91 Rolex Fine and Attractive Anti-Magnetic Chronograph Wristwatch in Steel, Reference 4500, With Silver Telemetric and tachymetric Scales Dial

Estimate: €20,000 –⁠ 40,000

Model: Anti Magnetic
Material: Stainless Steel
Reference N°: 4500
Year: 1946
Case N°: 497405
Caliber: 23R
Movement type: Manual
Bracelet: Leather Strap
Dimensions: 36 mm
Signed: Dial, case and movement

History of watchmaking is littered with many models that represented real chimeras or true rarities if considered the style and composition of watches of the same period. The reference 4500 produced by Rolex in the early 1940s is one of these specimens given its totally new design of the case, compared to the previous ones, with straighter and more pointed lugs that will then be the basis of many subsequent models. Moreover, this model is one of the very rare chronographs in an Oyster case to feature only two counters, one for constant seconds and one for the 30 minutes, omitting the 12 hours register. Conceived in the mid-1940s, the Rolex Oyster Chronograph ref. 4500 was the great grandfather of the modern Cosmograph Daytona model that everybody love and admire today. The two body case of the reference was available in yellow or pink gold, steel and gold and, such as the present example, in stainless steel. The rarity of this lot is given by the great conditions of the case with clear satin finish, the two push down buttons for the chronograph and the very nice dial. The presence of only two registers, as previously said, makes the quadrant and the whole watch looking smoother, elegant and a bit less sporty. The argentè background presents some seductive halos while the baton and arabic numerals and the outer telemetric scale show up in all their eye-catching light. The rarity, condition and special features that equips this lot make this a unique opportunity for collectors of vintage steel chronographs.