
Jonathan Darracott
Global Head
Sold for £13,812.50 inc. premium
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Head of Department
Head of sale, Knightsbridge
Rolex has produced an interesting range of hard stone dials throughout the decades - malachite, tiger's eye, onyx and lapis lazuli spring to mind immediately. But even though the looks of these different stones can give a completely different feel to the design of a watch, there is one thing they all have in common. Hard stone dials are always a challenge produce but do not change over time.
Carved from a large stone which needs to be of excellent quality, the slice needs to be cut exceedingly thin in order to produce a usable dial. Especially with types of stone that are on the more porous side in structure, this can be a challenge and many are rejected.
The complicated production process is clearly worth the effort. The nature of the material means each dial is truly unique and characterful.