$50,400
Submariner Ref. 6204, “Blackout” Rolex, “Oyster, Perpetual", Ref. 6204. Made in 1953. Fine and rare center seconds, self-winding, stainless steel wristwatch with graduated black bezel. Accompanied by correspondence exchanged between Rolex and the original owner. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed case back and crown, graduated bi-directional revolving bezel. Black with luminous indexes. Luminous skeletonized hands. Cal. A260, 9 3/4’’’, rhodium-plated, 19 jewels, lever escapement, Superbalance, shockabsorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 37 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Notes Ref. 6204 (“Blackout”) The present watch is featured on p. 261 of “The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches” by Dowling and Hess. “The very first 200 or so 6204 Submariners had the model name obscured by a block of black paint; this was because Rolex did not, at that time, have the rights to the name. These original Submariners were rated as being waterproof to 300 feet, not the 100 meters we are used to seeing.” (see p. 255). The present watch is accompanied by letters from the original owner confirming that the watch was received directly from Rolex USA with the word “Submariner” blacked out: “In 1954 our Scuba diving club, the Chicago Submariners, was contacted by The Fair Department Store located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to put on a 2 day summer Scuba diving demonstration and promotion for the store. This would take place outside the store and in a l
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2008-04-17
