85 Rolex A stunning and rare, Barilotto, manual wristwatch in steel and pink gold with original guarantee, reference 3525.
Estimate: € 30.000 – 60.000
A 20% import VAT is due on the final price including premium, only if it is delivered within the EU.
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- Model Barilotto
- Year 1945
- Reference 3525
- Case Material 18K pink gold and stainless steel
- Case Number 262'188
- Bracelet Material Leather strap
- Movement Manual, cal. 13", 17 jewels
- Dimension 35mm Diameter
- Signed Case, dial and movement
- Accessories Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated September 10th 1945 stamped Montres Rolex SA Genève and guarantee on airtight and element proof.
There are watches one admires for their design, others for their mechanics. And then there are watches that carry history on their shoulders. The Rolex reference 3525 belongs firmly to the latter category.
Introduced in 1939 and produced for only a brief six-year window until 1945, the reference 3525 marked a turning point for Rolex: it was the brand’s first chronograph housed in an Oyster case. Its monobloc construction, machined from a single piece of metal, was a technical statement, offering robustness uncommon for chronographs of the era. Compact at 35mm, yet visually assertive, it earned the affectionate nickname “Barilotto” among Italian collectors for its barrel-shaped profile.
However, the 3525’s legend extends far beyond its architecture. It became known as the “POW” watch after Hans Wilsdorf personally arranged for these chronographs to be delivered to Allied prisoners of war held in German camps. Payment was requested only after liberation. Few gestures in horological history resonate with such humanity and foresight.
The present example represents the rare and highly attractive steel and pink gold configuration, a combination that amplifies the already charismatic design. The warm rose bezel and crown contrast beautifully with the cool steel case, while the dial tells a far more poetic story. Its surface has developed a remarkable, organic patina, concentrating toward the periphery in a soft gradient that frames the display like aged parchment. The overall aesthetic is one of purposeful complexity balanced by unmistakable elegance.
Preserved in excellent condition and accompanied by its original guarantee papers, this desirable 3525 represents a complete and emotionally charged example of one of Rolex’s most historically significant chronographs.
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