Rolex watches are the ultimate designer watch brand - worn by A listers all over the world and a highly desirable collectors' item. Now Catawiki, Europe’s leading online marketplace for special objects, has curated a unique watch auction featuring some of the most sought after vintage Rolex watches ever produced - from those that are a part of America’s cultural history to technically rare collectables.
The auction will run from 29th October - to 14th November and will feature a number of exclusive watches hand-picked from the 1940’s, 1960, & 1970’s era - a golden period for Rolex watches. The star-studded auction will include the Paul Newman Rolex - named after and made famous by the iconic Hollywood actor, as well as the Jean-Claude Killy Rolex, of which only a handful were ever produced.
Tom Tombeur, Catawiki’s Expert for Watches says: “At Catawiki, the Rolex watch brand was the no.1 most searched term on the platform in the last year, a testament to our users love of this timeless make and its enduring legacy. With this in mind, we wanted to celebrate the visionary spirit of Rolex with an auction featuring some of the greatest watches on the planet. We’re thrilled to be mixing the most beautiful Rolex’s ever produced alongside those with distinctly rare technicalities - making them a one-of-a-kind find for the collecting community.”
Some of the watches on auction include:
Rolex - Oyster Cosmograph Daytona "Paul Newman". Estimated price between 620,000€ - 680,000€
Produced in very small numbers in the 1960's and made popular by the Hollywood legend Paul Newman as he was always seen wearing it - the Daytona has long been considered the Holy Grail among watch collectors. Newman's personal 'Paul Newman' Daytona — a gift from his wife, actress Joanne Woodward— was sold for close to 18 million USD in 2017, leading to demand for these rare watches rocketing.
Rolex - Dato Compax 'Jean Claude Killy'. Estimated price 325,000€- 360,000€
One of the most beautiful watches in Rolex history - this important timepiece was made famous by the French Olympic skiing champion Jean Claude Killy and made extra unique with it’s ultra rare 18ct pink gold patented "Oyster" case. The name of the retailer - “Serpico Y Laino" - is also visible on the dial as a highly unique detail for collectors. Only one other watch like this has ever been produced over the years. As well as being a superbly functioning watch, it was recently given the overhaul treatment at the Rolex factory in Geneva for 26,000€.
Rolex - Chronograph Moonphase Day-Date 'PADELLONE'. Estimated price 300,000€ - 330,000€
Another incredibly rare watch from the 1950's that oozes elegance is the Rolex Chronograph Moonphase Day-Date - one of the most complicated Rolex watches ever produced. Affectionately nicknamed 'Padellone' (Italian for a large frying pan) due to it’s remarkably large size for that specific era - 36mm - this watch is one of the very few watches in Rolex history that features the moonphase indicator on the dial. This model on auction is in 18ct yellow gold and in completely original condition.
Recent figures for watch sales:
Over the past 3 years Catawiki’s watch category has almost doubled in sales
Rolex is still the most sold watch brand on Catawiki and continues to grow year after year. The other most popular watch brands on Catawiki include: Omega, Breitling, Cartier, TAG Heuer, IWC, Audemars Piguet, Panerai, Vacheron Constantin & Breguet
Rolex is still the no.1 most searched term on Catawiki, followed by Omega as the second most searched watch brand
