The four gem-set watches were auctioned last night (September 29th), in partnership with Rolex. The four one of a kind watches reached an extraordinary sale price with the proceeds going to the Federer Foundation and Leonardo DiCaprio’s charity Re:wild. Phillips described the sale as the largest single consignment ever to a charity.
Each piece was inspired by one of the seasons and is named accordingly – Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.
The watches previously made a surprise appearance at this year’s Watches and Wonders event in Geneva. They were on the top floor of Rolex’s booth where photography was banned.
Read about: Rare Cartier Cheich becomes the most valuable Cartier wristwatch ever sold at auction.
The four watches, which have vastly different styles, are all one off’s but all share the classic Daytona shape are made of platinum, white, yellow or everose gold and set with precious stones. Every watch also has 54 brilliant-cut diamonds across the lugs and the crown guard.
Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant at Phillips said: “This is a historic moment for the world of watchmaking. We are deeply honoured to have played a role in this first-ever charity auction with Rolex and to support the important work of the Federer Foundation and Re:wild. The extraordinary amount raised will make a meaningful contribution to future generations and to the protection of our natural world.”
Spring
Spring, reference 126599 SAVL, features a white gold case and chrysoprase dial with counters in lepidolite. Eight baguette-cut purple sapphires and 3 square-cut purple sapphires set in 18 carat white gold settingscomplete the hour markers. The bezel has features 36 trapeze-cut purple sapphires, approximately 5.57 carats. The Rolex crown sits squarely at 12 o’clock. It sold for £6,800,000.
Summer
Summer, reference 126595 SARO, is appropriately warm with an Everose gold case contrasting sharply against the turquoise dial and ruby counters. The blast of colour is continued by 8 baguette-cut pink sapphires and 3 square-cut pink sapphires in 18 carat pink gold settings as hour markers. The bezel shimmers with 36 trapeze cut pink sapphires totalling 4.32 carats. This watch achieved the highest price of the set of four watches – £10,300,000.
Autumn
Autumn – reference 126598 TML, is less garish. This watch is dominated by its yellow dial crafted from mookaite with counters in chrysoprase. The hour counters feature 8 baguette-cut green tourmalines and 3 square-cut green tourmalines in 18 carat yellow gold settings, the bezel is set with 36 trapeze cut green tourmalines, approximately 4.32 carats. The lugs and crown guard are set with 54 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 0.86 carats. The watch is completed in a classic Rolex gold case and bracelet. Autumn sold for £10.2 million.
Winter
Winter reference 126596 SABV, features darker tones, with a bluey green opal dial, lapis lazuli hour counters and fuschia bezel. Made out of 950 solid platinum, the bezel again features a total of 36 trapeze cut blue-to-fuschia sapphires totalling 5.57 carats, that subtly change colour as the light moves. Meanwhile 8 baguette cut diamonds, and 3 square cut diamonds mark the hours. The lugs and crown guard are set with 54 brilliant-cut diamonds, approximately 0.86 carats. The Rolex logo sits at 12 o’clock on all the watches. Winter achieved a £10 million sale.
The watches were originally conceived as a set for one buyer with a price of around CHF 4 million, however Rolex changed their mind and decided to auction them. Rolex had more than 1,000 legitimate enquiries for the watches. The final result achieved a sale price of nearly 10 times that initial figure, and changes the expectation what auctions can achieve for truly unique Rolex watches.
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