Antiquorum holds its first auction of the year in Monaco this month, with hopes that interest in Rolex will soar on the back of significant anniversaries for the Submariner and Daytona lines.
Watch auctioneers had been expanding the value of their sales to record levels until 2022, but cooling prices took the shine off last year.
Antiquorum has examples of a Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman”, said to be “in exquisite condition” at its January 19th sale, along with a desirable early Rolex Submariner “Comex” watch.
“Antiquorum has had a very successful 2022, despite the difficult context of the auction market,” says Romain Réa, CEO of Antiquorum.
“2023 will mark two important anniversaries: the 70th anniversary the Rolex Submariner, of which Antiquorum is proud to hold all the world records for the Rolex Submariner COMEX references sold at auction, and the 60th anniversary of the Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239 with ‘Paul Newman’ dial.”
Top lots at the Antiquorum Monaco auction
(descriptions and estimates by Antiquorum)
AUDEMARS PIGUET SELF-WINDING, DATE ROYAL OAK “A-SERIES”; STAINLESS STEEL
Estimate $50,000 – 80,000.
First, this timepiece is considered “fresh to the market”—the previous owner bought it in 1975 and has kept it since, which is made evident through records as well as the timepiece’s pristine condition.
Secondly, this reference is an “A-Series”, as made evident through the “No. A 1826” engraving on its solid caseback, meaning it was produced somewhere in the early 1970s in the original A-series batch made by the brand after they first introduced the Royal Oak in 1971. Between 1972 and 1989, only 1,937 “A-Series” Royal Oak models were produced.
A historic reference, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak also manages to hold a cultural provenance uncommon for most modern watches—few can hold a place in traditional watchmaking history while still being quoted in Jay-Z’s lyrics.
ROLEX REF. 5514; DIVER’S, CENTRE-SECONDS; SUBMARINER “COMEX BIG NUMBER”
Estimate $60,000 – 120,000
The reference featured an improved helium escape valve and is considered by experts to be one of the rarest of its kind, produced only from 1974 to 1977 for a total roughly 750 pieces. LOT 201 dates back to 1974—making this rarity one of the first ever Rolex Submariner COMEX watches ever produced.
ROLEX REF. 6263, CHRONOGRAPH DAYTONA “PAUL NEWMAN”
Estimate $300,000 – 500,000
Rolex Daytona Ref. 6263 is easily recognizable thanks to its screwed-in pusher, black bakelite bezel and “exotic” panda dial, made famous by Hollywood superstar Paul Newman.
LOT 216, the ultimate Daytona “Paul Newman Panda”, is not only in superb condition but perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the Daytona Paul Newman—Hollywood glamour in a tool watch.
ROLEX DAY-DATE IN PLATINUM WITH CORAL DIAL
Estimate $150 000 – 250,000
Day-Date made in platinum (exceedingly rare for Rolex) with a stone coral dial.
Considered one of the more flamboyant Rolex models, the brand is known for its savoir-faire with stone dials, which break easily during the production and assembly process.
This piece, due to its rare platinum case and President bracelet and rare dial, is considered by experts to be a unique piece on the market today.
