Rolex Chronograph 2508

Ref. 2508An extremely well preserved yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with multiscale luminous dial, retailed by Astrua Torino

Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1937 Reference No: 2508 Case No: 44'957 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Literature: The present watch is featured in the 100 Superlative Rolex by John Golberger AppIntroduced in the mid 1930s the Rolex reference 2508 is a favorite amongst collectors due to its oversized case, flat bezel, and classic no frills design that is, compared to the rest of the brand’s production, more in-line with those of two other historical Genevan brands: Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. This reference existed in two different configurations. Early models feature olive-shaped pushers and a larger case diameter; second generation versions instead come with rectangular pushers. Furthermore, early 2508s have the serial numbers punched on the caseback, whereas later ones have the 6-digit number finely engraved at the edge of the back, establishing a tradition upheld until the mid 2000s (then, Rolex switched to engraving the numbers on the inside of the carrure). This example is without a doubt one of the best preserved 2508s to ever appear on the market. A representative of the first series, it sports an incredibly crisp case, with sharp edges and unmolested engravings to the back. The presence of the Turin retailer Astrua's signature on the dial further elevates the collectability of this watch. Another layer of interest is given by the fixed bars present on the watch. An intriguing detail in itself, it is even more surprising on a gold case: normally, soldered bars meant the watch was intended for heavy usage (in fact, they are often found on military pieces) and thus they are normally used on steel cases. In fact, the majority of ref. 2508 examples were born with soldered bars, but nearly all of them had the bars removed at some point in time. To find one with its original bars is an exceptional occurrence. Furthermore, the intriguing detail of one of the gold hallmarks stamped directly to the top bar (thus also confirming that these are the original, untampered bars) adds additional interest to the piece. It is unsurprising that such a remarkable piece spent the last few years of its life in one of the most important Italian watch collections, and there is little doubt that its new home will be in the hands of another fine connoisseur of vintage timepieces.