Golf Legend Jack Nicklaus to Auction His
Iconic Rolex Day‐Date for Children’s Hospitals
Rolex that Accompanied Him for Over 50 Years to be Offered
in
Phillips’ New York Watch Auction on 10 December 2019
All Sale Proceeds to Benefit the
Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation
NEW YORK – 28 MAY 2019 – Phillips is
honored to present the cherished wristwatch of the greatest champion in the
history of professional golf, Jack Nicklaus – also known as the Golden Bear.
This Rolex Day‐Date Reference 1803 in
yellow gold has graced the wrist of Mr. Nicklaus nearly every day since he
received it as a gift from Rolex in 1967 and was present when he won 12 of his
record 18 professional major championship titles — often photographed when Jack
Nicklaus hoisted the championship trophy following his victories. The Day‐Date is Rolex’s most prestigious model and one of
the world’s most famous watches.
Originally launched in 1956, the Day‐Date, with its famous “President” bracelet, was the
first wristwatch to feature a date and fully spelled‐out day of the week indication on its dial. The sporty
elegance of the Day‐ Date is appealing to a
variety of consumers around the world, due to its versatility, robustness, and
elegance, enduring for over six decades as one of the most popular and sought after
Rolex models. In 18-karat yellow gold and fitted with a
stunning and extremely rare champagne‐ colored “pie‐pan”‐style dial, with tapered and faceted baton hour-
markers —reminiscent of golf tees — Phillips is especially proud to announce
that all of the sale proceeds will directly benefit the Nicklaus Children’s
Health Care Foundation when it is auctioned on 10 December 2019.
“This is the very first watch I ever
owned, and the only watch I wore for every professional tournament I’ve won
throughout my career,” Jack Nicklaus said. “It has accompanied me at U.S.
Opens, Masters Tournaments, PGA Championships, Open Championships and countless
other events for over five decades, and has served me well at every step along
the way. Parting ways with this watch is certainly bittersweet. While I will
certainly miss the opportunity of wearing the watch and having it serve as a
constant reminder of some of my life’s most memorable moments I know that
parting with it will help countless children and families impacted through the
work of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. I have said many times
that the work being done by our Foundation and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is
far more rewarding than any 4-foot putt I made to win a golf tournament. So to
know that 100% of the money raised from the sale of something on my wrist that
I have treasured for over a half-century will directly benefit pediatric care
is a treasure of the heart. I also want to thank Phillips for contributing its
profits to this great cause.”
Paul Boutros, Phillips Head of Watches,
Americas, added, “A tour‐de‐force of athleticism and philanthropy, Jack Nicklaus
is the greatest golfer of all time, revered by sports fans around the world. We
are honored to present this superb Rolex Day‐Date Reference 1803 in our December auction — the
watch that was on his wrist celebrating the many historic milestones that
marked his illustrious career. With its incredible provenance and timeless
aesthetics, we look forward to seeing an enthusiastic response from collectors,
golf fans, and charitable supporters, who, in addition to vying for one of the
greatest timepieces associated with an iconic sports legend, will have the
opportunity to raise funds to positively impact the lives of children. We are truly
honored to help Jack and his wife Barbara in these efforts.”
This particular Rolex’s history
begins in the late 1960s. While attending the Canada Cup in Tokyo in 1966, Mr.
Nicklaus was offered a watch of his choice during a Rolex cocktail event that
he attended with golf icons Gary Player and Arnold Palmer. Mr. Player, who was
sponsored by Rolex at the time, recommended that Mr. Nicklaus choose the gold
Day‐Date on display. Having
never previously owned a watch, Mr. Nicklaus decided to take his friend’s
advice. Mr. Nicklaus received his golden Rolex Reference 1803 — aptly matching
his famous moniker, Golden Bear — the following year in 1967, the same year he
won his second U.S. Open and set the U.S. Open scoring record at 275. Although
he eventually acquired a number of watches throughout his lifetime, Mr.
Nicklaus has revealed that this Rolex is the wristwatch that he wore daily and
that barely left his wrist for 50 years.
An original inductee of the World
Golf Hall of Fame, Mr. Nicklaus played his first full professional season in
1962 at the age of 22. That same year, he began cementing his place as one of
the greatest golfers in the world, with his first career win and major
championship victory at the U.S. Open in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, where he
defeated golf legend and close friend Arnold Palmer. Mr. Nicklaus’ rapid
success earned him the reputation of being the game’s most dominant player, and
launched him on a quarter-century run that would include 120 professional wins
worldwide, 73 PGA TOUR victories, 18 of which were major championship titles.
