Rolex Triple Date / Moonphase / early Chronograph..?

[Mike Wood]

Yes, I think I have!!

My stainless Rolex Oyster Perpetual triple date moonphase chronometer (around 80 pieces produced in stainless steel??)









Bought in Switzerland in 1954 at Bucherer for the princely sum of 590 Swiss Francs by an American gentleman, Mr Sidney J Francis, from Texas. The watch has the original bill of sale, guarantee, and other documentation, and was fully refurbished by Rolex in 2005. The calendar wheels and moonphase retain their original finish, the dial was repainted during the overhaul.

And my "Jean-Claude Killy" Rolex Oyster triple date chronograph, ref. 6036, named after the famous downhill skier and current Rolex "Ambassador". The watch came from the family of the original owner living in Guatemala. The watch dates from the early 1950's, and is fitted with the non-screw down "Super Oyster" winding crown. Obviously a manual wind watch, based on the Valjoux 72c ebauche, with apertures for the day and month, and a centrally mounted date pointer hand.



Together they make a handsome pair!!





Interestingly, the calendar on the moonphase watch has an automatic change-over on the month indicator (almost, but not quite, an annual calendar mechanism); whereas the month indicator on the JCK requires manual change-over using one of the push-pieces in the case band.

So, ahead of Basel 2012, can we expect to see Rolex relaunching a complicated piece to rival these fine 1950's watches..?

MW

[Frogman4me]

Why?!? Why Mike must you do this to us! Lol

Seriously though thanks for sharing, those are two incredibly rare and beautiful pieces :)

[clay1680]

Absolutely stunning set! love the dial and the date hand on the moonphase! thanks for posting!!!

[SPARTAN2161]

Wow awesome watches Mike! Neat story behind them too

[RC2]

Mike. U made us jealous again. Rich

[BaltimoreBrian]

Mike, thank you for sharing your amazing collection with us and allowing people, like myself, to see such unique and exquisite time pieces that otherwise I may never have seen!

[Starwalker]

that is an awesome duo! Just out curiosity....how much would those go for at an auction house?

[mjclark32]

Beautiful Mike!

[watch-guy.com]

[Chipmunk]

Sometimes you can only see these timepieces only on TRF.

Thanks for sharing with us, MW.

[azguy]

What an amazing watch with "fuller than full" documentation will you wear it how about a wrist shot

[Keeperoftime]

Wow-e!!!!!

[Warnsboy]

Very nice Mike! I love the clean look of the Moon-phase after being refurbished. Can you provide info on the bracelet?

Regards,

Mike

[watchthisone2]

Hello Mike,
Impressive watches, well done!
I have seen a combination of the two watches, with all the functions of the pair in one watch. In your opinion, are these watches genuine or fakes as mentioned in the Gilbert, Engle & Shugart book as it seemed pretty authentic to me.
Thanks,
Jeff.

[cruvon]

Mike, thanks for the watch pictures and the paperwork ones too, have never seen paperwork pictures on these watches before:), are a feast to my eyes, truly stunning duo you have there.

Guess the reason why the month on the moonphase watch automatically increments unlike the triple date chrono is because Rolex modified the Valjoux V72C movement back then on the moonphases to do that.

Rolex reintroducing these iconic watches will surely be a show stealer for us and them:)

[Rickster]

Awesome pieces!

[lebowski321]

Those are incredible watches. The crazy thing is, I'm sitting here drooling over these watches and as I'm looking at the paperwork, I see Luling, TX. I live 30 minutes from there in San Marcos. That is awesome.

[Sweramic]

How could I possibly miss this thread. After having seen the new releases from Rolex in Basel this year, this made me happy again.

Thanks for sharing Mike. Two absolutely gorgeous watches with, I'm sure, a very interesting life

[Andad]

Very nice Mike.

I think I have a spare end link for one of those.

[wokafu]

stunning !! i wonder if there is a piece with black dial...

[Beaumont Miller II]

I think somewhere a museum is looking for part of their collection...LOL. Congrats mike on a beautiful pair.

[johnbeth]

[tamba]

Saw both these in the flesh recently, and they are awesome. After the recent modern offering from Rolex, its good to see these rare complex vintage gems.

Cheers Is.

[bewithabob]

Beautiful!

[Dickson Lim]

Gorgeous, hint for Basel 2013 perhaps?

[cedargrove]

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing these.

[rad87gn]

Nice!!

[ELITEVIDEOGAMES]

Awesome pieces. Moonphase is stunning, I can only dream about rolex getting back into these types of complications. Sky dweller a step in the right direction I guess?

[FeelingTheBlues]

I'm really speechless right now! I've seen numerous threads about those on TRF but I'm glad I get to see them as "somebody's timepieces". Thank you for sharing!

[Felix.H]

Oh my dear Lord..!!!!