Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVII Hong Kong Friday, November 24, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 2023
    Reference No: 116588SACO
    Case No: C30L8681
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Rubber
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 40mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated 13th January 2023, purchase invoice, instruction manual, product literature, hang tags, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    In the 1980s, Rolex began to dress-up their sports watches with precious gemstones for its more adventurous clientele. Among these first early gem-set sports watches are the manually-wound Daytona references 6269 and 6270 (the former with brilliant-cut diamonds at the bezel and the latter with baguette-cut diamonds). Sparking a new trend for gem-set timepieces, Rolex continued to bedazzle their prestigious lines of watches with various combinations of gemstones, cuts, settings and designs over the years. Examples with large baguette-cut bezels, pavé diamond dials, emeralds, rubies or coloured sapphires to name a few combinations have been produced, always in very small quantities and with extreme attention to quality and execution.

    Adorned with 36 orange sapphires on the bezel, the present example features a suave black dial with sapphire-set indexes in the same pumpkin hue, resulting in a uber cool configuration adored by the likes of Roger Federer. With tremendous efforts to source the world’s highest quality of gems, each stone is cut specifically to be fitted on the bezel, with each gemstone examined thoroughly for its cut, clarity and most importantly, colour. Hence, with its tedious process resulting in an extremely low production of all Rolex gem-set pieces, with the Rainbow being one of the toughest to execute.

    Today, the Daytona Rainbow family has been released in yellow gold, white gold and pink gold. Marking the 60th anniversary of the Daytona this year in 2023, rare and special Daytona models including the present example are highly demanded in the market. A perfect way to celebrate the important anniversary of one of the most beloved wristwatches of all time, Phillips is delighted to auction the 116588SACO for first time.

  • 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.

    View More Works

865

Ref. 116588SACO
A striking, rare yellow gold and orange sapphire-set chronograph wristwatch with guarantee and presentation box

Circa 2023
40mm diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$1,200,000 - 2,200,000 
€145,000-266,000
$154,000-282,000

Sold for HK$2,032,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVII

Hong Kong Auction 24-25 November 2023