Admin: Clarify archived catalogue attribution

2026-10-16T02:39:23Z

Clarify archived catalogue attribution

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:39, 16 October 2026
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	The catalogue dates run from Christie's circa-1920 estimate for steel case 1004619 to Antiquorum's circa-1940 estimate for steel case 1004623. Antiquorum dates gold case 1005651 and steel case 1004626 circa 1925. These are dates assigned to individual watches; they leave the reference's production endpoints open.		The catalogue dates run from Christie's circa-1920 estimate for steel case 1004619 to Antiquorum's circa-1940 estimate for steel case 1004623. Antiquorum dates gold case 1005651 and steel case 1004626 circa 1925. These are dates assigned to individual watches; they leave the reference's production endpoints open.

	~~Collector Square preserves~~ Tajan's 2007 entry ~~for~~ a gold ref. 2226 marked “No 105650” and dated circa 1935. Auctionata's 2014 entry gives case 1005650 and circa 1930. Their low-resolution images show the same Ronchi Milano signature and two-tone dial, which points to a repeat offering. The number discrepancy remains unresolved, so the entries count as one candidate watch.		A Tajan 2007 catalogue entry, preserved in an online archive, records a gold ref. 2226 marked “No 105650” and dated circa 1935. Auctionata's 2014 entry gives case 1005650 and circa 1930. Their low-resolution images show the same Ronchi Milano signature and two-tone dial, which points to a repeat offering. The number discrepancy remains unresolved, so the entries count as one candidate watch.

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
Line 124:		Line 124:
	\| Tajan Paris, lot 39		\| Tajan Paris, lot 39
	\| “105650”		\| “105650”
	\| Yellow gold, two-tone dial, Ronchi Milano signature; circa 1935; not sold. ~~Preserved in Collector Square's~~ archive.		\| Yellow gold, two-tone dial, Ronchi Milano signature; circa 1935; not sold. The surviving record is an archive transcription.
	\|-		\|-
	\| 2011		\| 2011
	\| Antiquorum Geneva, lot 203		\| Antiquorum Geneva, lot 203
	\| 1004626		\| 1004626
	\| Steel, 48.2 mm, retailer-signed C. Bucherer; circa 1925; 17 lignes and 17 jewels. ~~Preserved in Collector Square's~~ archive.		\| Steel, 48.2 mm, retailer-signed C. Bucherer; circa 1925; 17 lignes and 17 jewels. The surviving record is an archive transcription.
	\|-		\|-
	\| 2014		\| 2014

Admin: Add researched Rolex ref. 2226 documentation and index it

2026-10-16T02:38:45Z

Add researched Rolex ref. 2226 documentation and index it

New page

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Chronograph 2226}}
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Reference 2226 — Early Single-Button Chronograph | Rolexopedia
|description=Documented Rolex ref. 2226 examples, their open-face cases, dial layouts, movement descriptions and conflicting catalogue dates.
|keywords=Rolex 2226, Rolex chronograph, monopusher, pocket chronograph, vintage Rolex
|image=Ref 2226 hero.webp
|image_alt=Yellow-gold Rolex ref. 2226 with a black sector dial and two chronograph registers
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}

<small>[[Reference:pre-daytona-chronographs|Pre-Daytona chronographs]] → '''2226'''</small>

<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref 2226 hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Yellow-gold Rolex 2226 open-face chronograph with a black sector dial|Case 1005651, Antiquorum Geneva 2023, lot 504. Photo: Antiquorum.]]
</div>

Rolex ref. 2226 appears in surviving records as a large, open-face, single-button chronograph with two registers. Catalogued examples have steel or yellow-gold cases, silvered or black dials, and manual movements. Sale catalogues date individual watches from circa 1920 to circa 1940; the reference's production dates remain unverified.

Christie's titled its 48 mm steel example a wristwatch; Antiquorum calls similar open-face examples pocket watches. The catalogues do not settle whether ref. 2226 was intended for the wrist or pocket.

