Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: EIGHT Hong Kong Monday, May 27, 2019 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 2001
    Reference No: 18946; inside caseback stamped no. 2286
    Movement No: 9’692’039
    Case No: K535’218
    Model Name: Day-Date Masterpiece
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3155, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Platinum Rolex Pearlmaster bracelet, max length 205mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum Rolex Pearlmaster deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 39mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by a Rolex International Guarantee signed Clarkson Jewelers, green leather Rolex presentation box, hang tags, leather wallet and product literature

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Rolex Masterpiece collection is comprised of watches adorned with the most luxurious and elevated of materials. The present example of the Masterpiece collection, a Day-Date in platinum, features a Pearlmaster bracelet with a bezel set with round brilliant diamonds, teardrop-shaped diamonds at 6 and 9 o’clock, and a superb meteorite dial, enhancing the diamonds on the bezel and dial. Rather than the typical 36mm diameter of Day-Dates, this Day-Date Masterpiece is 39mm diameter, allowing each element of the watch to shine in their own right.

    There are several different kinds of meteorite stone that are found on Earth, and used for commerical purposes, whether industrial or ornamental. The most common type of meteorite adorning the dials of watches, particularly Rolex watches, is an iron meteorite sliced into cross-sections, revealing beautiful linear patterns known as Widmanstätten patterns. Widmanstätten patterns are long nickel-iron crystals that form a cross-hatching pattern, and revealed by the polishing, cleaning, and acid-etching of the section of meteorite. These patterns have been known since the early 19th century, and have been used as dials for Rolex watches since 1999.

    The meteorite dials are known to be brittle and break easily during production, making them very rare. Rolex excels in using meteorite dials with uniformity in the cross-hatching patterns, and this example is no different. It is also complemented by its full set of original accessories and presented in superb overall condition.

  • 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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1109

Ref. 18946; inside caseback stamped no. 2286
An extremely fine and very rare platinum and diamond-set wristwatch with meteorite dial, date and day display, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box

Circa 2001
39mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed

Estimate
HK$195,000 - 280,000 
€22,000-31,600
$25,000-35,900

Sold for HK$287,500

Contact Specialist

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

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: EIGHT

Hong Kong Auction 28 May 2019