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Lot Essay
From the family of the original owner, this incredibly elusive timepiece is one of the most desirable and coveted watches from Rolex. Featuring applied gold star and triangular indices that are further enhanced with applied luminous material, this spectacular watch's beauty is extended and complemented by the matte silvered honeycomb dial. More commonly associated with the celebrated 'Stelline' or star dial reference 6062 made during the same period, this 'Galaxy' timepiece, as mentioned in the Rolex literature from the period is much rarer with only approximately 10 examples known to date. The watch also retains its original gold 'Brevet' crown.
Julius F. Holpit, Leader of Experimental Manufacturing at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
An exceptional man of brilliance, Mr. Julius F. Holpit was leader of Experimental Manufacturing at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation and set the incredible trajectory that the company quickly accomplished. Being the 5th employee of the almost 100 year old legendary American company that manufactured some of the most important aeronautical and aerospace crafts including the Apollo Lunar Module, F-14 Tomcat (featured in Top Gun), and F6F Hellcat that helped America win the Second World War, Holpit was awarded this timepiece in 1954 for 25 years of service. Furthermore, the caseback is engraved with the Grumman logo along with 'Julius F. Holpit, 25 Years'.
Amazingly, the iconic and old-school Grumman logo features a star at the top, and one can only assume that this is why the company chose to gift this extremely rare 'Galaxy' star dial variant of the reference 6098 to their beloved colleague for his loyalty.
Reference 6098
Launched in the early 1950s, reference 6098 is blessed with the largest Oyster case of the period, it was made by Genex S.A. Another interesting aspect of the present watch is that is has the very unusual feature of a copper-colored gilt movement. Several of the known 'stelline' type reference 6098 watches have movements of this special colour. Furthermore, the interior of the caseback is 'double signed' that is, in addition to the large Rolex Geneva Swiss Patented signature and logo there is a further signature Montres Rolex S.A., Geneva, Swiss engraved vertically.
According to our research, including the present watch, only ten reference 6098 are known publicly with a yellow gold case and silvered 'stelline' type dial. Three examples are known in yellow gold with a black dial, three in steel with silvered dial and one example in pink gold. The serial numbers of all the known examples in gold fall between 912'XXX and 947'XXX.
Julius F. Holpit, Leader of Experimental Manufacturing at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
An exceptional man of brilliance, Mr. Julius F. Holpit was leader of Experimental Manufacturing at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation and set the incredible trajectory that the company quickly accomplished. Being the 5th employee of the almost 100 year old legendary American company that manufactured some of the most important aeronautical and aerospace crafts including the Apollo Lunar Module, F-14 Tomcat (featured in Top Gun), and F6F Hellcat that helped America win the Second World War, Holpit was awarded this timepiece in 1954 for 25 years of service. Furthermore, the caseback is engraved with the Grumman logo along with 'Julius F. Holpit, 25 Years'.
Amazingly, the iconic and old-school Grumman logo features a star at the top, and one can only assume that this is why the company chose to gift this extremely rare 'Galaxy' star dial variant of the reference 6098 to their beloved colleague for his loyalty.
Reference 6098
Launched in the early 1950s, reference 6098 is blessed with the largest Oyster case of the period, it was made by Genex S.A. Another interesting aspect of the present watch is that is has the very unusual feature of a copper-colored gilt movement. Several of the known 'stelline' type reference 6098 watches have movements of this special colour. Furthermore, the interior of the caseback is 'double signed' that is, in addition to the large Rolex Geneva Swiss Patented signature and logo there is a further signature Montres Rolex S.A., Geneva, Swiss engraved vertically.
According to our research, including the present watch, only ten reference 6098 are known publicly with a yellow gold case and silvered 'stelline' type dial. Three examples are known in yellow gold with a black dial, three in steel with silvered dial and one example in pink gold. The serial numbers of all the known examples in gold fall between 912'XXX and 947'XXX.