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Rolex wristwatch, ref. 6208, Lady's Self-Winding, circa 1970-1980 — view 1 of 2
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Rolex wristwatch, ref. 6208, Lady's Self-Winding, circa 1970-1980

DocumentedDocumented from an auction catalogue; attribution as stated by the auction house.
Maker / attribution
Rolex (brand / maker)
Date
c. 1970-1980
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Materials / technique
18k yellow gold
Dimensions
diameter Ø 24.7 mm; length 155 mm. (approx.) mm
Lot
Lot 353-25
Credit line
Auction lot record: LOT 25, Monaco Auction
Catalogue title (original)
ROLEX REF. 6208, LADY'S, SELF-WINDING, CENTRE-SECONDS; (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva (lot Lot 353-25), this is a wristwatch by Rolex, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1970-1980. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: 18k yellow gold. Recorded dimensions: diameter Ø 24.7 mm; length 155 mm. (approx.) mm. The record is illustrated with 2 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Antiquorum catalogue description

A very fine and rare, 18K yellow gold, self-winding, lady's wristwatch, water-resistant with screwed case-back, gold colour dial with applied radial indexes, centre-seconds and date or the month.

Lot specifications (Antiquorum)

Model: "Oyster Perpetual"; Reference: 6802; Movement No.: 11 126; Case No.: 1 431 526; Material: 18K yellow gold; Bracelet: 18K yellow gold Rolex bracelet with deploying Rolex clasp; Caliber: 1160; Diameter: Ø 24.7 mm; Length: 155 mm. (approx.); Weight: 56.5 gr. (approx.); Signature: dial, case and movement; Accessories: COSC bulletin

Inscriptions & marks

dial, case and movement

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Automatic (self-winding) watches

Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.

What to look for

  • A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
  • 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
  • A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.

Dating clues

  • Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
  • Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
  • Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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