Rolex a highly exclusive, important and exceptionally. My geneva rolex auction report nov 2018 rolex passion market. The early pointed crown guard case is in great condition with thick and even lugs and prominent beveled edges. Serpico y laino serpico y laino specializes in fine. Created by vicente laino and leopoldo serpico, two italian businessmen and jewelry makers, the caracasbased company specialized in watches, and quickly. Most impressively, it is the only known and correct reference 6542 cased in yellow gold and retailed by serpico y laino to have ever appeared at auction. Note the 4 line reads now official certified superlative chronometer there where on earlier models the description was official certified chronometer ref. The personal book from top collector sandro frattini and the one from a.
Created by vicente laino and leopoldo serpico, two italian businessmen and jewelry makers, the caracasbased company specialized in watches, and quickly grew to prominence in the region. Rolex encyclopedia represents the most complete work ever realized on rolex. Some more internet sleuthing ensued and i learned that serpico y laino was a highend jewelry retailer started by two italian gentlemen, leopoldo serpico and vecente laino, in caracas, venezuela. Gilt dial featuring submariner and serpico y laino. A unique serpico y laino patek philippe reference 2499 christies. Reardon recently posted about the serpico y laino reference 2499. Vintage rolex serpico y laino rolex passion report. Three books with the entire rolex production from 1905 until now. Buy swiss rolex replica watches uk online shop for men, cheap. It was indeed the leading watch retailer in caracas until its closure in 1966, after forty years of activity. In the photo below we see stan barrett in 1979 at edwards air force base as he prepares to break through the sound barrier in his budweiser rocket car. Rolex passion is divided into categories in alphabetic order and represents a general guideline, which provides all the references but also detailed information, for example. The importance of the vintage rolex dial in watch collecting.
New listing vintage 18k patek philippe serpico y laino caracas ladies wristwatch ref. The vintage rolex case number project rolex serial or case numbers have long been a source of frustration, amazement and amusement to collectors trying to determine the age of their vintage rolex. With reference 6204 rolex introduces the very first submariner. Import genius bill of lading data reveals the trading activities of serpico y laino chuao, c. A vintage rolex oyster air king serpico y laino 4499 precision steel wristwatch. Serpico y laino was founded in the late 1920s by two italian immigrants, leopoldo serpico and vicente laino, a young goldsmith. A really attractive specimen of the classic gmt master 1675 hailing from south america and the historic retailer serpico y laino. Rolex gmtmaster 6542 bakelite, rolex submariner 5512 and more. Serpico is an interesting and well written book about the struggles frank serpico faced while trying to be an honest cop among the corrupt practices which were ongoing at the time in new york city. This watch has been preserved in exceptional condition. It was founded by an enterprising italian, leopoldo serpico.
Here is a pdf document of the rolex serpico y laino report. Also christies has beaten phillips with their excellent result of their fresh to the market 1st series ref 2499 sold and signed by serpico y laino for 3. The first features a serpico y laino brand, indicating it was sold through the famed italian rolex dealer. Some history for those that dont know the air series was released in 1945 for pilots, hence the air. Founded in 1925, serpico y laino was the leading luxury watch retailer in venezuela for roughly 40 years until their closure in 1966.
They have such a rich history of being worn by world leaders and in cinema. Initially focusing on jewellery, they soon expanded into watches and became the exclusive distribution agent for rolex in venezuela following a meeting with hans wilsdorf in geneva in the early 1930s. All details and components are as they should be, rendering it one of the most important reference 6542s to ever appear on the market. Finally, a rolex with a dutch touch sold by serpico y laino. The branch that became known as serpico y laino, founded in 1925 until 1966, was located on the mercaderes 21 stock exchange, very close to the gran hotel. Among these lesserknown and incredibly rare, cobranded rolex dials is the serpico y laino dial. The first time i encountered an example of the white swiss print was in mondanis book on the submariner model. Patek philippe a very rare and extremely wellpreserved. Although the biggest sales were elsewhere this time, phillips highest sale was just 1 million dollar for the ppc ref 3974 theyre still the market leader with their 22 million on. The pink gold rolex oyster rivet stretchy band makes this watch pop. It is not sponsored by, associated with andor affiliated with rolex s. Rolex oyster reference 3359 serpico y laino dial twotone rose. Rolex date 115200 vendita rolex date prezzo rolex date. It was nowhere mentioned in the text, but it carried a picture of a ref 55 with serpico y laino print and the white swiss print at 18h00.