With a career spanning five decades,
Nicklaus would become one of only five golfers to win all four of golf’s modern
majors, known in the golf world as achieving a “Grand Slam.” Nicklaus’ success
on and off the course has earned him several prominent accolades. With honors
and titles such as “The Most Powerful Person in Golf,” “Golfer of the Century,”
and “Best Individual Male Athlete of the 20th Century’’ under his belt, Mr.
Nicklaus continued to use his success as a platform for the greater good of
others. That impact led to him being honored with the Presidential Medal of
Freedom — the country’s highest civilian honor — and the Congressional Gold
Medal, which is the highest recognition by the United States Congress. Mr.
Nicklaus was the 7th athlete (3rd golfer) to receive the Congressional Gold
Medal and only the 17th person to receive both the Congressional Gold Medal and
the Presidential Medal of Freedom. More notably, Mr. Nicklaus is just the 4th
person in history—and the 1st athlete—to be honored with the Presidential Medal
of Freedom (2005), the Congressional Gold Medal (2015) and the Lincoln Medal
(2018).
Mr. Nicklaus has dedicated himself to
the well‐being of children around
the globe. In 2004, Mr. Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, established the Nicklaus
Children’s Health Care Foundation, to provide families access to world‐class pediatric health care. Collaborating with
pediatric hospitals across the United States, the Foundation supports
innovative programs focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of
childhood illnesses. Its efforts include support for Nicklaus Children’s
Hospital, a world leader in pediatric healthcare with over 800 attending
physicians and more than 475 Pediatric subspecialists. The Nicklaus Children’s
Health System includes 15 Nicklaus Children’s Outpatient Centers.
All of the auction proceeds will
directly benefit the Foundation and its ongoing efforts to provide the best
care to children in need around the world, as the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
has served children and families from
all 50
states and 119 countries.
Phillips is thrilled to present this
iconic Day‐Date — one of the most storied
Rolex watches to appear on the market — on 10 December 2019 during a tightly
curated and important thematic auction in New York. Prior to the auction, the
watch will be presented on an international tour, which will include viewings
in London, Geneva, Hong Kong, and throughout the United States. The tour will
begin at the Jack Nicklaus Museum in Columbus, Ohio, on 29 May, followed by the
Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide, hosted by Jack Nicklaus in Dublin,
Ohio from 30 May - 2 June. The watch will then be exhibited at the US Open at
Pebble Beach from 13-16 June.
Auction: 10
December 2019 | Location: 450 Park Avenue, New York
A portion of the
buyer’s premium will be used to cover administrative costs.
###
ABOUT PHILLIPS IN ASSOCIATION WITH BACS & RUSSO
The team of
specialists at PHILLIPS Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency,
and client service, achieving a sale total of $112 million in
2017 – its second consecutive year as the worldwide market leader in
watch auctions.
Noteworthy
record-breaking prices include:
1
Paul Newman’s Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona reference
6239 (CHF 17,709,894/US$17,752,500) – New York Auction: Winning Icons – 26
October 2017 – Highest result ever achieved for any wristwatch at auction.
2
Patek Philippe reference 1518 in stainless steel
(CHF 11,020,000 /US$11,112,020) – Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR – 12 November 2016
– Highest result ever achieved for a Patek Philippe wristwatch at auction.
ABOUT PHILLIPS
Phillips
is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art
and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of 20th Century and
Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips
offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions
and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong
Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based
throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online
auction platform accessible anywhere in the world. In addition to providing selling and buying
opportunities through auction, Phillips brokers private sales and offers
assistance with appraisals, valuations, and other financial services.
Visit
www.phillips.com for further
information.
*Estimates
do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus
buyer’s premium.
ABOUT NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE
FOUNDATION
Jack and Barbara Nicklaus founded the
Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation in 2004, in an effort to provide
families access to world‐class
pediatric health care in their own communities. Collaborating with the Nicklaus
Children’s
Hospital and pediatric hospitals across the country, the Foundation has made a
tremendous impact by supporting innovative programs focused on the diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of childhood illnesses. For more information, please
visit nchcf.org.
PRESS CONTACTS:
PHILLIPS NEW YORK – Paul Lerner, Consultant
plerner@optimistconsulting.com +1 917 698 9998
PHILLIPS NEW YORK - Jaime Israni, Senior Public Relations Specialist jisrani@phillips.com +1
212 940 1398
PHILLIPS GENEVA – Asta Ponzo, PR Consultant aponzo@phillips.com +41 79 961 85 66
NICKLAUS COMPANIES – Andy O’Brien, SVP, Marketing, Licensing & Communications andy.obrien@nicklaus.com +1
561 227 0442
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