Press | Phillips

Phillips, The Worldwide Market Leader in Watch Auctions, Achieves:
Over CHF 22 Million in Daytona Ultimatum Thematic Sale

“The Unicorn” - the only White Gold Vintage Rolex Daytona Known Achieves CHF 5.9 Million,
The Second Highest Price Ever for a Rolex Sold at Auction and the Highest Ever Charitable Donation Resulting from the Sale of a Vintage Watch

Phillips’ Most Exclusive Watch Sale Realises CHF 22,184,500/$22,182,281/€18,570,645
In Perfect “100% Sold” Sale with Five Watches Selling above CHF 1 Million

GENEVA – 12 May 2018 – The “Daytona Ultimatum” thematic auction held by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo on 12 May 2018 realised a total of CHF 22,184,500/$22,182,281/€18,570,645 in a perfect “100% sold” sale.

Daytona Ultimatum featured the most exclusive selection of Rolex Daytona examples to appear on the market, curated by the renowned scholar, Pucci Papaleo, known in the Rolex collecting community as “Mr. Daytona”. The top lot of the sale, “The Unicorn” reference 6265 – the only vintage white gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, achieved CHF 5.93 Million, with proceeds benefitting Children Action (https://www.childrenaction.org), resulting in one of the largest charitable contributions ever in the field of watches. Cased in 18 karat white gold, Rolex in 1970 created what scholars believe to be a one-off, unique masterpiece upon special order from an important German retailer. A breathtaking chronograph, it is most likely to be the rarest and most luxurious Cosmograph Daytona manufactured by Rolex during this era.

Children Action’s Bernard Sabrier said, “I am absolutely delighted by this wonderful contribution to our cause that will directly enhance the lives of thousands of children around the world. I’m especially grateful for the generosity and kindness of John Goldberger, the private collector who clearly saw the value of ‘The Unicorn’ and our cause, and to Phillips for their efforts in making this donation possible, one of the single largest private contributions in our foundation’s history.”

Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant of Bacs & Russo, said, “The record-breaking sale results of Daytona Ultimatum reflected the collector community’s desire for highest quality property and the importance of the Rolex Daytona in the field of collector’s wristwatches. It’s been a tremendous honour offering ‘The Unicorn’ on behalf of John Goldberger, which achieved one of the largest charitable contributions ever in our industry. After the Joanne Woodward / Paul Newman Daytona we sold last season, it achieved the second highest price ever for a Rolex wristwatch. We are thrilled with this historic result and philanthropic gesture, and delighted by the lasting benefits the sale of this watch will provide to so many children.”

Realising the top achievement in the watch auction world, Phillips recorded once again a ‘perfect sale’, with 350 unique clients registered from 43 different countries successfully winning 100% of the 32 lots offered. Furthermore, five watches surpassed the CHF 1 million mark and many records were broken within the field of Rolex Daytonas.

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
8	ROLEX, Ref. 6265 – THE UNICORN A historically important and exceedingly attractive white gold chronograph wristwatch with black dial and bark finished bracelet, the only one known of its kind SECOND HIGHEST PRICE FOR A ROLEX WRISTWATCH AT AUCTION	In excess of CHF 3,000,000	CHF 5,937,500 $ 5,936,906 € 4,970,281
32	ROLEX, Ref. 6240 – THE NEANDERTHAL A highly interesting and historically important stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with most probably unique black and white ‘pre-Paul Newman’ style dial, featuring oversized registers and black outer seconds marks on white track	In excess of CHF 2.500,000	CHF 3,012,500 $ 3,012,198 € 2,521,763
21	ROLEX, Ref. 6263 – THE ARABIAN KNIGHT An exquisite, important and most probably unique chronograph wristwatch with black dial displaying white Arabic-Indic numerals, and bracelet	In excess of CHF 1,500,000	CHF 1,932,500 $ 1,932,306 € 1,617,695
14	ROLEX, Ref. 6263 – THE OYSTER SOTTO An exceedingly rare, magnificent and early chronograph wristwatch with ‘Oyster Sotto Paul Newman’ dial, tachymeter bezel.	CHF 1,000,000 to 2,000,000	CHF 1,662,500 $ 1,662,333 € 1,391,678
27	ROLEX, Ref. 6263 – THE RED SULTAN An extremely rare and highly attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with black dial and bracelet, made for the Sultanate of Oman and retailed by Asprey	CHF 600,000 to 1,200,000	CHF 1,212,500 $ 1,212,378 € 1,014,983
7	ROLEX, Ref. 6239 – THE GOLDEN PAGODA A very rare and extremely well-preserved yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with champagne ‘Paul Newman’ dial, factory sticker, tachymeter bezel and bracelet	CHF 300,00 to 600,000	CHF 948,500 $ 948,405 € 793,989
24	ROLEX, Ref. 6241 – JOHN PLAYER SPECIAL An exceedingly rare and outstandingly beautiful yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with black ‘Paul Newman’ dial displaying contrasting gold registers	CHF 500,000 to 1,000,000	CHF 912,500 $ 912,408 € 763,853
17	ROLEX, Ref. 6263 – RICCIARDI PANDA A remarkably well-preserved stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with off- white ‘Paul Newman’ dial	CHF 400,000 to 800,000	CHF 756,500 $ 756,424 € 633,266
19	ROLEX, Ref. 6269 – LE HIBOU GRAND-DUC An exceedingly exclusive and lavish diamond and sapphire-set yellow gold chronograph wristwatch, made for the French market	CHF 400,000 to 800,000	CHF 606,500 $ 606,439 € 507,701
12	ROLEX, Ref. 6241 – THE BUMBLEBEE A rare, beautiful and well-preserved yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with champagne ‘Paul Newman’ dial and bracelet	CHF 250,000 to 500,000	CHF 516,500 $ 516,448 € 432,362

ABOUT PHILLIPS IN ASSOCIATION WITH BACS & RUSSO

The team of specialists at Phillips Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency, and client service, achieving a sale total of $112 million in 2017 – its second consecutive year as the worldwide market leader in watch auctions.

A selection of our recent record-breaking prices:

1. Paul Newman’s Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona reference 6239 (CHF 17,709,894/US$17,752,500) – New York Auction: Winning Icons – 26 October 2017 – Highest result ever achieved for any wristwatch at auction.

2. Patek Philippe reference 1518 in stainless steel (CHF 11,020,000 /US$11,112,020) – Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR – 12 November 2016 – Highest result ever achieved for a Patek Philippe wristwatch at auction.

3. Patek Philippe reference 2499 (HKD19,720,000 /US$2,538,000) – Hong Kong Watch Auction: TWO – 31 May 2016 – Highest result ever achieved for any wristwatch sold at auction in Asia

ABOUT PHILLIPS

Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform accessible anywhere in the world. In addition to providing selling and buying opportunities through auction, Phillips brokers private sales and offers assistance with appraisals, valuations, and other financial services.

Visit www.phillips.com for further information.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.

PRESS CONTACTS:

GENEVA - Asta Ponzo, PR Consultant aponzo@phillips.com +41 79 961 85 66

LONDON - Katie Carder, Press Manager, EMEA kcarder@phillips.com +44 20 7901 7938

NEW YORK - Jaime Israni, Senior Public Relations Specialist jisrani@phillips.com +1 212 940 1398

HEADQUARTERS: LONDON - 30 Berkeley Square, London W1J 6EX | NEW YORK - 450 Park Avenue, New York, NY

VISIT US AT: www.phillips.com

12 May 2018

Phillips Achieves Over CHF 22 Million in Daytona Ultimatum Thematic Sale