
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Rolex wristwatch, ref. 6208, Lady's Self-Winding, circa 1970-1980
- Maker / attribution
- Rolex (brand / maker)
- Date
- c. 1970-1980
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- 18k yellow gold
- Dimensions
- diameter Ø 24.7 mm; length 155 mm. (approx.) mm
- Auction house
- Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
- 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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