1 Rolex An incredibly rare and very unusual, "Half-Hooded Lugs", chronograph manual wristwatch in steel, with black double-scale snail dial, reference 2919.

Estimate: Fr. 25'000 –⁠ 50'000

• Model Half-Hooded Lugs Chronograph
• Year Circa 1937
• Reference 2919
• Case Material Stainless steel
• Case Number 031'763
• Bracelet Material Stainless steel Rolex bracelet, approximate length 185mm
• Movement Manual, jewelled
• Dimension 33mm Diameter
• Signed Case, dial and movement
• Accessories Accompanied by Rolex fitted presentation box.

A watch that speaks in hushed, authoritative tones, this Rolex reference 2919 belongs to that rarefied category of early chronographs where design, scarcity and historical charm converge with remarkable coherence. Produced in 1937 in an exceedingly small series of apparently only 35 examples, this non-Oyster reference was offered in either stainless steel or yellow gold, yet examples have surfaced only sparingly over the decades. To the best of current scholarship, this particular watch represents just the fourth example to appear publicly at international auction, and notably, the first recorded with a black dial, a detail that dramatically enhances both its visual presence and its rarity. The case, preserved in excellent overall condition, displays beautifully defined proportions, with strong, faceted lugs that retain their original geometry. These distinctive “half-hooded” lugs, an early and unusual Rolex signature, lend the watch a sculptural quality, further complemented by the characteristic olive-shaped pushers, themselves a subtle but telling hallmark of the period. The caseback engravings remain crisp and legible, reinforcing the watch’s state of preservation. The dial is where this reference truly reveals its depth. Rendered in black, it features an outer telemeter scale paired with an inner “snail” tachymeter, an arrangement both visually captivating and technically evocative of the era’s fascination with precision and measurement. The harmonious layout, punctuated by elegant Arabic and baton numerals with balanced sub-dials, offers a richness that rewards prolonged observation. Fitted with a steel bracelet and accompanied by its presentation box, this reference 2919 stands not merely as a rare Rolex chronograph, but as a quietly important witness to the brand’s formative years in complicated watchmaking. For the discerning collector, it represents an opportunity that is unlikely to present itself often, if ever again in such compelling guise.