186,000 HKD
Ref. 6556 Tru-Beat Rolex, “Oyster Perpetual, Tru-Beat, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified", case No. 453700, Ref. 6556. Made in 1959. Very fine and very rare, center-seconds, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with dead beat seconds and a stainless steel Oyster riveted bracelet. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, curved lugs. Black with applied steel indexes, luminous dots, outer minute/seconds divisions. Luminous steel dauphine hands, red seconds hand. Cal. 1040, rhodium-plated, 25 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating blued steel Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Approx overall length 175 mm. Notes Ref. 6556 This reference was produced predominantly in stainless steel, with very few examples in gold. The 1960 catalogue stated that the system would be replaced by the new reference 1020 but this never happened. The interesting extra mechanism for the dead seconds is made of beryllium and feaures a lever that allows the seconds wheel to jump, therefore allowing the usual going seconds hand, with a beat of 18,000, to beat once per second
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2008-06-08
