What's all the uncharacteristic one off Rolex pieces surfacing at auctions lately?

[Chronocrass]

First, Phillips presents what is most likely the only two toned Daytona 6265 in existence for auction later this month.

Now, Christies has announced a real shocker coming up on their Rare Watches Geneva auction in November.

A factory original, Rolex WG Submariner dialed Day-Date 1803/9.

What?


Image credit to Hodinkee.com


Originally ordered in 1969 by a client who wanted the Day-Date prestige but also a sporty dial and handset to compliment his love of sailing, this watch is truly a bespoke piece coming from the factory. We aren't talking a simple case of dial swapping. This is a custom printed and cut dial at the behest of a client ordering this one watch.

Any questions of mods or frankens are put to bed by Rolex service documentation confirming the originality of the piece. It has been serviced by Rolex five times since it's purchase, most recently in March 2017.

Here's the listing from Christie's catalog with the details. There is an unconfirmed possibility this watch is one of two in existence.



Image credit to Christie's







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[stylinleems]

Wow! Truly unique piece.

[osamu]

Very cool. And with the Newman Daytona going up shortly, seems like quite the year for collectors.

[Chronocrass]

Originally Posted by osamu

Very cool. And with the Newman Daytona going up shortly, seems like quite the year for collectors.

One of a kind pieces from a company not known for scarcity. There are skeptics of this watch, but Christie's must have done their homework to be willing to sell this.

I imagine you could immediately send the watch to Rolex service after purchasing to make sure its authenticated on present condition. What recourse would you have if the piece you were sold wasn't what they claimed?

[Richard Carver]

I'm going with a redialled 1803 with an 1802 bezel. :)

[Richard Carver]

That bezel is cool though, a rare early domed 3mm. Don't see many of those.

Here's a good shot of one in YG...



EDIT Strangely, only the last pic is the domed bezel, the rest are flat bezels. Maybe someone snagged the domeed?

[FTX I]

Not the best looking watch I've seen.

[miamiclay]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

That bezel is cool though, a rare early domed 3mm. Don't see many of those.
Strangely, only the last pic is the domed bezel, the rest are flat bezels. Maybe someone snagged the domeed?

Ohhh, nice catch!

Note that Christie’s listed it as an 1803, not an 1802, which makes me wonder what was the original bezel. Even the auction copy only said that “Rolex confirmed verbally that the bezel was made at the same time as the watch and of the same material,” not that it was original to the piece.
I wonder which bezel the buyer actually got, back in ‘17?

[Richard Carver]

I believe the local dealer had a dial made to the customers specs, slapped an 1802 bezel on it and there it is.

[miamiclay]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

the local dealer had a dial made to the customers specs

If so, would Rolex Geneva have serviced it, as is, in 2017? (I’m really asking, I don’t know.) I would have speculated they would reject any dial with the Rolex logo which was not made by them.

I noted how Christie’s made a point of saying that it was picked it up from Rolex in Geneva in their presence (presumably to protect against concerns of a post-service dial swap).

[Richard Carver]

Originally Posted by miamiclay

If so, would Rolex Geneva have serviced it, as is, in 2017? (I’m really asking, I don’t know.) I would have speculated they would reject any dial with the Rolex logo which was not made by them.

I noted how Christie’s made a point of saying that it was picked it up from Rolex in Geneva in their presence (presumably to protect against concerns of a post-service dial swap).

What bezel and dial were on on the watch in 2017? Why not simply show a copy of the estimate with the description of the watch?

[abozz]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

That bezel is cool though, a rare early domed 3mm. Don't see many of those.

Here's a good shot of one in YG...



EDIT Strangely, only the last pic is the domed bezel, the rest are flat bezels. Maybe someone snagged the domeed?

What a beautyful watch! Perfect condition!

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[enjoythemusic]

The current high-priced bubble brings out many things.

[schoolboy]

If they made a DD with that dial and bezel in SS....

I would want one sooooooo bad


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[1665fan]

Not the best polish job on the WG dd