Lot 64
Rolex. A very rare 18k gold mechanical padlock-form watch on a broach
Precision Ref.8858, Case No.314, number 8, made in the 1950s
Auction: 20 May 2026 from 14:00 BST
Description
Precision hand-wound 17 jewel movement, white dial with applied pink gold dagger numerals and coronet, pink Alpha hands, the 18k gold case in the form of a padlock with hinged locking loop, the reverse with applied faux key hole, inner upper case stamped 8, inner case back additionally stamped 8 twice. Case, dial and movement signed. With unmarked matching design gold bar broach with attached faux key.
Dimensions
Broach bar total width 42mm, padlock case only height 17mm.
Footnote
Very few examples of the Rolex Ref.8858 padlock-form watch are known to the market, research would suggest this is the first example to appear on a broach, with others seen attached to a bracelet. The clever case design with working lock meant the case could be transferred to various adornments and worn in multiple ways.
The inside case back is stamped with a Geneva Key 12, indicated it was made by Genex SA. Created from combining Genf and Rolex, the company was another subsidiary of Rolex SA alongside Tudor, Rolco and Unicorn. Their factory in Cherbourg is now the home of Rolex case manufacturing.
