The example sold to a commission bidder for £27,000 (estimate £25,000-35,000) at Fellows on February 15 was a dial variant c.1954. It has the ‘Explorer’ wording on the dial at six o’clock: others have the script ‘Precision’ instead. Specialist Steven Yambo said it was “in remarkable condition for its age”. His firm had sold a similar 6150 in August 2019 for £25,000.
Another short-lived Rolex from this period is the Tru-Beat Ref 6556 launched in 1954. Housing the calibre 1040, this is the only Rolex equipped with a ‘dead-beat’ second mechanism that advances the seconds hand only once per second. It was marketed to doctors to allow for a more accurate reading of patients’ pulse rates.
Rolex Tru-Beat Ref 6556 – £16,000 at Bertolami.
The example from 1955 offered by Rome saleroom Bertolami in London on February 16 was one of handful made with an 18ct gold case and a sought-after silver dial. The hammer price was £16,000.
