A rare Khanjar Cosmograph Daytona (ref 6265/6263) from around 1980 was the top lot at Bonhams’ Fine Wristwatches Sale yesterday, when the hammer came down with an overseas bidder offering £375,063. It is the most valuable watch sold by the international auction house to date and went for three times its pre-sale estimate.
The Khanjar was one of three desirable Rolex tool watches that performed strongly in the sale.
A circa 1969 Paul Newman Cosmograph Daytona (ref 6239), owned from new by a gentleman racer who campaigned a 1930 8-litre Bentley at Goodwood and Silverstone motor circuit, achieved £112,563 and was the second most valuable lot in the saleroom.
The third in the trio, arguably the ultimate ‘tool’ watch, was a very rare circa 1979 ‘Comex’ Sea Dweller, which sold for £100,063. It was offered by its original owner, a professional diver with the Compagnie Maritime d’Expertise (Comex) which commissioned Rolex to create watches that could withstand extreme conditions, including pressurised chambers, and survive decompression periods.
Jonathan Darracott, Global Head of Bonhams Watches, said: “These were fantastic results for extraordinary watches of character – all with an interesting story, representing a chapter of military, aviation, motorsport and watchmaking history.”
