# @sothebyswatches on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVWyKFHC3X
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/12830058-sothebyswatches-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/66ed86ee49.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-05-18T15:08:36.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Sotheby's Watches (@sothebyswatches) — https://gondola.cc/sothebyswatches

## Caption

A superb opportunity to own a piece of Rolex’s history, this is the reference 5100: the very first quartz watch manufactured by Rolex... and the first Rolex with a sapphire crystal.

The uncertainty of the quartz crisis forced all manufactures - even the most powerful - to re-evaluate the future. 
To do so, Rolex was one of 21 manufactures which formed the ‘Centre Electronique Horloger’, a collaboration from which, in 1969, the Beta-21 movement was born. 
This very nicely preserved watch is no.249 out of only 1000 examples made with the reference 5100, which featured the new Beta-21 movement. All 1000 were purchased before production even began. And production lasted only 2 years. Oh - and those who bought one were invited to an exclusive tour of the Rolex factory. 
This piece is lot 7 in our Watches Weekly auction (estimate CHF 12,000 - 18,000), open for bidding until Thursday, 21 May. See link in bio #sothebyswatches rolex #rolex #rolexbeta21 #vintagewatch #quartzwatch #watchcollecting

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 642
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 5

## Tags

rolexbeta21, rolex, quartzwatch, watchcollecting, sothebyswatches, vintagewatch

---
Copyright (c) Gondola