Rolex. A very fine, rare and small 18K gold single button chronograph wristwatch with two-tone silvered dial
Rolex. A very fine, rare and small 18K gold single button chronograph wristwatch with two-tone silvered dial

SIGNED ROLEX, RETAILED BY BROUDARGE PARIS, REF. 2303, CASE NO. 17'887, CIRCA 1930

Details
Rolex. A very fine, rare and small 18K gold single button chronograph wristwatch with two-tone silvered dial
Signed Rolex, retailed by Broudarge Paris, ref. 2303, case no. 17'887, circa 1930
With nickel-finished lever movement, 17 jewels, two-tone silvered dial, Arabic numerals, outer blue tachymetre scale, two subsidiary dials for constant seconds and 30 minutes register, two subsidiary dials indicating constant seconds and 30 minutes register, small circular case, snap on back, chronograph button in the crown, 18K gold Rolex buckle, case and movement signed by maker, dial signed by maker and retailer
28 mm. diam.

Lot Essay

At the time of its launch in the mid 1920s, reference 2303 was advertised as "the smallest chronograph in the world". The model was available in stainless steel, 14K and 18K yellow gold.

The single button chronograph mechanism is considered to be amongst the most complex and sophisticated marvels of time measurement, particularly in a movement of such small size. Whereas the more commonly found system operates the chronograph functions start - stop - reset through two buttons in the band, the single button chronograph controls all of these functions through only one button, either in the band or in the crown.

Another particularity of the present watch is its very good and original overall condition, the original gold buckle stamped SAR and the attractive two-tone silvered dial, typical for chronograph wristwatches of the period.

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