The Rolex reference 3882 is a rare 1940s stainless steel chronograph featuring a three-body case with polished and brushed surfaces and straight lugs. Its satin silver dial is adorned with radium-coated Arabic numerals, guilloché subdials for continuous seconds and a 30-minute counter, and an outer blue tachymeter scale with 1/5th second graduations. The baton hands are also made of stainless steel, with an interesting black enamelled central groove. The central chronograph seconds hand, on the other hand, has red enamelled accents. It houses one of the first Rolex 13" calibres, based on the Valjoux 23 with 17 jewels. This exact chronograph was auctioned by Antiquorum in 2003 and reappeared in 2005—already with an increased valuation—again through the same auction house. Moreover, as can also be seen from the photographic comparison with past auctions, the watch has remained unchanged, so there is no doubt that the watch in my possession is the same one that was offered 20 years ago by Antiquorum. In addition to the documentation from Antiquorum's auction archives, I also have the certificate of authenticity issued by Real Authentication, which subjected the object to several experts before issuing the unanimous verdict. Considering that no specimen of the same reference has ever appeared in public again, I can state almost with certainty that the one in my possession is one of the very few (if not the only) 3882s left in circulation in the chronograph variant. In view of this, I am seeking a collector’s replacement value for insurance purposes, ensuring that the appraisal reflects its rarity, provenance, and historical significance — not a quick-sale estimate.

33 mm of diameter