Sotheby's Important Watches Auction concluded in New York City with a sale total of $7,433,501. As expected, the most expensive watch that sold during the event was the platinum Patek ref. 5016 Perpetual Calendar, which sold for $444,500 followed by a pink gold Richard Mille split seconds chronograph tourbillon ref. RM-008/1, which sold for $396,500.
Prior to the event, we highlighted four vintage Rolex watches that were going up to the auction block. We're happy to report that all four references either sold at the top range or above their pre-sale estimates, clearly illustrating the robustness of the vintage Rolex market.
Table of Contents:
1 Rolex Oyster Cosmograph ref. 6265 FAP2 Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 DRSD3 Rolex Dato-Compax ref. 6036 Jean-Claude Killy4 Rolex Daytona ref. 6262 Paul Newman Rolex Oyster Cosmograph ref. 6265 FAPEstimate: $40,000 ?$60,000
The vintage Cosmograph 6262 was sold at $62,500. (Credit: Sotheby's)
Sold: $62,500 (including buyer's premium)
An interesting vintage Rolex Oyster Cosmograph ref. 6265 due to its military ties to the Peruvian Airforce, a.k.a. Fuerza Aerea del Peru (FAP). Circa 1974, the dial includes typical FAP features such as the absence of the "DAYTONA?designation in addition to the "Fuerza Aerea del Peru?engraving on the caseback.
Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 DRSDEstimate: $40,000 ?$60,000
The DRSD sold for $68,750. (Credit: Sotheby's)
Sold: $68,750 (including buyer's premium)
The inaugural Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 1665, this Double Red Sea-Dweller dates back to 1969—just two years after the Sea-Dweller's launch in 1967. Accompanying the DRSD's Mark I dial is the "Patent-Pending?engraving on the caseback.
Rolex Dato-Compax ref. 6036 Jean-Claude KillyEstimate: $60,000 ?$80,000
The Dato-Compax ref. 6036 Jean-Claude Killy sold $11,250 over the estimate. (Credit: Sotheby's)
Sold: $91,250 (including buyer's premium)
Always a solid contender at important watch auctions, this Rolex Dato-Compax ref. 6036 did not disappoint at Sotheby's NYC sale either. Nicknamed the "Jean-Claude Killy?after champion skier and a member of the Rolex board of directors, this ref. 6036 Rolex triple calendar is equipped with a dial from the Dato-Compax ref. 6236.
Rolex Daytona ref. 6262 Paul NewmanEstimate: $70,000 ?$100,000
A Paul Newman Daytona with an unoriginal Jubilee bracelet. (Credit: Sotheby's)
Sold: $137,500 (including buyer's premium)
No real surprise here as this Rolex Daytona Paul Newman ref. 6262 sold above and beyond its original estimate. Although this Paul Newman Daytona ref. 6262 from 1971 didn't come with its original bracelet, but instead a two-tone Jubilee one, the buyer still paid over $137,000 for it. The demand for Paul Newman editions of the Rolex Daytona is still going strong.
Other notable results included another Daytona Paul Newman ref. 6262 from 1970 that sold for $93,750 (estimate: $60,000 ?$90,000), a yellow gold Daytona ref. 6265 from 1975 that sold for $72,500 (estimate: $40,000 ?$60,000), and a Daytona ref. 6239 from 1967 that blew past its estimate and sold for $47,500 (estimate: $15,000 ?25,000).
Next stop on the Sotheby's watch auction calendar is the London Watches Auction that will take place September 19, 2017.
Auction Replica Watch June 25th Antiquorum Vintage Modern Timepieces 2161