Three Gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona’s Sell for a Mind-boggling CHF 1,455,900

Yesterday Antiquorum Auctioneers in Geneva sold three gold Rolex Daytona’s for almost 1,5 million Swiss Francs, and one of them, a ref. 6263, sold for CHF 841,300. That’ a steep price, even considering that this might be the very first ref. 6263 ever and that it features a lemon color dial (instead of cream) with white markers in the subdials (instead of gold). There where two other gold Daytonas, a ref. 6241 (left in the picture) that sold for CHF 144,100 and a unique, full diamond-set ref. 6269/6263 for Oman that sold for CHF 470,500. 

All three sold for impressive prices, however the ref. 6263 with lemon color dial, is the one that drove collectors to bid heavily and sold for much more than the already high estimate of 300,000 – 500,00 CHF. It was the combination of a unique lemon color dial, the aforementioned white markers in the dial dial and the serial number, which could even mean it is the very first reference 6263 Daytona ever made, that made it stand out from the crowd (as if we can speak from a crowd, when discussing vintage Daytonas). Antiquorum even calls it a prototype.

Prototype or not, lemon dial or not, the final bid is much higher than anyone anticipated on. Whether the new owner was crazy about the unique details of his new Daytona ref. 6263 or maybe he thinks it makes a brilliant investment, we don’t know. Hopefully it’s both and this watch won’t become a full-time safe-queen.

If you missed out on this, it might be interesting to keep an eye on the upcoming auction of Christies Auctioneers, this afternoon to be held in Geneva. Christies will auction part I of the Palladio collection, comprising of some truly beautiful and very interesting early Rolex chronographs. Furthermore there the only Rolex Daytona ref. 6241 known to exist, that  retailed by Hermès Paris on November 30th 1971.

Also on auction is a collection of Patek Philippe watches for Children Action. Children Action is a Swiss foundation which aims to bring tangible help to children in need, regardless of their nationality, race, or religion. Among the watches is an extremely rare Patek Philippe Celestial, Ref. 5102.

And there is of course the Rolex Zerographe, ref. 3346, that we told you about last month (click here). View all watches to be auctioned by Christies today, here on the Christies website.