92
Rolex
Ref. 9630
King Midas "Buddy Bray"
A historically important and culturally significant yellow gold asymmetrical wristwatch with bracelet
Full-Cataloguing
• Consigned by the family of the original owner
• Can be considered the sister watch to Elvis Presley’s King Midas no. 343, with a direct link
• Accompanied with original photographs documenting the presentation of this watch to the original owner, and to Elvis Presley
The Rolex King Midas, created by legendary designer Gérald Genta, predates his seminal creations of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus and stands as one of the most unconventional designs ever produced by Rolex. Introduced in the early 1960s, it was conceived as a tribute to the mythical King Midas and draws clear inspiration from ancient Greek architecture, particularly the Parthenon.
An extraordinary expression of luxury, the King Midas was hewn from a solid block of 18k gold making it one the most expensive Rolex models of its era and, at the time of its release, one of the heaviest gold wristwatches ever produced.
Originally issued as a limited, individually numbered series before later being incorporated into the Cellini collection, the reference 9630, of which the present example is a part, remains a cult classic among serious collectors and in popular culture. Notable owners include John Wayne and the fictional James Bond villain Scaramanga, portrayed by Christopher Lee in The Man with the Golden Gun.
However, arguably the most iconic owner was Elvis Presley, who received King Midas No. 343 as a gift by the officers of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLS&R) following six consecutive sold-out performances at the Houston Astrodome in 1970. The watch remains on display today at Graceland, further cementing its place in both horological and cultural history.
Remarkably, the present example also carries a direct and documented connection to that same historic moment. Following Presley’s performances, M.C. “Buddy” Bray, then president of the HLS&R who personally negotiated Elvis’s engagement with Colonel Tom Parker, was presented in 1972 with his own King Midas numbered 600, in recognition of his role. The present watch can therefore be considered a true “sister piece” to Elvis Presley’s own example. Most interestingly, the reverse side of each individual bracelet link is engraved with what are believed to be the names of members of the HLS&R organization, most likely done by Rolex at the time of original sale.
Original photographs accompanying the watch not only document Buddy Bray’s presentation of King Midas No. 343 to Elvis Presley in 1970, but also the 1972 presentation of this example to Buddy Bray along with a ladies’ Rolex watch to Mr. Bray’s wife (see lot 93).
This exceptional provenance significantly enhances the importance of the present watch. As noted by the consigner, the son of Buddy Bray, its history is institutional rather than anecdotal, as it is firmly tied to a major American cultural organization, a pop culture icon, and a clearly documented historical event. These distinctions elevate it beyond typical commemorative examples, placing it within a defined narrative that intersects music history, Americana, and the evolution of large-scale live entertainment.
Preserved in its original, unpolished condition and retained by the Bray family since its presentation, the present example represents a rare opportunity to acquire a King Midas with both outstanding originality and deeply rooted historical significance.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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.