229 Rolex Iconic and Attractive, Oyster, Perpetual Automatic Wristwatch in Gold, With Silvered Dial and Reeded Graduated Bezel, Reference 6099

Estimate: € 3,000 –⁠ 6,000

Sold € 4,550

Model: Oyster Perpetual
Reference: 6099
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet Material: Leather Strap
Year: 1953
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: 10 1/2
Case N°: 928 145
Dimensions: 34 mm
Signed: Dial, movement and case

It was 1908 when the German Hans Wilsdorf coined the name Rolex giving life to what would become one of the most important watch industries of all time. The principles on which Rolex was and is still based today were those of research, experimentation, innovation and cutting edge tests with scientific research, since Wilsdorf immediately realized that watches would become the future of the industry. He soon tried to improve the precision and efficiency of its creations and in 1926 he gave birth to a totally waterproof case. In 1931 Rolex also introduced the world’s first self-winding mechanism with a free rotor that would rotate 360º with the natural movement of the wearer’s wrist to generate power and the Oyster Perpetual heralded a new era of convenience and functionality. This ingenious system was a true work of art by Rolex and this movement is at the heart of every modern automatic watch today such as the present reference 6099. Launched in the early 1950s was available both in stainless steel and gold and is often referred to as the large bubble back without date. The present example is remarkable for its conservation and the beauty of the yellow-gold case and the ever-charming “Thunderbird” bezel with indications for the hours, the detail that differentiates the model from its peer, the reference 6098. The silvered dial with applied yellow-gold baton indexes, outer minute/seconds track and yellow-gold luminous dauphine hands has gained a cool patina which gives an aura to the watch.