For us, this spectacular Rolex Oyster Perpetual from 1953 is the star of the show.

This beautiful 36mm ref. 6098 is one of the early Oyster Perpetual references and unusually large for its age. It was created during a period when Rolex introduced some of their historically important tool watches. This reference is most often referred to as a 'Pre-Explorer', because the case shape and time-only automatic movement are similar to the first Explorer references. The 6098 is also associated with the early Mount Everest expeditions of the 1950s, a milestone that would eventually lead to the introduction of the Explorer. However, this example is crafted from 18k yellow gold, making it much rarer than the stainless steel examples.

The first thing that catches the eye is the stunning honeycomb dial. At the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions we see pointed hour markers, but what truly takes the cake is the charming star-shaped indices at the other positions. Because of this tiny detail the nickname 'Stelline' was given by Italian collectors. However, Rolex officially named it 'Galaxy'. The only other 36mm reference housing a dial with such outerwordly markers is the 6062. Inside the indices we find Radium lume. Over the decades, this radioactive material left a gorgeous patina on the dial, giving the honeycomb surface an incredible amount of character.

Inside beats calibre A296, an in-house automatic movement which was revolutionary for its time because of its reliability. This example of the A296 is gilt, which is not often seen and might have been a short-lived experiment from Rolex itself. Another small but fascinating detail is the 'ROW' stamp on the balance bridge. This was an import stamp, given to watches that were destined for the United States.

The case itself also has a rather charming nickname. The pronounced domed case back, necessary to accommodate the automatic movement, earned these watches the Italian nickname 'Ovettone', meaning 'big egg'. It is a small detail, but one that perfectly illustrates how collectors have always found their own ways of describing the unusual shapes and features of vintage Rolex.

About a dozen examples of the ref. 6098 'Stelline' are known, making it one of the rarest vintage Rolex configurations one can encounter. In 2012, this exact serial already hammered for $43,750, fetching almost double the estimate back then and representing the same value as a Paul Newman Daytona at the time. Ten years after this auction, its value more than doubled when it was hammered at the Monaco Legend Group and now it is up for sale again.

What makes this 'Galaxy' stand out even further is its undoubted originality. The watch has remained completely period-correct over the years, retaining its original honeycomb dial, star and pointed hour markers, Dauphine-shaped hands and calibre A296. On a watch this rare, having all these components together is something we value enormously. This is your chance to let this star shine on your wrist, before this incredibly rare Rolex disappears for an unknown amount of time.