Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII Geneva Saturday, May 8, 2021 | Phillips

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII

Geneva Auction 8 - 9 May 2021

  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1959
    Reference No: 6612B, inside caseback stamped "6612" and "6613"
    Movement No: DDN884665
    Case No: 446'052
    Model Name: Day-date
    Material: Platinum and diamond-set
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. B1055, 25 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Platinum Rolex President bracelet, max length 195mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum Rolex "Big Logo" deployant clasp stamped "1.59"
    Dimensions: 36mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex Geneva Service cards and Service letter dated October 14, 2019.

  • Catalogue Essay

    One of the most elusive Day-Date models, the appeal of the present reference 6612/6613 is further boosted by the number of unusual traits it features, which render it one of the most collectible Day-Dates to ever appear on the market.

    First and foremost, it appears that the case of the present watch was intended to be used on a reference 6612, as denoted between the lugs. The 66xx series of Day-Dates in fact is made up of:

    ref. 6611, featuring ribbed bezel
    ref. 6612, featuring smooth bezel
    ref. 6613, featuring diamond-set bezel

    In this case, while the number 6612 is present both between the lugs and inside the caseback, the number 6613 appears stamped in the back underneath 6612, indicating the watch was upgraded at a later stage.

    This makes perfect sense when considering the extremely scarce production of reference 6613, of which another example is known from John Goldberger’s book “100 Superlative Rolex Watches”, and a third one from the Hong Kong Phillips sale of May 2016, this latter one featuring a bespoke dial. Such scarcity, combined by the fact that the case numbers of these three watches are all in the 4xx’xxx range, indicates that this model was most probably only produced on special order, a theory further supported by the dial of the present watch. It in fact presents some extremely unusual traits which directly challenge the current scholarship on Day-Date. For example, the diamond setting of the indexes has never before seen round chatons as opposed to the conventional square ones. Even the Day Date signature is highly peculiar, lacking the hyphen between the two words. Such a plethora of unusual traits prompted us to send the watch to Rolex Geneva for a mechanical service (of course specifying not to touch case and dial), and the House promptly executed the overhaul, without raising any objection on any details of the watch, thus implying they deem it correct.

    An idea of the rarity of this model, especially in platinum, is apparent when considering that the “Big Kahuna” 6612 offered at the Glamorous Day-Date Phillips sale achieved what at the time was a world record for any Day-Date (LOT 43) at 473’000 CHF even though the record is now dethroned by the most famous Day-Date of all, the wristwatch that Jack Nicklaus, world renowned golf maestro wore for 50 years which was sold for 1.22 million USD in December at Phillips New York (Lot 18).

    The bracelet as well will delight the most discerning Rolex collectors, it is stamped 1.59, thus perfectly fitting with the production date of the watch. It also features a beautifully preserved clasp with all the traits that make Rolex collectors’ hearts beat faster - the big logo designation with four notches, large Rolex crown and an immaculate sandblast finish found both in the foldable big logo metal plates and in the inner side of the clasp as well.

  • 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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155

Rolex

Ref. 6612B, inside caseback stamped "6612" and "6613"
A possibly unique and highly important platinum and diamond-set automatic wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, black gloss dial, diamond-set round numerals and service guarantee

1959
36mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
CHF50,000 - 100,000 
€45,300-90,700
$54,400-109,000

Sold for CHF63,000

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

 

 

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII

Geneva Auction 8 - 9 May 2021