Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN Geneva Saturday, May 12, 2018 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1970
    Reference No: 1803
    Case No: 2'512'X80
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1556, 26 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp stamped 2 66
    Dimensions: 36mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by an additional 18K yellow gold Rolex Jubilee bracelet, max length 210mm.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Middle East has proven itself to be a source of truly remarkable timepieces. The florid financial situation of most Middle-Eastern countries combined with the thirst for fine and unusual pieces shown by some local collectors allowed this market to be the birthplace of some of the most unusual and collectible creations ever devised in watchmaking. The field of Middle-Eastern timepieces spans from royal requests with signed dials or engraved backs, to enameled pieces featuring royal portraits to custom modifications of some dial details. The present piece is indeed an example of the former case. Not only the calendar discs are in Arabic, already a very unusual and interesting feature, but the applied gold numerals are featured in Middle-Eastern script.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.

    One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.

    View More Works

147

Ref. 1803
A fine, unusual and very rare yellow gold calendar wristwatch with center seconds, day and date in Arabic, Eastern Arabic numerals, blue dial and bracelet

Circa 1970
36mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
CHF12,000 - 18,000 
€10,300-15,400
$12,700-19,100

Sold for CHF40,000

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Sale
+41 22 317 81 81
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN

Geneva Auction 12-13 May 2018