875
Rolex
Ref. 116568BR
Cosmograph Daytona
An extremely rare and attractive yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with black mother-of-pearl dial, diamond-set indexes, baguette-cut diamond-set bezel, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- Rare combination of black mother-of-pearl dial with diamond hour markers
- 24 baguette-cut diamond-set bezel
- Complete with warranty card and presentation box
The Daytona—often regarded as Rolex’s crown jewel—is unquestionably one of the most collectible chronographs ever made. As the model evolved, Rolex began incorporating precious stones into its renowned sports watches. In the 1980s, the bejeweled references 6269 and 6270 showcased the firm’s exceptional gem-setting skill and attracted a new audience.
Introduced in the 2000s with an exuberant design, the present reference 116568 combines a 24 baguette-cut diamond-set bezel with an exceptionally rare dial configuration: a black mother-of-pearl dial with diamond hour markers. The chronograph subdials are further finished in a glittering gold tone to heighten contrast and visual impact.
Seen on the wrists of celebrities like Drake, the watch is cased in warm 18K yellow gold. The iridescent purple overtones of the black mother-of-pearl, paired with the sparkling diamond bezel, create a refined and striking aesthetic. Rarely appearing on the market, this configuration makes its auction debut at Phillips in excellent-preserved condition. Offered complete with its original warranty and presentation box, this discontinued reference is no longer in production—making this bejeweled Daytona a remarkable addition to any collection.
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.