Rolex Encyclopedia

Many consider the Rolex ref 6062 Moonphase the most beautiful Rolex ever. Anyhow, it is one of the most complex models.
The rarest design of the ref 6062 is the black dial and diamond indexes version, of which only two copies are known.

Bao Dai, the latest emperor of Vietnam, was known for his good taste and had a reputation for tiger hunter, womanizer and car collector. During his stay in Geneva for the Indochina peace talks, he bought a Moonphase with a black dial and diamond indexes.
It was an 18-carat golden, self-winding waterproof watch with a triple calendar and positions of the moon, ref 6062, 36 mm in diam. A tonneau-shaped two-body case with screw back nr. 916366. This watch had been produced in 1952 and sold to Bao Lai in 1954. The crown is a Gold Super Oyster, ref 18. The watch has a black glossy dial with inlaid golden dart and five diamond indexes, an outer gold-plated date ring with a steel central date indicator and two openings for days and months. The hands are made of gold and the type is ‘Dauphine’. A supplementary dial marks the positions of the moon showing a black sky, combined with the constant second hand. The ‘Officially Certified Chronometer’ is in the center of this additional dial.
The ref 6062 was produced from 1949 until 1953, 350 copies in yellow gold, 50 in rose gold and a few in stainless steel.
Particularly the ref 6062 indexes varied greatly: the rarest were the diamond indexes, followed by the star-shaped indexes. A black dial is the rarest. Remarkably, in the Rolex ads for the ref 6062 the term ‘Cosmograph’ was used.

The stainless steel design is an Oyster Perpetual Chronometer with a screw crown and on the side of the case push buttons to adjust the calendar. The dial is made of two-tone silver with inlaid stainless steel dart indexes and 3-6 Arab figures, black minute track, graduation for the days of the month in blue, supplementary second dial, openings for the days of the week, the months and the positions of the moon.
The watch contains a cal. 9 3/4”’ clockwork, rhodium-plated, 19 jewels, straight-line lever echappement, monometal balance, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and clockwork are signed. 36 mm in diameter and 14 mm thick.

The design in 18-carat yellow gold. It is noticeable that the dial is made of ‘frosted’ silver with inlaid yellow golden facet dart indexes and star-shaped indexes and that luminous points have been put in.

The very rare stainless steel design which is called the ‘Black Moon’. The hands are made of stainless steel, luminous and of the ‘Alpha’ type.

The frosted silver dial with inlaid luminous yellow golden pyramidal, star-shaped and dart indexes and rose golden ‘Dauphine’ hands attract the most attention. Additionally, there is a cal. 655 chronometer clockwork, rhodium-plated, 18 jewels, straight-line lever echappement, Super-balance set on 6 positions, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and clockwork are signed. 36 mm in diameter and 14 mm thick.

A ref 6062 is made of 18-carat yellow gold, put on the market by Serpico Y Laino (is written on the supplementary dial with the positions of the moon).

A very rare design of the ref 6062 in stainless steel. Apart from the known specifications this watch was also antimagnetic. Driven by a cal. 9 3/4”’, 36 mm in diameter and 15 mm thick. Owned by an Asian collector.

An extremely rare design of ref 6062 is this 18-carat, yellow golden version with a black dial and diamond indexes. The watch-strap is also unique, a so-called ‘gold tile-link’ with a folding lock.

This version of ref 6062 has a so-called champagne coloured ‘Egyptian’ dial. Driven by a cal. 655 and 35.5 mm in diameter.

A stainless steel ref 6062 with a beautiful, two-tone silver dial. Clockwork is a cal. 9 3/4”’ and 15 mm thick.

A black dial and ‘Alpha’ radium-coated hands in this design of ref 6062 and driven by a cal. 9 3/4”’.

And last but not least a fine photomontage of the dazzling ref 6062:

Jaap Bakker