ROLEX 5100 BETA 21 18K

In 1962, a consortium of 21 of the Swiss watch industry’s best brands came together to develop a high end electronic watch movement. The group was called Centre Electronique Horloger. In 1967 their prototype was introduced. By 1969, the technology was perfected to the point that mass production of the electronic movement was started. The movement made its public debut at the 1970 Basel Fair, and was subsequently used by several of the manufacturers originally involved in its conception, research and design and finally its production.

Rolex cased the Beta 21 movement inside the watch for sale here. They didn’t exercise their imagination much with its name – Beta 21 – but they weren’t stingy with the gold J

The Beta 21’s case is solid 18k yellow gold with dimensions of 40mm wide by 40.1mm long by 12.5mm thick. The crystal is sapphire and this was Rolex’s first watch ever with a sapphire crystal. Not surprisingly, given the revolutionary technology encased inside, Rolex designed and produced a rather futuristic looking, geometrical watch case. The bracelet is integral to the case. The center of the watch, looking down from above, is round, but the case ends in a beveled edge, from which a hooded lug emerges. The bezel is fluted. The bracelet is full-length and will comfortably fit an 8 inch wrist.

Dial is untouched original and rare silver, with applied golden hour markers, minutes and 1/5 seconds chapter and date at 3 o’clock. The dial is in perfect, mint and original condition. Original golden baton hands in mint perfect condition.

The aforementioned movement has 13 jewels and provides a sweeping seconds hand despite the fact that a quartz crystal regulates the timekeeping. Movement is clean and running.

Rolex only made 1,000 of these watches and each is numbered. This is watch 24X and condition is mint. Rolex USA performed a factory service on the movement in 2008.