AUCTIONS Jewellery & Watches /Auctions Watches and Jewellery

ROLEX 1930s-2010s The first dedicated Rolex auction session

Written by Ritenis Aksel

ROLEX 1930s-2010s

The first dedicated Rolex auction session

 116 lots – 55 different references – retracing watchmaking at its best

« Rolex stands for exploration, by reaching the limits of this planet, by exploring the deepest and highest points, the coldest and hottest spots, it translates to speed from 1 horse power to 500+ as well as to cultural activities. But most importantly, Rolex stands for precision in a timeless design on which people have relied on since 1905. Reasons enough to celebrate this timepiece in all its facettes by staging the first ever stand-alone Rolex auction afternoon.»

Christie’s Geneva will dedicate the afternoon session of its Important Watches auction on 15 May entirely to Rolex by offering 116 watches of 55 different references, retracing the history of this watchmaker from the 1930s to the latest models introduced to the market.

This is the largest gathering of Rolex timepieces any auction house has ever offered in one single afternoon, with estimates ranging from CHF/US$2,000 to CHF/US$ 500,000 and we are delighted to take young as well as established collectors and watch enthusiasts on a discovery tour:

 

 

ROLEX. A POSSIBLY UNIQUE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH TROPICAL LEMON DIAL AND WHITE NUMERALS INSIDE THE SUBSIDIARY DIALS, COSMOGRAPH, DAYTONA, PAUL NEWMAN MODEL, REF. 6264, CIRCA 1970 A new discovery and entirely fresh to the market with only two previous owners, the Rolex gold 6264 Paul Newman tropical lemon dial is a watch that almost nobody knew existed until recently. What really sets the pulse racing when one is first confronted with this watch is the realization that both the outer minute/fifths of a second ring and all three subsidiary dials have tropicalized from black to an even rich chocolate brown. This incredible tropicalization comes on top of the fact that the dial is an extremely rare variant in its own right. The so-called “lemon” Paul Newman refers to the pale hue of the background colour, very few examples are known and the shade can vary from pale straw to almost yellow. Only four examples of the 18K gold reference 6264 are known publically with a lemon dial with white printed subsidiary numerals, of these four, one other example is known to be tropicalized. Estimate: CHF/US$500,000 – 800,000.

ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH GREEN « KHANJAR » SYMBOL, PRESENTED BY THE SULTAN OF OMAN TO THE CURRENT OWNER IN 1974, OYSTER COSMOGRAPH, DAYTONA MODEL, REF. 6263, CIRCA 1972 The present watch is from the exceedingly small series of so-called “Green Khanjar” Daytonas made for the Sultan of Oman, to be presented as token of appreciation. To date, less than 10 examples of this model in stainless steel are known to exist, references 6263 and 6265, featuring silvered or black dials. The present specimen bearing serial number 3’048’923 is believed to be the earliest known “Green Khanjar” Daytona known to date. Very recently discovered and one of the exceedingly few true “hidden treasures” to appear in public in recent years. Estimate: CHF/US$320,000 – 420,000.

About the author

Ritenis Aksel

Editor and Publisher of Connoisseur Magazine -Join the Team

Leave a Comment

Pin It on Pinterest

error: Content is protected !!