• manual winding nickel lever jeweled movement • circular silvered dial with applied triangular indexes concealed under a hinged cover finely set with marquise-cut sapphires and round-cut diamonds • snap-on case back • integrated bracelet finely set with baguette diamonds • case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

An exceptional piece. The movement is running at the time of cataloguing, however we recommend service in soon for accurate timekeeping. The dial is in overall good condition with some very minor signs of aging. The case and bracelet are in excellent condition considering the age and show very few if any signs of wear, only some very minor surface scuffs to mention. The case back retains its original Rolex sticker and the Rolex stamp to the bracelet clasp is very clear and well defined. There are 11 marquise-cut sapphires weighing approximately 3.50 carats.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

The approximate total diamond weight is 12.25 cts. There are 11 marquise-cut sapphires weighing approximately 3.50 carats. Accompanied by a fitted box. The watch also features the original factory sticker to the case back.

This exquisite piece is among the most important jewelry watches by Rolex to ever appear at auction. The pristine condition, unparalleled quality and breathtaking design of this example exemplify the heights of achievement for the master craftsmen at Rolex in the middle of the twentieth century.

In James Dowling's book, The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches, he notes that lady's watches constituted a larger share of the business than men's watches for at least the first three decades of the firm's history. Beginning with the 'Princess' model, the counterpart to the perhaps better-known 'Prince', Rolex offered many of its watches in options for both men and women, and continues to do so today.

In the 1950s and 1960s, though, the jewelry watch options available to ladies far surpassed the expectation of 'separate but equal' options. Upon request, Rolex created fully jeweled options for ladies of eminent taste and means. Advertisements from the period offered unique pieces with prices ranging up to $100,000.

1955 marked the production of the Rolex 'Ice Flower', an extraordinary diamond-set bracelet watch, their most expensive model ever created, and the winner of that year's Prix de la Ville de Genève. The design of the present lot is remarkably similar in style, with both bracelets nearly identically constructed, and varying only in the motif of flower depicted. It would stand to reason, then, that the present lot and the legendary 'Ice Flower' were designed by the same artist.

While the 'Ice Flower' has been documented in historical literature, the present lot has never before been offered in public and adds an exciting new chapter to the scholarship on this integral part of Rolex's history. Today, some sixty years after it left the atelier at Rolex, its modernity and utterly chic design makes it the ultimate accessory.

For further reading and further examples, see Dowling, J., The Best of Time: Rolex Timepieces, pp. 289-301.