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Rolex Daytona sells for over $86k with profits going to Ukraine children’s charity

On the front row sat the owner of the watch, Danish racing driver Michael Christensen. For Mr Christensen, the sale of the winning watch had a very special purpose.

A unique Rolex Daytona watch was sold Thursday evening for EUR 88,800, a total which equates to around $86,770.

Sold at Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers in Copenhagen, the watch was won by Danish racing driver Michael Christensen in 2017 at the prestigious 24 hours of Daytona race.

Michael Christensen now wants to donate the profits from the sale to Save the Children in Ukraine.

The auctioneer’s message to press explained how excitement filled the saleroom on Thursday evening when a unique Rolex Daytona watch came up for auction.

On the front row sat the owner of the watch, Danish racing driver Michael Christensen. For Mr Christensen, the sale of the winning watch had a very special purpose.

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Speaking before the auction, he said: “The watch is dear to my heart, as it was awarded to me after one of my biggest and proudest victories. At the same time, the situation in Ukraine is absolutely terrible and sad, and most children in Ukraine are growing up under completely different circumstances than I did. If I can help just a little bit, so they can look forward to a better life, I want to do it.”

Following the sale, he reflected: “It has been a long journey, and of course my nerves have been worn a little thin during the recent days. The decision to sell my Rolex Daytona watch was both a sad and satisfying decision.

“With the charitable purpose in mind and Bruun Rasmussen’s commitment, the sale made more and more sense to me during the process. Now I’m just so relieved that it went so well with a hammer price of half a million Danish kroner this evening.”

Bruun Rasmussen was also very pleased with the conclusion of the sale: “We are very glad to be able to sell such a rare watch for such a worthy cause – especially in these times when dark clouds are gathering over Europe,” said its Head of Department for wristwatches.

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Adding: “We are of course grateful that Michael Christensen chose to sell his unique watch with us, as we certainly will not see such a watch at our auctions again. It has been an unforgettable experience.”

For 75 years, Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers has sold art, antiques, design, jewellery, wristwatches and collector’s items in the heart of Copenhagen.

It was Arne Bruun Rasmussen who founded the auction house at Bredgade 33 in 1948, and until 2022 the Bruun Rasmussen family owned the company.

Today, the company is owned by the British auction house Bonhams – one of the world’s leading and oldest auction houses.

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