Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XV Hong Kong Monday, November 28, 2022 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1995
    Reference No: 16589SACI
    Movement No: 175'692
    Case No: W082’516
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona
    Material: 18K white gold, sapphires and diamonds
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “16519”
    Dimensions: 40mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Literature: A similar example is prominently illustrated in the “Daytona Perpetual” by Pucci Papaleo, pp. 168-169

  • Catalogue Essay

    Fitted with blue indigo baguette sapphire-set bezel and a blue sodalite dial, the present watch combines Rolex's gift in gem-setting and creating beautiful movements. Known for its rigorous standards in quality, such combination requires not only the most skillful craftsmen but also patience. It is no surprise that the wastage of working with these natural mineral stones are extremely high. Each dial are crafted into incredibly thin stones which are extremely vulnerable to cracks during the manufacturing process. As each stone occurs naturally, no two sodalite dials are identical in appearance. Each one varies in shade and colour, giving each watch a unique look.

    The present ref. 16589SACI is beautifully fitted with a bezel set with baguette-cut blue indigo sapphires. Featuring white gold bars that perfectly align with each diamond hour indexes on the dial, the translucent charm of the blue sapphires certainly compliments the sodalite exceedingly well. With only a handful of these specimens ever produced, the present ref. 16589 bearing a W082’516 serial is possibly one of the earliest example to surface in the auction market. A similar example with a W082’519 serial, just 3 serial after has also been prominently illustrated in the Daytona Perpetual by renowned scholar and collector, Pucci Papaleo. Offered in excellent overall condition with its factory green sticker still intact on the caseback, this rare blue ensemble is a gem not to miss.

  • 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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Σ872

Ref. 16589SACI
A highly rare and impressive white gold and sapphire-set chronograph wristwatch with sodalite dial and diamond-set indexes

Circa 1995
40mm diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$480,000 - 960,000 
€57,100-114,000
$61,500-123,000

Sold for HK$1,449,000

Contact Specialist

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

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XV

28 - 29 November 2022 (Online Registration ends 27 Nov, 2pm HKT)