Exclusive Timepieces 22 – 23 April 2023 | Monaco
Auction Details
The Monaco Legend Group team has put together an astonishing selection of rarities in the horological field. From the Unique Piece Rolex Yachtmaster, former property of the late President of Rolex Patrick Heiniger, to an outstanding example of the Patek Philippe 2523-1. Not to mention the great selection of rarities destined for Middle Eastern market, such as a Rolex Submariner and Daytona from the Sultanate of Oman and a steel Daytona with UAE emblem on the dial.
Many thanks to Auro Montanari, alias John Goldberger, Roberto Randazzo and George Pakkos for their significant help in supervising the catalogue and to Eric Tortella for his assistance in searching for some of our rarest Patek Philippe watches in his database and releasing his passport of authenticity for them.
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Session I: Saturday 22 April, 2:30 PM – lots 1 to 100
Session II: Sunday 23 April, 10:30 AM – lots 101 to 164
Session III: Sunday 23 April, 2:30 PM – lots 165 to 261
80 Rolex Extremely Rare and Very Well Preserved, Monoblocco, Anti-magnetic Chronograph in Yellow Gold, Pulsation Scale Dial, Retailed by Joyeria Riviera, Reference 4500
Estimate: € 70,000 – 140,000
Sold € 91,000
Model: Monoblocco
Reference: 4500
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet Material: Leather Strap
Year: 1946
Movement: Manual
Caliber: 13
Case N°: 533 668
Dimensions: 36 mm
Signed: Dial, Case and Movement
Accessories: Letter from Rolex
Literature: A Similar Example has been sold by Sotheby's "Important Watches" Auction on 24th May 2018 as Lot 309
The reference 4500 produced by Rolex between 1946 and 1947 is an innovative creation for Rolex given its totally new design of the case, compared to the previous ones, with straighter and more pointed lugs that will then be the basis of many subsequent models. Moreover, this model is one of the very rare chronographs in an Oyster case to feature only two counters, one for constant seconds and one for the 30 minutes, omitting the 12 hours register. The two body case of the reference was available in stainless steel, pink gold, steel and gold, and, such as the present example, in yellow gold. The presence of only two registers on a very well preserved dial, as previously said, makes the quadrant and the whole watch looking smoother, elegant and a bit less sporty. The argentè background presents a seductive patina while there are two main peculiarities that makes the present lot extremely desirable. First of all, the blue pulsation scale that runs over the border of the dial, one of the only very few seen on the market at the moment. Secondly, the fancy and rare personalization for Joyeria Riviera, important Cuba-based jewelry. Located in the luxury “Galiano Boulevard” in Havana, Joyeria Riviera was part of the very few retailers allowed to have their name printed on the dial underneath the Rolex and model’s name. The watch further comes with a Rolex letter sent directly to Julio Abislaiman, president of the Joyeria Riviera in San Juan, Puerto Rico, stating the amount of production for the reference 4500 in various materials: 200 in steel, 100 in steel and pink gold, 36 in pink gold and 12 only in 9 kt yellow gold.