In November's Christie's Passion for Time auction, a Rolex Greenwich watch worn by the famous American actor Marlon Brando (Marlon Brando) GMT-Master Ref.1675, Sold for a staggering $5.124,900. That's more than double what it sold for four years ago.
In the auction history, a number of Rolex watches have been auctioned "sky-high".
Note: In the global watch auction market, more than $2 million can be considered the "most expensive watch", only about five auction houses, 15 watchmakers of 100 watches have made this standard. So far. The most expensive Watch ever sold at auction was the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref.6300A-010, which sold for $31.19 million at the Only Watch auction in Geneva in 2019.
This article presents five of the most expensive Rolex watches ever made, and each one has a great story behind it. These "sky-high" Rolexes not only represent the essence of watchmaking excellence, but also epitomize celebrity anecdotes and important cultural moments.
No.1 The Real "Paul Newman Daytona"
Model: Paul Newman Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239
Price: $17.8 million
Sale date: 2017
Rolex Daytona is also known as the "Paul Newman Daytona", because the American Oscar-winning actor Paul Newman often wears this type of appearance, so it has the nickname.
But strictly speaking, most Daytona just borrow the name, only belong to Paul Newman is the real "Paul Newman Daytona", which also achieved the most expensive Rolex in the history of auction today.
Around 1968, Paul Newman developed a keen interest in motorsport, and his wife Joanne Woodward, also a film star, gave him a Rolex Daytona ref 6239. On the back is engraved the words "DRIVE CAREFULLY ME" (for me, drive carefully).
Rolex first introduced this watch in 1963, named after the famous beach track "Ditona".
For the first few years, the dials of Ditona had a simple black and white color scheme, but later changes were made to make it easier to read the timepieces: a small square was added to the front of the Dial, the number scale was changed to art font, and the outer minute scale was changed to red. However, it is said that this modification was not welcomed by consumers at that time, Rolex overstocked a lot of inventory, and later recalled the factory to replace it with a normal plate before selling, so the existence of this plate is not much.
Joanna Woodward gave Paul Newman this Exotic Dial. In the 1980s, Paul Newman frequently participated in racing activities, inadvertently leaving a large number of photos wearing this Rolex Daytona, which were seen in various fashion and sports publications.
After a long period of time, the watch disappeared until it reappeared at a Phillips auction in 2017, reaching a staggering price of $17.8 million, becoming the most expensive Rolex auction record, which still stands today. It currently ranks third in the global watch auction record, behind only two Patek Philippe.
The mystery of the disappearance of the iconic watch was solved when Paul Newman gave it to Nell's then-boyfriend James Cox in 1984 because he did not own a watch.
Nell and James Cox did not eventually get together, but after Nell founded the Nell Newman Foundation, a charitable foundation, James Cox served as the foundation's treasurer.
James Cox wore the watch for 30 years but had no idea of its significance until a savvy collector reminded him. The proceeds from the sale of the watch were later donated to the Nell Newman Foundation.
No.2 The world's only antique platinum Rolex
Model: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6265 "Unicorn"
Price: $5.9 million
Sale date: 2018
This watch was produced in the 1970s, is currently the only known antique platinum Rolex, because of its unique texture and luster is called "Unicorn" (unicorn).
Usually hand-wound Datona comes with a stainless steel or gold case. And the gold case of Daytona itself is relatively rare, most of the supply in the American market. At that time, Swiss watchmakers used the "Sigma" symbol on the dial to indicate that it was made of pure gold.
Unicorn is said to be exclusive for a German client. Including the case, hands, time markers are made of white gold, only the crown is made of stainless steel, so the color of the crown is slightly different from other parts.
The watch originally had a leather strap, and Italian watch collector John Goldberger accessorized it with a shiny white gold bracelet.
In 2018, after owning the watch for eight years, John Goldberger sold it at an auction for $5.9 million. All proceeds from the auction went to the Geneva-based Children Action Foundation, which works to help young people around the world.
