Arnold Palmer’s Rolex Set to Be Auctioned

Heritage Auctions is set to auction off Rolex timepieces which belonged to golf legends Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. The watches will be part of Heritage Auctions’ upcoming August 1 sale in Chicago, in conjunction with the National Sports Collectors Convention.

Chris Ivy, the Director of Heritage Sports Collectibles, told us, “Both are Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date, 18 karat gold watches with matching concealed clasp President bracelet, Champagne stick dial and Roman numeral tracks for the hours. Palmer’s watch is circa 1971 and has his initials, ADP, on the back. Nicklaus’ watch is circa 1976 and the back of the watch is engraved, ‘1980 U.S. Open Champion.’ It was given to him after his amazing fifth and final U.S. Open victory in 1980 after he broke his own record at the famed Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey.”

The Palmer watch is estimated to fetch $15,000 while the Nicklaus Rolex is estimated at $20,000. The watches were consigned by former sports agent Dwight Manley, who acquired them at a 1995 fund-raising charity auction conducted in association with the U.S. Golf Association. According to Heritage Auctions, both watches are accompanied by certificates of authenticity issued at the time by U.S.G.A. and Golf Magazine.

Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions.