Vintage Rolex Daytonas Lead Sotheby's NY Important Watches Auction l Now Open for Bidding

SOTHEBY’S PRESENTS CONTENTS OF

NEW YORK IMPORTANT WATCHES

Open for Bidding TODAY

Through 24 June

FEATURING:

A Pair of Exceptionally Rare Vintage Rolex Daytona’s
Appearing at Auction for the First Time:

A Reference 6263 with a Paul Newman ‘Panda’ Dial circa 1970

Estimate $300/500,000

**

An Important ‘Transitional’ Reference 6238 Daytona

Retailed by Tiffany & Co circa 1967

Estimate $150/250,000

A Richard Mille RM11-02 RG Chronograph Wristwatch

Housed in a Titanium and 18k Pink Gold Tonneau Case

Estimate $110/180,000

Breguet’s Fine and Rare Yellow Gold and Diamond Set Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch circa 1995

Estimate $100/150,000  

NEW YORK, 15 June 2020 – Sotheby’s is pleased to present the full contents of our New York Important Watches sale, which is now open for online bidding through 24 June. The sale features a wonderful selection of rare vintage and modern timepieces, as well as exceptional pocket watches and clocks.

The auction is highlighted by two vintage Rolex Daytona’s, fresh to the market and exceptionally rare in configuration and condition. Both timepieces are on offer from their original purchasers and will appear at auction for the first time. The pair is led by a Rolex Daytona Reference 6263 with a Paul Newman ‘Panda’ dial – one of the most iconic and desirable of all Daytona’s, and considered one of the most beautiful examples to appear at auction in recent years (estimate $300/500,000). Produced circa 1970, the original owner purchased the present watch in 1971 while on a trip with a friend. Nicknamed the ‘Panda’, the Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Cosmograph is named after the famous actor and race car driver known for sporting one throughout his life.

A striking, important and possibly unique ‘Transitional’ Reference 6238 Daytona retailed by the world’s distinguished luxury retailer ‘Tiffany & Co’ circa 1967 bears the reference number 6238 and has the matching case back stamping of 6238 (estimate $150/250,000). In the mid 1950’s, Tiffany joined a select group of retailers worldwide given the privilege of printing their logo on the dial of Rolex’s most prestigious models. Rolex allowed the retailer to stamp their dials at their 5th Avenue premises and completed by Tiffany watchmakers, rather than the Rolex factory in Switzerland. The exact number of Tiffany dialed Rolex’s from this era is unknown, making these extremely rare, and representing some of the most sought after, desirable and iconic watches to ever come to market.

The sale is highlighted further by a Richard Mille RM11-02 RG, A Titanium And Pink Gold Automatic Semi-Skeletonized Dual Time, Flyback Chronograph Wristwatch With Month And Date, circa 2012 (estimate $110/180,000). Since its inception, Richard Mille has been dedicated to utilizing the latest technical innovations to yield timepieces that are unmistakably modern. Beyond consistently championing innovative technology, Richard Mille’s signatures include airy, skeletonized movements that display the architectural beauty of the firm’s intricate mechanics, and sleek tonneau cases featuring complex movements, which are considerably harder to build than for classic round cases. The present RM11-02 is housed in a tonneau shaped case constructed from pink gold and titanium, with satin finish and a 50m water resistance. The movement – an inhouse RMAC1 caliber – is a skeletonized automatic winding movement with hours, minutes, seconds at 3 o’clock, oversize date, month indicator, flyback chronograph with minutes and countdown register at 9 o’clock, hour register at 6 o’clock, GMT function and variable-geometry rotor with 55-hour power reserve.

Breguet’s Fine and Rare Yellow Gold and Diamond Set Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch with Moon Phases and Bracelet, circa 1995 Chronograph Marine Reference 3428 is the perfect combination between the functionality typical of a sport watch and the complicated elegance of Haute Joaillerie (estimate $100/150,000). The present watch features Breguet's caliber Cal 567 manual winding movement, an 18k yellow gold case and a 48 baguette diamond set bezel. The dial is constructed of solid gold with silvered finish and “secret” signature on both sides of the “VI” and with hand-applied guilloche. The dial shows the date at the 3 o’clock register, day at the 9 o’clock register with the month and leap year indicator displayed in the 12 o’clock register.

10388 Lot 66, Ulysse Nardin, The Trilogy of Time

10388, Lot 3, Rolex Reference 6265 - 6263 Daytona