Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: TWO Hong Kong Monday, May 30, 2016 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1958
    Reference No: 6613
    Movement No: N843251
    Case No: 416'988
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: Platinum and diamonds
    Calibre: Automatic, 1055, 25 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Black leather strap
    Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold Rolex buckle
    Dimensions: 36 mm. diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Literature: For another example of a platinum reference 6613 with Arabic calendar and textured bracelet, please see 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, page 163.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Day-Date reference 6613 is incredibly rare and only one other example can be found in literature, which is published in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger. In his book, the watch illustrated is exactly the same, however, the calendar apertures are in Arabic. No other 6613 can be found offered on the market, which highlights the rarity and importance of the present watch. A reference 6612, which is the platinum Day-Date with smooth bezel, was offered for sale at Phillips a year ago and was one of the only two examples known in platinum. The watch sold for over 400,000 USD.

    The present watch is furthermore unique as it is signed 'Duaij', where 'Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified' should be. The exact placement and proportions of this signature leads us to conclude that this watch must had been made on a special order for one of Rolex's most esteemed and distinguished clients. We are unable to confirm exactly who this signature belongs to, however, after further research, the name 'Duaij' is associated with the House of Khalifa, the Bahraini Royal family which have been ruling Bahrain since 1783. It is entirely possible that the watch was made by special order because this platinum Day-Date would have been one of the most exclusive watches Rolex were manufacturing in the late 1950s. The condition of the case is very appealing and crisp, the case numbers in between the lugs are easily read without a loupe. The diamond setting is complete and original. The dial has aged to a very charismatic brown and over the years, the elements have caused the lacquer to flake, mainly in the upper half of the dial.

    All things considered, this is an incredibly rare example and was the first Day-Date reference to be cased in platinum with a diamond-set bezel.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.

    One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.

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201

Ref. 6613
A fine and very rare platinum and diamond-set calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds

1958
36 mm. diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$250,000 - 400,000 

Sold for HK$275,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
thomasperazzi@phillips.com

Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
ziyongho@phillips.com

Jill Chen
Specialist
+852 2318 2033
jillchen@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: TWO

Hong Kong Auction 31 May 2016