Rolex. A very rare stainless steel manual wind bracelet watch with Kew Certification and 'Especially Good' result
Model: Oyster Speedking 'Kew A Certificate'
Reference: 5056
Date: Circa 1947
Movement: Jewelled gilt manual wind, inscribed Kew A tested, large jewels to centre, escape wheel and balance with end caps, freesprung compensated balance with timing screws, No.4215
Dial: Silvered, gilt Arabic numerals, black outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6, blued steel pointed baton hands
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back and crown, No.629***
Strap/Bracelet: Brushed Oyster rivet link, No.349
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 30mm
Accompaniments: 2 spare links, with copies of the Kew Registers showing the especially good rating Rolex. A very rare stainless steel manual wind bracelet watch with Kew Certification and 'Especially Good' result
Model: Oyster Speedking 'Kew A Certificate'
Reference: 5056
Date: Circa 1947
Movement: Jewelled gilt manual wind, inscribed Kew A tested, large jewels to centre, escape wheel and balance with end caps, freesprung compensated balance with timing screws, No.4215
Dial: Silvered, gilt Arabic numerals, black outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6, blued steel pointed baton hands
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back and crown, No.629***
Strap/Bracelet: Brushed Oyster rivet link, No.349
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 30mm
Accompaniments: 2 spare links, with copies of the Kew Registers showing the especially good rating
Footnotes The Kew A Certificate watches are some of the rarest series watches made by Rolex. Since every one was numbered and listed separately, we know exactly how many were produced and that only 136 successfully passed through to attain the coveted 'KEW A' Certificate. The test is carried out over 45 days and includes temperature fluctuations and was designed by the Royal Navy for ship's chronometers. Of the total number submitted only 16 obtained the especially good classification meaning they obtained over 80 points. The present example 4215 is such a watch.
Rolex made a very special effort to obtain these results and the watches were specially made for the tests. Using a 10-1/2 ligne 700 calibre base movement, unusually in pink gilt, with a completely re-calibrated escapement and reworked nickelled balance bridge. They used a Nivorox freesprung and exceptionally fine balance with a Breguet overcoil creating the calibre known to Rolex as the 720. This project was overseen by one of the best 'regulators' of the time, Jean Matile, who obtained various records from 1925, including the Neuchatel best ever result for a wrist watch with 8.4 points and the astonishing 93.8 points at Kew also for a wristwatch movement.
The movement 4215 is one of the renowned watches that not only passed first time but also attained the 'Especially Good' distinction. It passed on the 24th of June 1947. At the time this passed and was cased there was a public thirst for watches with exceptional timing results. Rolex took out many adverts at the time to emphasise their ability to create wristwatches with such distinction as normally this was only found in larger pocket and deck watches. Being seen to be able to get the top classification in a UK test meant the majority of these were sold in the UK. Previous
Penelope Andrews Specialist - Watches
Bonhams Work Montpelier Street
London , United Kingdom SW7 1HH
Work Tel: +44 20 7393 3869
Penelope.Andrews@bonhams.com
Charles Dower Specialist - Watches
Bonhams Work Montpelier Street
London , United Kingdom SW7 1HH
Work Tel: +44 20 7393 3868
Charles.Dower@bonhams.com
Jonathan Darracott Specialist - Watches
Bonhams Work 101 New Bond Street
London , United Kingdom W1S 1SR
Work Tel: +44 20 7447 7412
jonathan.darracott@bonhams.com
Penelope Andrews Specialist - Watches
Bonhams Work Montpelier Street
London , United Kingdom SW7 1HH
Work Tel: +44 20 7393 3869
Penelope.Andrews@bonhams.com
Charles Dower Specialist - Watches
Bonhams Work Montpelier Street
London , United Kingdom SW7 1HH
Work Tel: +44 20 7393 3868
Charles.Dower@bonhams.com
Jonathan Darracott Specialist - Watches
Bonhams Work 101 New Bond Street
London , United Kingdom W1S 1SR
Work Tel: +44 20 7447 7412
jonathan.darracott@bonhams.com
Penelope Andrews Specialist - Watches
Bonhams Work Montpelier Street
London , United Kingdom SW7 1HH
Work Tel: +44 20 7393 3869
Penelope.Andrews@bonhams.com
Next 1 2 3 Conditions of Sale View
Go to Watches Go This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department . If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services .
Buyers' Obligations ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS . THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale , please contact your nearest customer services team.
Buyers' Premium and Charges For all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:
Buyer's Premium Rates
27.5% on the first £20,000 of the hammer price;
26% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £20,000 up to and including £700,000;
20% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £700,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.
VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.
Payment Notices For payment information please refer to the sale catalogue.
Shipping Notices IMPORTANT SHIPPING NOTICES Bonhams cannot arrange for the delivery of lots containing mother of pearl into the United States due to import restrictions.
Please note that in some circumstances we are unable to ship the watch with its strap due to regulations regarding material derived from endangered or otherwise protected species.
The buyer or designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale.
Due to the proximity of Christmas Bonhams cannot guarantee delivery will be made before Christmas after Thursday 14th December. Please note shipments cannot be dispatched until payment has cleared.
For shipping/Postal enquiries please contact Bryony Bedingham 020 7393 3813 or email bryony.bedingham@bonhams.com
Please note that Bonhams will be closed from 5:30pm Friday 21st December 2019 until 9am Tuesday 2nd January 2019. Prices include premium Results with descriptions
Loading ...
There are no lots available.
See all my lots
