Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 2018 Reference No: 116595RBOW Movement No: 55'629'867 Case No: 336435R5 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona "Rainbow" Material: 18K pink gold, diamonds and sapphires Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K pink gold Rolex Oyster bracelet Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold Rolex deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex Guarantee card dated August 1, 2018, green card holder, product literature, numbered sale tag, plastic bezel protection ring, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
Rolex is famous for the creation of iconic timepieces such as the Submariner or the GMT, but what is often overlooked is the surprisingly brave choices occasionally displayed throughout the years - models which at the time of their introduction were considered either “publicity stunts” or more simply bad designs.
In virtue of their rarity, these have often risen to become some of the most collectible watches to have ever been made. Examples from the past include models with the exotic “Paul Newman” dial, the first gold Daytona, and the diamond-set Daytona ref. 6269 and 6270, models that pushed the category of the luxury sports watch into uncharted territory. Also the plethora of unusual dial variation of the Day-Date (coral, lapis lazuli, malachite, fossil, marble, wood, etc…) illustrates the concept well, as do the first multi-colored gem-set examples that began to appear in the 1970s, and the more modern Daytona “Leopard”. All these are equally attractive and outlandish.
The rainbow Daytona is the current-day embodiment of this experimental vocation. White gold and yellow gold versions have been released in extremely low quantities in 2012 and while at first more than a few eyebrows were raised, it took only a few years for these watches to become the most sought-after and collectible serially produced Daytona models made since the discontinuation of the manual version in 1988. The output for these two models was extremely scarce, and production was soon halted, it appears because of the difficulty of sourcing appropriately colored stones.
This year at Baselworld the wishes of the Rolex community were granted and a pink gold version was finally released. It immediately became one of the most sought-after contemporary timepieces, virtually impossible to find at retailers. Phillips is honored to be the first auction house to offer this watch publicly.
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.
Ref. 116595RBOW A very rare, highly attractive and extremely unusual pink gold, diamond and sapphire-set automatic chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
2018 40mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed