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拍品专文
Originally the property of a former Rolex employee, the present watch is only the fifth example of the Prototype Rolex stainless steel Day-Date publicly known. It is also unique among that group in having a dial with baton indexes and luminous dots instead of the Roman numeral dial with luminous dots of the other four known examples. It is preserved in excellent condition with untouched dial and only light surface scratching to the case.
Considered as a prototype, the stainless steel Rolex Day-Date is one of the ‘legends’ in the illustrious history of this most famous of Rolex models. Ever since its launch in 1956 and right up until the present day, Rolex always regarded the Day-Date as its highest ‘status’ and most luxurious timepiece, for that reason the company decided it would only ever be produced in precious metals; 18K yellow gold, pink gold, white gold and platinum. The stainless steel Day-Date is a watch that officially does not exist, it is therefore an exciting and incredibly rare anomaly and subsequently it has become one of the most coveted and sought-after of all vintage Day-Dates.
Including the present watch, only five examples of the stainless steel prototype have appeared publicly. Although it cannot be certain, these watches seem to date from the late 1960s until the mid-1970s. The true purpose and background of this rarefied group is unclear, however, the original source of each of the known watches appears to be former Rolex watchmakers. Anecdotally, these steel cased Day-Dates were produced as test pieces for use in the Rolex workshop. It is thought that some were either given to Rolex watchmakers upon their retirement or else donated to the Geneva Horological school. Importantly, all the known examples share certain characteristics; most strikingly, the cases do not have either reference or serial numbers but are correctly stamped with the Rolex signature inside the caseback and “Stainless Steel”, confirming their nature as prototypes and that their manufacturing was purposely in stainless steel; all have days of the week in French and eye-catching black hands which provide a strong contrast to the silvered dial.
The known prototype stainless steel Day-Dates are as follows:
Movement no. 0004547 – Roman dial with luminous dots – see: ‘100 Superlative Rolex Watches’, John Goldberger, p. 162.
Movement no. 0005073 – Roman dial with luminous dots Movement no. DD411420 – Roman dial with luminous dots
Movement no. DD14749 – Roman dial with luminous dots
Movement no. DD081221 – Baton dial with luminous dots – THE PRESENT WATCH
This stainless steel prototype with highly individual dial provides the all too rare opportunity for the serious Rolex collector to obtain a so far unique version of this most elusive of Day-Dates.
Considered as a prototype, the stainless steel Rolex Day-Date is one of the ‘legends’ in the illustrious history of this most famous of Rolex models. Ever since its launch in 1956 and right up until the present day, Rolex always regarded the Day-Date as its highest ‘status’ and most luxurious timepiece, for that reason the company decided it would only ever be produced in precious metals; 18K yellow gold, pink gold, white gold and platinum. The stainless steel Day-Date is a watch that officially does not exist, it is therefore an exciting and incredibly rare anomaly and subsequently it has become one of the most coveted and sought-after of all vintage Day-Dates.
Including the present watch, only five examples of the stainless steel prototype have appeared publicly. Although it cannot be certain, these watches seem to date from the late 1960s until the mid-1970s. The true purpose and background of this rarefied group is unclear, however, the original source of each of the known watches appears to be former Rolex watchmakers. Anecdotally, these steel cased Day-Dates were produced as test pieces for use in the Rolex workshop. It is thought that some were either given to Rolex watchmakers upon their retirement or else donated to the Geneva Horological school. Importantly, all the known examples share certain characteristics; most strikingly, the cases do not have either reference or serial numbers but are correctly stamped with the Rolex signature inside the caseback and “Stainless Steel”, confirming their nature as prototypes and that their manufacturing was purposely in stainless steel; all have days of the week in French and eye-catching black hands which provide a strong contrast to the silvered dial.
The known prototype stainless steel Day-Dates are as follows:
Movement no. 0004547 – Roman dial with luminous dots – see: ‘100 Superlative Rolex Watches’, John Goldberger, p. 162.
Movement no. 0005073 – Roman dial with luminous dots Movement no. DD411420 – Roman dial with luminous dots
Movement no. DD14749 – Roman dial with luminous dots
Movement no. DD081221 – Baton dial with luminous dots – THE PRESENT WATCH
This stainless steel prototype with highly individual dial provides the all too rare opportunity for the serious Rolex collector to obtain a so far unique version of this most elusive of Day-Dates.