Watches known as “double-signed” have always fascinated collectors. Rare and carrying a piece of history that others lack, they have that something extra.
By “Double-Signed” watches, we mean timepieces bearing a second inscription made by the authorized retailer at the time of sale, shedding light on their origin and provenance.
Most of the time, this second signature is proudly printed on the dial, as seen with Swiss retailers like Beyer, Gübelin, or Serpico y Laino in Caracas, Venezuela. Other authorized retailers, however, used to engrave or stamp an additional inventory number unique to their own system. These numbers were often placed on a lug or on the caseback—practices seen with retailers like Tiffany & Co, Cartier, or the maison Chaumet.
This brings to mind one of the most expensive watches ever sold in the history of collecting: the exotic-dial Daytona ref. 6239 once owned by Paul Newman. It was sold for a staggering $17.8 million by Phillips in New York in 2017… a record-breaking sale!
Although quite unique, it’s fascinating to note that this watch bears Tiffany & Co’s retailer inventory number, engraved on the upper left lug.
Le numéro d’inventaire Tiffany & Co est visible sur la corne supérieure gauche
The presence of a second signature on the dial—particularly in South America—can be traced back to a common situation over fifty years ago: local retailers often held greater prestige than the Swiss watch brands themselves. At the time, these brands were willing to embrace double signatures to secure a foothold in key markets, especially in a challenging economic climate. We invite you to dive deeper into the story of Patek Philippe’s Gondolo, which will be the focus of an upcoming blog post on 41watch.
In this article, we take a closer look at a specific example: a GMT Master 1675 that we are currently offering for sale. This watch takes us to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, a country that experienced a remarkable economic boom during the 20th century.
From humble beginnings, the jeweler Ricciardi thrived in a favorable economic climate, eventually becoming a key reference for Argentina’s high society.
A distribution partnership was established with the Crowned brand, and Ricciardi quickly became one of the leading retailers in South America. Among the distinguished personalities who walked through its doors were none other than Charles de Gaulle, Frank Sinatra, Henry Ford, and even the King of Spain himself!
Spotlight on our GMT Master 1675 from 1973
41Watch is proud to offer for sale a rare example of the GMT Master reference 1675 with a MK2 dial. Its 3.2 million serial number places its production and assembly around 1973.
A thorough analysis confirms that all components of this watch are original to the piece.
Gravure du numéro de série 3.2XXXXXX à l'entrecorne
Gravure de la référence, 1675
Illustration du numéro d’inventaire Ricciardi sur la corne inférieure droite
La montre est équipée d'un rare bracelet plié d'origine, référence 7838
Le bracelet a été manufacturé en 1972, comme l'indique le marquage
Given their rarity, very few Rolex watches bearing the Ricciardi double signature have surfaced on the market… However, we have been able to reference a few examples.
One such piece—a 1973 GMT ref. 1675 with a serial number and inventory engraving very similar to ours—was sold by the renowned Spanish dealer Ancienne Watches in Barcelona.
Very little literature exists on the subject of the Argentinian retailer Ricciardi—often due to a lack of awareness and the discreet nature of the double signature. Yet these timepieces remain truly unique and rich in history.
A well-preserved example deserves a place in any thoughtful and curated collection.
Une Explorer ll réf. 1655 de 1971 a été adjugée $ 41,250 le 5 décembre 2018 par la maison de ventes Phillips à New York
Illustration du numéro d’inventaire Ricciardi sur la corne inférieure droite
A Paul Newman Daytona reference 6263 from 1969 was sold for $756,500 on May 12, 2018, in Geneva by the same auction house.
