Written by Tom Tombeur
In spite of the competition from electronic watches, Rolex sales and reputation remain as buoyant as ever. Read on to discover the 5 most expensive Rolex watches ever sold.
5. Daytona ‘Albino’ ref. 6263 - €1.2 Million
Image source: Forbes
The Rolex Daytona watch line was named after the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, emphasising the brand’s love for motor racing. The Daytona is a racing chronograph that was designed for gentlemen, and this particular ‘Albino’ Daytona, ref. 6263, was pre-owned by guitar legend and singer Eric Clapton. The watch was manufactured in 1971 and housed in a stainless steel casing with a stainless steel bracelet. Only four were ever made, and the one owned by Eric Clapton sold for almost €1.2 million in 2015.
4. The Split-Seconds Chronograph ref. 4113 - €2 Million
Image source: Beautiful Life
The Split Second Chronograph is the largest Rolex wristwatch ever made, measuring 44 millimetres in diameters. Only 12 of these watches have ever been manufactured and the 8 that have been found all belonged to people close to Ferrari's racing team. What makes it so unique is that it’s the one-and-only split-seconds chronograph ever to be created by Rolex.
3. Lemon Dial Paul Newman Daytona ref. 6263 - €3.2 Million
Image source: revolution.watch
When a watch has the nickname ‘The Legend’, you know it has every right to be in this list. This 18K yellow gold Rolex Daytona has a lemon grené dial with contrasting black sub dials, and only 3 of these watches are known to exist. No wonder it's worth over €3 million!
2. Bao Dai ref. 6062 - €4.2 Million
This watch was the property of the last Monarch of Vietnam, Bao Dai. But that is not the only reason it sold for over €4 million at auction. The 1952 watch was one of the most complicated wrist watches manufactured by Rolex at that time, with a triple calendar and moon phase indicator. The watch is 18K yellow gold with diamond markers indicating the hours on the black dial.
Image source: Watchtime
1. Paul Newman’s Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6239- €14.8 Million
Image source: The Telegraph
Paul Newman’s personal Cosmograph Daytona is not only the most expensive Rolex, but by far the most expensive wristwatch ever sold so far. It was a gift from his wife, who was worried about Newman’s safety due to his love for motor racing. Therefore, the 1968 Cosmograph Daytona has ‘DRIVE CAREFULLY ME’ lovely inscribed on the back of it. 15 years later Newman gave the watch as a present to his daughter's boyfriend, simply because the boy didn’t own a watch.
In 2017 it brought almost €15 million at auction, with all proceeds donated to the Newman’s Own Foundation and Nell Newman’s Foundation. A true number 1, and it will probably stay that way for quite some time!
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