For the first time ever- the Beyer Museum has allowed a Blog access to their pieces.
While we already did a post on the museum of Beyer- we thought we would concentrate on a few pieces that are of interest – especially to vintage Rolex collectors, aficionados and readers – of which they are many. There are many important Rolex watches in the museum, several of which the company Rolex would love to get their hands on. We are thinking – the Hans Wildorf day date but also the Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer (yes the original one), not to mention a Deepsea Diver, or one of of the first oyster waterfproof wristwatches Rolex ever made.
I hope you enjoy a few of these super rare Rolex watches. You most likely will never see them at any auction or in any collection.
The first watch is a very rare prototype of the original Deep Sea Special that Jacques Piccards and Lieutenant Don Walsh used for their submariner dive in 1960 with Trieste.
It is not the original watch (the original watch resides in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC) but a prototype which itself is worth a small fortune. These prototypes were only given to the best dealers of Rolex in the world in the 1960s and only less than 20 pieces are known to exist.
For more on the deep sea dive of trieste -see the excellent article by Rolex Passion Report. Notice the extreme superdomed plexi which is simply extraordinary.
Here is the watch in the original color of gold and steel and another marvelous side view of the deep sea special. In fact the watch is so important historically seen-that Rolex launched a Deep Sea Dweller in tribute of this important watch. For more on the tribute edition please see the model on the official Rolex website here
The dial is difficult to see through the superdomed large plexi – but we took a picture none- the-less as it is spectacular.
More information can on the deep sea can be found on this page from the Mondani Book below.
Next we move on to another extremely rare treat. The original watch that Sir Edmund Hillary wore during his climb to the top of Mount Everest on 29th of May, 1953. This is THE ORIGINAL. Notice the absence of the word explorer on the dial as only after the expedition would Rolex officially create the famed ‘Explorer line’ and market the watches in that way.
We showed you the Hans Wilsdorf Rolex watch already but because it is so important and for those who might not have seen it – here it is below again.
On the back the inscription of the founder of Rolex -Hans Wilsdorf to his friend and business partner Mr Theodore Beyer. For more on this watch please see post here.
Here is one of the earliest known Rolex oyster watches that was waterproof from 1933. Notice the signature on the watch: Retailer Beyer.
Below a very early date-just which seems in very good condition especially the dial. Very early 1950s.
Last we see an absolute highlight that sits in the Beyer Museum – a very early Rolex with Automatic rotor (circa 1930s) also signed Beyer. In fact this is one the first Rolex watches with automatic rotor ever made. Notice the Beyer Zurich signature. Beyer would later drop the ‘Zurich’ part and only sign the watch with Beyer on most of their watches.
For an interview with Mr R Beyer – the eighth generation to lead the firm – please read our interview here.
