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.
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.