The company serpico y laino that is now in the hotel eurobuilding in caracas venezuela is not the same company and it has not any relationship with the original serpico y laino founded in 1925 from leopoldo serpico and vincent laino and that was the exclusive reseller for patek,rolex and ebel in. Inside, the high grade 1120 automatic 27 jewel movement is running strong and keeping excellent time although its service history is unknown. The importance of the vintage rolex dial rolex passion. His struggles ultimately led to the knapp commission and reforms at the nypd, and set the stage for ethical reforms in policing across america. This amazing specimen is dated on 1953 and the feature of the retailers name on the dial, makes this watch an absolute rarity. But it was far more important for serpico y laino to be able to do business in a fair and agreeable fashion until that time. In particular, those from patek philippes retailer in caracas, serpico y laino, are especially sought after amongst collectors today. You have probably already heard about serpico y laino in the context of collectible rolex and patek. You might find a false attribution to comex in rolex history books for codeveloping the seadweller, and we will learn the true history of comex from henrigermain delauze who is the founder and ceo of comex to this day. Settling in caracas, he went into business with leopoldo serpico, a fellow italian immigrant. Serpico by peter maas, 1973, viking press edition, in english serpico 1973 edition. Reference 6036 that was made in 1953 and sold by serpico y laino is caracas, venezuaela.
Venezuela adds a wrinkle in time for world models the. The company was founded by two italian immigrants in venezuela at. The book, which is published in collaboration with christies in platinum and silver editions, reveals fratinis eye for the exceptional, and treasures from a collection that includes the finest and rarest watches made by rolex, cartier, audemars piguet. A serpico y laino dial rolex oyster 3359 bobs watches. This is a lovely rose gold rolex oyster perpetual from the 1950s the original textured dial with serpico y laino on it makes this watch all the more special. Serpico was the first police officer in the history of the new york city police department to step forward to report and subsequently testify openly about widespread, systemic corruption payoffs amounting to millions of dollars. Vintage rolex oyster air king serpico y laino 4499. With wealth levels in the country rising on the back of the postwar oil boom, serpico y laino set about looking for watches to sell to the newly affluent sections of the population, and went into business with patek philippe. In the 50s rolex came to the end of the six digit run 999,999 and rather than add a seventh digit, they, in their wisdom, decided to simply reuse. My geneva auction rolex report november 2018 rolex.
The original dial is signed serpico y laino, a high end venezuelan retailer who originally sold this timepiece. This watch was sold by serpico y laino, caracas venezuela in 1955. Patek philippe vintage calatrava serpico y laino yellow gold. Serpico proposed to laino to participate in the business, since this was a goldsmith and although he did not have money he stood out for being a welleducated and shrewd man in business. The history of the linz brand begins with a family of 5 brothers. Birth year rolex watch vintage rolex watches by birth year. Rolex the submariner 6204 retailed by serpico y laino. A unique serpico y laino patek philippe reference 2499. The story of the serpico y laino jewellers is heavily influenced by the mass.
Rolex passion report is a fully independent initiative, without any legal, economic or other ties with the famous luxury watch maker. If you are not acquainted with the serpico y laino story, spend some time reading about it. The rolex submariner collectors story rolex passion report. In switzerland, there is only one dial manufacturer, donze cadrans, making them that is independent of other watch firms, and this donze cadrans makes enamel dials for the likes of patek philippe, a. Thus, with the money of serpico and the intellectual capital of laino, serpico y laino was established. Rare 1958 rolex ladys serpico y laino stainless steel oyster. Serpico y laino offers a range of repair services for jewelry as well as the experience and skill to repair and restore special timepieces.
If you want to know more about the history read my rpreport about them. If you are not familiar with stan barrett he was not only the top stuntman in hollywood but also broke back to back to back land speed records which culminated in him being the first driver to break the speed of sound barrier on land. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Rolex 6634 serpico y laino 4 i carefully lifted the small, yellowgold treasure out from the box to get a closer look at it. Some of the most famous and popular rolex replica watches are those with a dial engraved with the signature of.
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