Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE Hong Kong Monday, November 30, 2015 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1965
    Case No: 160
    Material: 18k white gold and diamonds
    Calibre: Mechanical, 1401, 18 jewels
    Dimensions: 22 mm. diameter; ring size: 7
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: With Rolex fitted presentation box.
    Literature: For another example of Rolex ring watches, however cased in pink gold and no diamonds, please see The Best of Time Rolex Wristwatches by James M. Dowling and Jeffrey P. Hess, page 288 and 296.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Rolex is usually associated with the finest sports watches. They have been, however, known to make very rare watches cased in rings, balls, brooch and pendants, and in the most extreme case, a unique fantasy platinum brooch watch in the shape of a revolutionary war drummer boy, with diamonds on the cuffs, boots, lapel, face, hat and drumsticks.

    This expertly crafted and beautiful diamond ring watch is in fabulous condition and still retains its green factory sticker and original fitted presentation box. Set with over 3 carats of diamonds, the watch is hinged into the ring and the wearer simply lifts the central part in order to wind it. Another example cannot be found anywhere in literature and it is potentially unique.

  • 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.

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277

A lady's rare white gold and diamond-set ring watch with fitted presentation box

Circa 1965
22 mm. diameter; ring size: 7
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$240,000 - 400,000 

Sold for HK$437,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
thomasperazzi@phillips.com

Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
ziyongho@phillips.com

Jill Chen
Specialist
+852 2318 2033
jillchen@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE

Hong Kong Auction 1 December 2015 11am