68 - ROLEX RETAILED BY MAPPIN REF. 3525, OYSTER CHRONOGRAPH “MONOBLOCCO”, STAINLESS STEEL A rare stainless steel manual-winding chronograph wristwatch with two-register dial and multi-scale chapter ring.

ROLEX RETAILED BY MAPPIN REF. 3525, OYSTER CHRONOGRAPH “MONOBLOCCO”, STAINLESS STEEL A rare stainless steel manual-winding chronograph wristwatch with two-register dial and multi-scale chapter ring. Year: Circa 1945 Dial: Silvered dial with Arabic numerals, luminous blued hands, subsidiary seconds at 9 o’clock, 30-minute chronograph register at 3 o’clock and outer tachymeter and telemeter scales, signed Rolex Oyster Chronograph Antimagnetic and MAPPIN Calibre: Rolex manual-winding calibre 13''' VZ, 17 jewels, signed. Case: Stainless steel Oyster “Monoblocco” case with screw-down crown, round chronograph pushers and screw-down case back, ref. 3525, serial numbered 386420. Diameter: Approx. 35 mm Gross Weight: Approx. 47.8 g Bracelet: Brown leather strap with stainless steel pin buckle. Signature: Dial, movement and case. Introduced in 1939, the Rolex ref. 3525 “Monoblocco” occupies an important place in the manufacture’s history as its first chronograph housed in a water-resistant Oyster case. Its distinctive construction, with bezel, caseband and lugs formed from a single block of metal, gave the reference its celebrated nickname. The present stainless steel example, dating from circa 1945, is particularly interesting for its rare double-signed dial, bearing the name of Mappin, the distinguished British retailer. Such retailer signatures are highly prized by collectors, offering a fascinating glimpse into Rolex’s early international distribution. With its beautifully aged silvered dial, contrasting blue telemeter scale and black tachymeter scale, this remarkable chronograph combines historical significance, rarity and the unmistakable charm of early Rolex watchmaking.