$12,000
“Pre-Explorer” Rolex, “Oyster Perpetual Precision”, Ref. 6098, used by Nigel Wace during the Gough Island Scientific Survey 1955-1956. Made in the early 1950s. Fine and very rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch. Three-body, polished, screwed-down case back and crown, case back engraved: Gough Island Scientific Survey 1955 - 1956. Black with luminous Arabic numerals and baton indexes. Luminous steel alpha hands. Cal. 775, rhodium plated, 19 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating Breguet balancespring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Height 13 mm. Notes The eleven members of the Gough Island Scientific Survey spent over six months recording details of the island’s geological history and its flora and fauna. Since the island is a dot in the farthest reaches of the South Atlantic this expedition would be a footnote in the story of the International Geophysical Year if it were not for one small detail. One of the watches used by the expedition has recently surfaced - it is the present watch. Like many of the watches made by Rolex in the 1950s, it poses more questions than it answers. These watches were given by the society to the members of expeditions and it seems that they were not expected to be returned on the completion of the expedition, as the case backs are engraved with the title of the expedition (which makes it impossible for them to be re-used). This watch was given t
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2008-04-17