==Core facts==

{| class="wikitable"
! Detail !! Documented record
|-
| Reference
| 2226
|-
| Type
| Manual, single-button chronograph; two registers
|-
| Dated examples
| Individual catalogue estimates run from circa 1920 to circa 1940; they do not set the reference's production dates.
|-
| Case
| Round, open-face examples; snap-on backs are described in several records
|-
| Documented metals
| Stainless steel and yellow gold
|-
| Reported diameters
| 47–48.2 mm across catalogue records; these are example measurements, not a factory specification
|-
| Movement
| Manual lever movements; several catalogues report 17 lignes and 17 jewels. The movement number is not identified.
|-
| Dial
| Silvered and black examples with two registers and tachymeter or telemeter scales
|}

==Where it sits in the line==

The 2226 belongs with Rolex's early single-button chronographs. Christie's describes a crown-operated pusher, a 30-minute register and subsidiary seconds; the 2011 Antiquorum transcription records the same two-register layout. The surviving catalogues present it both as a wristwatch and as a pocket watch, so each label stays attached to its own lot.

==Production outline==

The catalogue dates run from Christie's circa-1920 estimate for steel case 1004619 to Antiquorum's circa-1940 estimate for steel case 1004623. Antiquorum dates gold case 1005651 and steel case 1004626 circa 1925. These are dates assigned to individual watches; they leave the reference's production endpoints open.

Collector Square preserves Tajan's 2007 entry for a gold ref. 2226 marked “No 105650” and dated circa 1935. Auctionata's 2014 entry gives case 1005650 and circa 1930. Their low-resolution images show the same Ronchi Milano signature and two-tone dial, which points to a repeat offering. The number discrepancy remains unresolved, so the entries count as one candidate watch.

{| class="wikitable"
! Catalogue record !! Case or number !! Description and date
|-
| Christie's, London 2000, lot 713
| 1004619
| Stainless steel, 48 mm; circa 1920. Christie's calls it a wristwatch.
|-
| Antiquorum, Geneva 2011, lot 203
| 1004626
| Stainless steel, 48.2 mm; C. Bucherer retailer signature; circa 1925.
|-
| Antiquorum, Geneva 2023, lot 504
| 1005651
| 18-carat yellow gold, 48 mm; black sector dial; circa 1925.
|-
| Tajan, Paris 2007, lot 39; Auctionata 2014, lot 48
| “105650” / 1005650
| Yellow gold, two-tone silver dial signed Ronchi Milano; circa 1935 / circa 1930. Likely a repeat offering; the case number is unresolved.
|-
| Antiquorum, Geneva 2024, lot 10
| 1004623
| Stainless steel, 48 mm; silver-toned dial; circa 1940.
|}

==Movement notes==

Antiquorum describes the 2023 and 2024 movements as 17-line, 17-jewel manual movements. Its 2011 record gives the same size and jewel count for case 1004626; Christie's reports 17 jewels for case 1004619. For case 1004623, Antiquorum also lists a straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, Breguet spring and index regulator. The photographed 2023 movement bears a Rolex signature; the image shows no readable caliber number.

[[File:Ref 2226 movement.webp|thumb|right|220px|Rolex-signed manual chronograph movement in case 1005651. Photo: Antiquorum, Geneva 2023, lot 504.]]

==Dial map==

The documented dials include a black sector dial on yellow-gold case 1005651 and pale or silvered dials on steel examples. Christie's describes black Arabic numerals, an outer seconds scale and a blue tachymeter scale on case 1004619. The Tajan and Auctionata images show a telemeter scale on the two-tone Ronchi Milano dial. The C. Bucherer-retailer example has a two-tone brushed-silver dial with black Breguet numerals. These are catalogue-level examples; they do not define the full factory range or establish the originality of every dial.

[[File:Ref 2226 dial.webp|thumb|right|220px|Black sector dial of case 1005651. Photo: Antiquorum, Geneva 2023, lot 504.]]

