57,600 HKD
Ref. 6556, Tru-Beat Rolex, “Oyster Perpetual, Tru-Beat", case No. 139160, Ref. 6556. Made in 1956. Very fine and very rare, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with dead-beat center seconds and a stainless steel Oyster riveted bracelet with deployant clasp. Three-body, polished and brushed, inclined bezel, screweddown case back and crown. Satiné silver with applied steel indexes, outer minute/ seconds divisions. Steel dauphine hands. Cal. 1040, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Approx overall length 180 mm. Notes The present watch is a very early example of the “Tru-Beat”, the case back with the date code for the first quarter of 1956. Ref. 6556 This reference was produced predominantly in stainless steel and very few examples in gold. The 1960 catalogue stated that the system was to be replaced by the new reference 1020, but this never occurred. The interesting extra mechanism for the dead seconds is made of beryllium and features a lever that allows the seconds wheel to jump, therefore allowing the usual going seconds hand with a beat of 18,000 to beat once per second.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2009-06-27
