3 Rolex A rare and important, "Texano", wristwatch in white gold, with Beta 21 movement, integrated bracelet, N° 777, reference 5100.
Estimate: € 40.000 – 80.000
Create an account or log in to place absentee and live bids.
- Model Texano
- Year Circa 1972
- Reference 5100
- Case Material 18K white gold
- Case Number 777
- Bracelet Material 18K white gold Rolex bracelet, approximate length 190mm
- Movement Quartz, cal. RE10, 13 jewels
- Movement Number 7'312
- Dimension 39mm Diameter
- Signed Case, dial and movement
The Rolex reference 5100 “Texano” occupies a unique place in the history of the Crown. Introduced in 1970 and produced for only two years, it was Rolex’s first quartz wristwatch and a direct result of the Maison’s participation in the Centre Electronique Horloger (CEH), the consortium of 21 Swiss manufacturers established to develop the country’s first quartz movement. The resulting Beta-21, completed in 1969, represented a major technological breakthrough. At launch, the 5100 was not only one of the most technologically advanced watches in Rolex’s catalogue, but also its most expensive. Its imposing 39 mm tonneau-shaped case, integrated bracelet and highly architectural design represented a radical departure from the traditional Oyster aesthetic. It was also the first Rolex to feature a sapphire crystal and a quickset date mechanism. Production was strictly limited to approximately 1,000 examples, predominantly in 18K yellow gold, with only about 100 to 150 pieces produced in white gold. Each watch was individually numbered on the case back. The entire initial production was reportedly sold before the model was officially presented at Basel, with purchasers becoming members of the exclusive “Rolex Quartz Club” and receiving invitations to visit Rolex in Geneva. Rolex ultimately withdrew from the CEH in 1972 to develop its own proprietary quartz technology, bringing the brief but remarkable career of the 5100 to an end. Its unusual nickname, “Texano”, is thought to allude to its imposing dimensions and unapologetically opulent character.
Condition Report
Create an account or log in to view the condition report!
Auction Preview
GENEVA
Eternity Gallery Geneva, 19 Place de Longemalle
HONG KONG
Opera Gallery Hong Kong, 1 Duddell Street, Unit 01, 11/F, Central
MILANO
Portrait Milano Hotel, Corso Venezia, 11
BOLOGNA
Time on Show Bologna, Viale della Fiera, 20