Christie’s Celebrating 50th Anniversary of Rolex Daytona With Themed Auction

Luxury auction house Christie’s is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary Rolex Daytona in style. Christie’s International Watch Department recently announced Rolex Daytona | Lesson ONE, its first themed sale in over a decade, dedicated to the iconic Daytona.

Christie’s worked with Pucci Papaleo, the leading authority in the field of Rolex Daytona, to select 50 examples of this timepiece from across its half century of evolution. Highlights include Daytonas once worn by Eric Clapton and Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham, as well as many models coming to the market for the very first time. Estimates range from $10,000 to $300,000.

Here’s a sneak peek at three outstanding models:

The ‘Jack of Diamonds’ is a yellow gold example with diamond bezel and pave-set diamond dial (estimate: SFr.180,000-360,000 / US$180,000-360,000).

The white gold, diamond and sapphire-set ‘White Rainbow’ is one of the rarest and most difficult to find Daytonas of recent production (estimate: SFr.50,000-100,000 / US$50,000-100,000).

JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO MODEL
Amongst the selection of celebrity-owned highlights is an important stainless steel Rolex Daytona chronograph wristwatch, ref. 6263, made in 1971, formerly the property of legendary French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo (estimate: SFr.60,000-120,000 / US$60,000-120,000; illustrated right). The actor enjoyed wearing this very example in his everyday life as well as on the set of many films, such as in “Peur Sur la Ville” -a 1975 French crime film directed by Henri Verneuil (the very watch is featured in the film poster).

The Rolex Daytona | Lesson ONE auction will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, Switzerland on November 10 at 8pm. Rolex Daytona | Lesson ONE will also tour a number of global capitals including Tokyo, Taiwan, Paris, Hong Kong and Dubai in advance of the auction. For more information, please visit the Christie’s website.