221 Rolex Catching and Charming “big Bubbleback” Oyster Perpetual Officially Certified Chronometer Wristwatch in Yellow Gold, Reference 5030

Estimate: € 10,000 –⁠ 20,000

Sold € 22,750

Model: Oyster Perpetual Ovettone
Reference: 5030
Case Material: Yellow gold
Bracelet Material: Yellow gold
Year: 1949
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: 995
Case N°: 658577
Dimensions: 36 mm
Signed: Case, dial, movement

The wristwatch here offered is a Rolex Oyster Perpetual reference 5030, which is also sometimes referred to as an “Ovettone” among collectors. This very model is historically important because it is the world’s first self-winding chronometer wristwatch to feature date in a window on the dial, setting the standard for how a date display on a wristwatch should function. The two-body case with inclined bezel, screwed down case back and crown, concave lugs of the present lot is in full 18k yellow gold and is impressive for all-original condition and quality of conservation. It is also provided with a very nice yellow-gold jubilee bracelet with Rolex claps. The dial has a Matt beige background with applied yellow-gold dart and faceted baton indexes. Externally, the outer minutes and fifths of a second division with Arabic five-second numerals and at 3 o’clock the “roulette” date wheel, where the numbers for the date alternate between red and black.