105th Auction

2021/11/13

Lot 26

Rolex
Chronographe Anti-Magnetique Dato-Compax

An important and very rare vintage wrist chronograph with French calendar displays and tachymeter scale

estimated
75.00085.000 €
Price realized
-
specific features
Case
Steel/18 K pink gold, push back ref. 4768, engraved Rolex crown, engraved serial number, rectangular-shaped flat chronograph pushers, Rolex buckle.
Dial
Silvered; sunk blued pyramid indexes.
Movement
Manual.
Case no.62489X
Ref.4768
Cal.VALJOUX 72C
Diam.35 mm
Circa1947
Ctry.Switzerland


There are alltogether five different references of the Rolex Dato-Compax: 4768, 4767, 5036, 6036 and 6236, with reference 4768 being the only one with a non-Oyster case. The Dato-Compax is the only Rolex model to feature a triple calendar and a chronograph function.
Rolex began their production of calendar chronographs in 1947, because after the Second World War a high-quality watch had to have a date indication. Even though much information is provided on the dial, the structuring assures a clearness of display. Only about 220 pieces of ref. 4768, the chronograph "Anti-Magnetique Dato-Compax" were ever produced; the watch impresses with its elegant dial, the unostentatious case and the drop lugs which came into favour in the 1940s. This extraordinary composition gives the watch its particular allure and increases its collector's value.
This Dato-Compax impresses with its beautiful state of preservation. Both the case and the dial are original and untouched. The beautiful two-tone dial with blue analog date is patinated and has been spared needless cleaning. The watch shows slight signs of age, but they are quite appropriate for a nearly 75-year-old timepiece.