==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown==

The catalogued round open-face cases measure 47 to 48.2 mm. Antiquorum's 2011 record describes a three-part case with a curved bezel and snap-on back; Christie's and Antiquorum's 2023 catalogue also specify snap-on backs. Christie's places the single chronograph button in the crown. The catalogues reviewed here leave the crystal material and any case-construction change unspecified.

Antiquorum's 2024 steel watch is shown with a chain, listed as an accessory to that lot. The catalogue does not describe it as original delivery.

[[File:Ref 2226 steel example.webp|thumb|right|220px|Steel ref. 2226, case 1004623. The attached chain is a catalogue-listed accessory. Photo: Antiquorum, Geneva 2024, lot 10.]]

==Bracelet, clasp, and packaging==

The catalogued examples are open-face watches; Antiquorum lists a chain with its 2024 steel example. The reviewed records give no standard bracelet, clasp or box fitment for ref. 2226.

==Auction record==

Tajan's “105650” and Auctionata's 1005650 may describe the same gold watch, so they appear as one candidate rather than two confirmed examples.

{| class="wikitable"
! Date !! House and lot !! Case or number !! Catalogue description
|-
| 2000
| Christie's London, lot 713
| 1004619
| Steel, 48 mm; circa 1920; 17 jewels.
|-
| 2007
| Tajan Paris, lot 39
| “105650”
| Yellow gold, two-tone dial, Ronchi Milano signature; circa 1935; not sold. Preserved in Collector Square's archive.
|-
| 2011
| Antiquorum Geneva, lot 203
| 1004626
| Steel, 48.2 mm, retailer-signed C. Bucherer; circa 1925; 17 lignes and 17 jewels. Preserved in Collector Square's archive.
|-
| 2014
| Auctionata / ISA, lot 48
| 1005650
| Yellow gold, 47 mm, silvered dial signed Ronchi Milano; circa 1930; 17 lignes and 17 jewels. The lot did not sell.
|-
| 2023
| Antiquorum Geneva, lot 504
| 1005651
| Yellow gold, black sector dial, 48 mm; circa 1925; 17 lignes and 17 jewels.
|-
| 2024
| Antiquorum Geneva, lot 10
| 1004623
| Steel, silver-toned dial, 48 mm; circa 1940; 17 lignes and 17 jewels.
|}

==Gallery==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 2226 hero.webp|Yellow-gold case 1005651, Antiquorum 2023
File:Ref 2226 dial.webp|Black sector dial, case 1005651, Antiquorum 2023
File:Ref 2226 movement.webp|Movement in case 1005651, Antiquorum 2023
File:Ref 2226 steel example.webp|Steel case 1004623 with listed chain, Antiquorum 2024
</gallery>

== Sources ==

* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-2226-lot-364-504 "Rolex ref. 2226, case 1005651, Antiquorum Geneva 2023 lot 504", Antiquorum, 2023-11-05]
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-2226-lot-372-10 "Rolex ref. 2226, case 1004623, Antiquorum Geneva 2024 lot 10", Antiquorum, 2024-11-09]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1817518 "Rolex ref. 2226, case 1004619, Christie's London 2000 lot 713", Christie's, 2000-06-12]
* [https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/watches/rolex/chronographe-pocket-watch/ref-rolex-2226/lpi "Antiquorum Geneva 2011 lot 203, case 1004626 — Collector Square archive", Collector Square, reproducing Antiquorum, 2011-05-15]
* [https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/watches/rolex/chronographe-pocket-watch/ref-rolex-2226/lpi "Tajan Paris 2007 lot 39, ref. 2226 — Collector Square archive", Collector Square, reproducing a Tajan catalogue record, 2007-12-10]
* [https://www.icollector.com/Rolex-Chronograph-Pocket-Watch-Ref-2226-Switzerland-C-1930_i20551151 "Rolex ref. 2226, case 1005650, Auctionata 2014 lot 48 via iCollector", ISA Auctionata / iCollector, 2014-09-30]

[[Category:Pre-Daytona-Chronographs]]

Reference:2226 - Revision history

Admin: Clarify archived catalogue attribution

Admin: Add researched Rolex ref. 2226 documentation and index it