Rolex Chronograph 2705

The Rolex Chronograph reference 2705 is an exceedingly rare and historically important model from the late 1930s, admired for its elegant proportions and classic design. Produced around 1937, its significance lies in its large size for the period and its sophisticated “Calatrava-style” case, a design more commonly associated with Patek Philippe, making it a unique and atypical model for Rolex. This non-Oyster chronograph features a substantial 37mm stainless steel case with a distinctive flat bezel and a three-body construction with a snap-on back. The dials are typically silvered and feature multi-scale layouts, often including both tachymeter and telemeter tracks, with painted baton or Arabic numerals. It is powered by a manually wound 13-ligne movement, often the Valjoux 22 caliber. Due to its very limited production, large steel case, and refined aesthetics, the reference 2705 is considered a highly desirable and seldom-seen “grail” for discerning vintage Rolex connoisseurs.