by Angelo Piccini
Rolex 2508. The first chronograph by the Swiss watchmaker with a push-button back and two chronograph push-buttons – a true icon of modern watchmaking – will be presented at the next auction of watches.This 18-carat yellow gold model with a black dial and gold graphics is an example of beauty and classicism. Produced in 1935, this watch has survived to the present day and still shows its ancient splendour. Classic yet sporty, rare and iconic, whomever owns this watch is not only its owner but its keeper.
Rolex 2508 Chrono Bicompax: this reference is introduced by Rolex in the early ’30s, and marked a change in design compared to the old watches that had the case with a hinged back inspired by pocket watches. The case is inserted in three bodies with a snap pressure case back. Until then, single-pusher the chronographs produced were single-pusher ones. Reference 2508. Equipped with two pushers located on the sides of the crown, it is the first Rolex wristwatch chronograph with two counters equipped with two pushers, initially in the shape of an olive then later rectangular section.
This chronograph was produced in steel, yellow gold and red gold.
The case consisted in 3 bodies: case back, case middle and smooth bezel but it was not waterproof, that’s why only few watches have survived in acceptable condition.
The list price for the 18-carat gold model was 1,650 lire, while the steel model cost 700 lire. The chronograph was produced with dials having different scales: “Tachymetric”, “Telemetric”, “Pulsometric”. The tachometer scale is used to calculate the average speed of a vehicle over a distance of one kilometre. The telemetric scale is based on the speed of propagation of sound in the air, suitable for military use. The pulsometric scale allows to calculate the pulse beats. The 14-line movement with manual winding on a Valjoux 22 basis allowed for excellent control and precision.