28 Rolex A very rare and valuable, chronograph wristwatch in steel, with silver multiscale dial, reference 2508.

Estimate: € 25.000 –⁠ 50.000

The present Rolex reference 2508 is an awe-inspiring relic of horological heritage, representing one of the earliest and most sophisticated chronographs ever produced by the crowned house of Geneva. Born in the mid-1930s, this reference stands as a formidable testament to Rolex’s pioneering role in precision timing and its unwavering commitment to functional elegance. The stainless steel case, still retaining its original proportions, displays powerful lugs and sharp edges, enhanced by the distinctive first-series oval olive pushers—an elegant and rare trait only found in the earliest executions of the 2508. The silver dial, definitely crisp for its age, remains gorgeous, radiating a subtle warmth that only time can impart. The dual-scale design—tachymeter and telemeter—encapsulates the spirit of the 1930s, where chronographs were not yet objects of fashion, but essential instruments for military, scientific, and aviation use. The watch is presented with engraved caseback numbers still deep and legible. Few watches encapsulate the essence of early Rolex chronograph production quite like the reference 2508. It is a witness to nearly a century of human progress, preserved with dignity and integrity.