71 Rolex A very elegant and rare, Chronometre, Calatrava-style, manual wristwatch in yellow gold with tri-tone sector dial, retailed by Ronchi Milano, reference 2582.

Estimate: € 13.000 –⁠ 26.000

• Model Chronometre
• Year 1934
• Reference 2582
• Case Material 18K yellow gold
• Case Number 33'885
• Bracelet Material 18K yellow gold bracelet, approximate length 185mm
• Movement Manual, 18 jewels
• Dimension 32mm Diameter
• Signed Case, dial and movement

In the early 1930s, when wristwatches were still defining their codes, Rolex produced a series of refined chronometer wristwatches that married precision with the restrained elegance of the Calatrava aesthetic.
The present reference 2582, dating to circa 1934, stands as a particularly rare and sophisticated example of that early chapter.
Housed in a yellow gold case of harmonious proportions, the watch is defined by its striking tri-tone sector dial, a composition of concentric registers that balance geometry and clarity with remarkable poise. The outer minute track, contrasting chapter ring and central field create depth without excess, while the Arabic numerals and blued feuille hands lend a quiet yet unmistakable refinement. The subsidiary seconds at six complete the classical layout.
Most compellingly, the dial bears the signature of Ronchi Milano, one of Italy’s historic retailers. Double-signed Rolex watches from this period are seldom encountered and confer an added layer of historical and commercial significance, linking the watch not only to Geneva but also to Milan’s interwar luxury trade.
The case, manufactured in yellow gold with elegant lugs and slim bezel, reflects the transitional moment between the earlier cushion forms and the more modern round Oyster designs that would follow.
Elegant, rare, and retailer-signed, this reference 2582 encapsulates the refinement of early 20th-century wristwatch design, a chronometer conceived not for adventure, but for distinction.