No.3 Paul Newman's second Rolex Ditona
Model: Paul Newman Rolex Daytona Ref. 6263 "Big Red"
Price: $5.475 million
Sale date: 2020
Rolex Daytona ref. 6263 "Big Red" is the second Rolex Daytona that once belonged to Paul Newman to be sold at auction.
The watch was also given to Paul Newman by his wife Joanna Woodward for their 25th wedding anniversary in 1983. The watch replaces the Rolex Daytona ref 6239, long worn by Paul Newman (given to James Cox in 1984).
Paul Newman wore it for 25 years and kept the watch until his death, giving it to his youngest daughter Clea on his deathbed in 2008.
In December 2020, Clea sent the watch to Fox's auction house, where it was sold for $5.475 million, with a portion of the proceeds donated to charity.
No.4 Marlon Brando's hand-made Rolex
Model: Rolex GMT-Master Ref.1675
Price: $5,124,900
Sale date: 2023
At Christie's Passion for Time auction in November this year, a Rolex Greenwich watch worn by Marlon Brando, the Oscar winner and star of The Godfather, GMT-Master Ref.1675, It sold for $5.124,900.
The watch sold for $1.95 million at the 2019 Game Changers auction, setting an auction record for a Rolex Ref.1675 model. Four years later, the sale price has more than doubled.
The watch was made in 1972 and was worn by Marlon Brando in the 1979 Vietnam War film "Apocalypse Now."
Marlon Brando's personal transformation marks on the watch make its collection value even more unique.
This is a watch that was personally owned by Marlon Brando and brought to the set of Apocalypse Now. Marlon Brando plays former Special Forces Colonel Walter Kurtz in the film. However, director Francis Ford Coppolla felt that it would be too high-profile for a Colonel Walter Kurtz to wear a Rolex watch, and the crew did not want to be seen as promoting Rolex in the film, so they wanted a different watch.
However, Marlon Brando insisted on wearing the watch in scenes, saying, "If the audience saw a watch, then I would not be a good actor."
Eventually a compromise was reached, and Marlon Brando removed the bezel and replaced the original bracelet with a black leather strap. After the transformation, this Rolex watch is more in line with the atmosphere of the jungle drama, highlighting the crazy character of Walter Kurtz, and it is not easy to recognize.
Marlon Brando had his signature "M. Brando" engraved on the back of the watch.
"The engraving is still very clear, so we can imagine that the watch has been worn, but not too much," Eli Fayon, Christie's watch specialist in Geneva, told AFP ahead of the sale.
In 1995, Marlon Brando gave this watch to his adopted daughter Petra as her graduation present. "This watch is like a tank, you can do anything you want with it, the hour hand will not stop," Petra recalled Marlon Brando telling her when she received the watch.
Petra gave the watch to her husband Russel Fischer on their wedding day in 2003. In 2019, the watch was bought by Mohammed Zaman, a super collector from Dubai, and Russel Fischer and his wife donated part of the proceeds to a children's charity.
No.5 Rolex of the last Emperor of Vietnam
Model: Rolex Ref. 6062 "Bao Dai"
Price: $5.1 million
Sale date: 2017
The watch is named after its owner, Majesty Nguyễn Phuc V M nh Thụy, the last emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam, who ascended the throne at the age of 12 and took the title Bao Dai, which means "Great Guardian".
In the spring of 1954, while attending a meeting of the leaders of the Geneva Conventions, he strolled into the store of Chronometrie Philippe Beguin, a retailer of Rolex. Since childhood, living and studying in France, Baoda, who is very fond of luxury brands and watches, asked to find the rarest and most precious watch.
So Philippe Beguin went to the Rolex headquarters and took a gold bracelet, a black dial, and a lunar phase watch 6062 inlaid with diamonds. At the time, the 6062 was one of only three Rolex models with a moon phase feature, and it was the first to feature a waterproof Oyster case.
Of the three known models of 6062 minutes, "Bao Dai" is the only model with a diamond timemark on even hours.
In 2017, the watch sold for $5.1 million at a Fuis auction, setting a record price for a Rolex at the time.
