dials
The dials were probably made by Beyeler and delivered and mounted by Stern Frères, six known dial variants exist for ref. 6062, the famous star or 'Stelline' dials are distinguished by their matte grainé silvered finish, blue date scale and pink gold stars with either luminous accents or separate luminous dots next to the stars. The moon phase of blue champlevé enamel on a gold plate was supplied by Stern Frères.
Ref. 6062 Cases
The two-piece gold waterproof ‘Oyster’ cases for reference 6062 were made by Genex in Geneva. Originally the case department of Gay Frères, it later became a Rolex company. The casemaker’s mark for Genex, a number 12 inside a key, is punched on the inside of the case backs. Two kinds of crowns are seen on this reference, the most usual is the Super-Oyster, some examples are known with a Twin-Lock crown including the present watch.
Ref. 6062 Movements
The movement used for the ref. 6062 was the calibre 655, especially developed for the model. It was available with either 25 or 26 jewels, depending if the movement base was 17 or 18 jewels (17 was mostly for the US Market when taxes were much higher for 18 jewels) and fitted with the latest patented Rolex Super-Balance. The automatic module is modified to let the calendar pushers through the case band.