Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII Geneva Friday, November 3, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1978
    Reference No: 6265
    Case No: 5'060'008
    Model Name: Cosmograph
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 727, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 205mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 37mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Asprey SA, two 18K yellow gold Caran d'Ache fountain pens with "Khanjar" symbol, ink cartridge, product literature and Asprey presentation box with Khanjar symbol.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Preserved in virtually new old stock condition, the present reference 6265 is not only an exemplary version of the hallowed Cosmograph, it was also made for the Sultanate of Oman as seen by the Khanjar symbol on the dial, and sold by none other than the world-famous retailer, Asprey.

    Watches fitted with custom Middle East dials were often presented as gifts to ambassadors, dignitaries, or staff, as a token of gratitude or respect. It was an honor to be presented a Rolex watch with the state symbol. In fact, many of these watches are cherished by their original owners, and passed down from one generation to the next. As a result, Rolex watches with custom dials hardly appear on the market.

    The present example, a Cosmograph with a 5.06 million serial number, is part of an extremely small group of watches delivered specially by Rolex upon order by His Majesty, the Sultan of Oman, and features the coveted "Khanjar" symbol at 12 o'clock in lieu of the traditional “4-Lines” found under the 12 o’clock marker, leaving the famous crown logo alone on top of the Omani mark. The black colour of the emblazoned symbol perfectly complements the sporty yet elegant black sub-dials, making the bicoloured champagne and black dial stand out even more. At the dial’s bottom, towards the 6 o’clock mark, the desirable sigma designations flanking the “T SWISS T” (tritium Lumes) are found, signifying the use of gold for the hour markers. To date, only a handful of these watches in this exact configuration are known, all within a tight serial range. Research shows that Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo sold an identical example withs number 5'060'075 in 2019, and Christie's sold another identical with serial number 5'060'040 in 2023.

    The condition of the timepiece is particularly noteworthy. Offered in virtually "new old stock" condition, the watch most probably has never seen any wrist time in its life. Unpolished, the present watch is a study on how any yellow gold reference 6265 looked like when it left the factory. The champagne dial is in excellent condition, with luminous dots along the outer ring, all of which are present and intact. The case is offered in pristine and unpolished condition with thick full lugs and original proportions. Even the caseback retains its original sticker, a marvel in itself.

    The cherry on top of the cake is the plethora of accessories accompanying the timepiece. It is accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Asprey SA, two 18K yellow gold Caran d'Ache fountain pens with "Khanjar" symbol, ink cartridge, product literature and Asprey presentation box with Khanjar symbol.

    A gold Rolex Cosmograph is a "must have" for many collectors today. Yet, to discover one preserved in virtually new old stock, unpolished condition with an immaculate dial, along with a treasure trove of accessories is positively unheard of. It is a white whale of watch collecting when one comes to the market, and it is with great certainty that another will not appear soon.

  • 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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Ref. 6265
A spectacularly well-preserved yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with caseback sticker, gold pens, guarantee and presentation box, made for the Sultanate of Oman

Circa 1978
37mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF300,000 - 600,000 
€311,000-623,000
$330,000-659,000

Sold for CHF571,500

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

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The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII

Geneva Auction 3 - 4 November 2023