$38,400
Ref. 6204 Pre-Rating Rolex, “Oyster, Perpetual", Ref. 6204, “pre-rating”. Made in 1953. Fine and rare center seconds, self-winding, stainless steel wristwatch with black graduated bezel. Accompanied by its original warranty (now void), pamphlet, sales brochure and fitted box. Three body, polished and brushed, screwed case back and crown, graduated bi-directional revolving bezel. Black with luminous indexes. Luminous skeletonized hands. Cal. A260, 9 3/4’’’, rhodium-plated, 19 jewels, lever escapement, Superbalance, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 37 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Notes The Reference 6204 really constitutes the pre-Submariner era. The later models would feature the word “Submariner” on the dial, or in certain very rare cases with the word “Submariner” blacked-out (see lot 154). The present watch is probably a very rare early example not having any inscription or depth rating Rolex introduced the “Submariner” at the 1954 Basel Watch Fair. The first production model, available to the public that same year, was Ref. 6204. Ref. 6204 was the watch that first became to be known as the “Submariner”, although when it was originally displayed at the Basel Fair it was promoted as the new scuba diving watch, without the word “Submariner” on the dial. This was in part to the growing trend of scuba diving and the need to for a waterproof timing device at depths. Ref. 6204 was water-resistant to 600 feet and used t
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2008-04-17
