you’re able to tell a lot about a man but their watch.
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When you think of pricey watches, Im sure the brand Rolex comes to mind.
Ill give you a hint; its in the ten-figure range.
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Oddly enough, though, some of the most understated pieces from Rolex have become the priciest.
A Brief History of the Rolex Watch?
If youve never heard of Rolex, youve probably been living under a rock.
I think we can all agree that those dreams did come true.
Hans purchased the patent for the worlds first waterproof watch the Oyster.
After a century of success, the Rolex company is worth approximately $7.9 billion.
And with a brand value that high, its no wonder some incredibly expensive pieces have been produced.
Rolex Platinum Diamond Pearlmaster $277,850
The Rolex Platinum Diamond Pearlmaster is a limited-edition Rolex.
It has 42 diamonds on its bezel and a meteorite diamond dial.
The 39mm dial watch features diamond markers and has a shiny opulence look that truly catches your eye.
James Bonds 1972 Rolex Submariner $365,000
This watch can thank its wearer for its value.
Before the movie began, Moore modified the watch and changed the bezel to look like a saw.
Due to the heavy modification for the movie, the watch now cant tell time.
The Rolex Submariner went for $365,000 at a 2015 auction in Geneva.
The fact that Roger Moore signed the back probably helped fetch that kind of money.
The John Player Special Daytona $1.2
The John Player Special Daytona Ref.
6264 is significant because of its pump pushers that mirror the original Rolex Cosmograph watches.
Other models of this key in were crafted in stainless steel.
However, yellow gold editions were also made, which collectors consider rare.
As only ten of these yellow gold models exist, they are some of the rarest Rolex watches.
In addition, these ten watches feature a Paul Newman dial created in champagne, lemon, or black.
Black, as seen in this particular model, is the rarest of them all.
The John Player Special Daytona Ref.
Jack Nicklaus Rolex Day-Date $1.22
Rolex gifted the yellow gold Day-Date in 1967 to famous golfer Jack Nicklaus.
The watch rose to fame because Nicklaus wore it during 12 of his 18 championship wins.
It was the only watch he had ever owned and the only one he wore throughout his career.
The first auction occurred in New York in 2003, where the watch fetched $505,000.
Its name Oyster Sotto comes from the vintage Rolex watches dial.
Oyster Sotto translates from Italian as Oyster underneath.
As you’re free to see on the watchs dial, the word Oyster lies underneath Cosmograph.
Marlon Brandos Rolex GMT-Master $1.9 Million
The Rolex GMT Master Ref.
1675 is a prime example of a Rolex watch that gained its price tag thanks to its original owner.
Marlon Brando, a 20th-century American actor, wore the timepiece in the 1979 movieApocalypse Now.
That 2019 Phillips Game Changers auction saw the Rolex GMT Master Ref.
1675 sell for $1.9 million, well above the watchs expected price.
Brando wore his Rolex, which lacked a bezel on a black leather strap.
The lack of bezel was so the Academy Award Winner could wear his watch on set.
His plan to make the piece less conspicuous worked and resulted in the unique-looking timepiece we know today.
Rolex Antimagnetique $2.5 Million
The oldest Rolex to make the list is the 1942 Antimagnetique Ref.
The stainless steelwatchwith its brown leather strap has a 44mm case.
This size case is the largest case Rolex ever built.
What makes this watch even more unique is that Rolex only ever made 12 of them.
The company initially produced the Antimagnetique Ref.
4113 exclusively for racing teams and never made them commercially available.
Rolex designed the Antimagnetique Ref.
4113 with a pink-colored baton and Arabic hour markers and a blue telemeter scale.
They also included a split-second chronograph to help the wearer time different events.
A Cristies auction in 2013 saw one of the Antimagnetiques sell for $1.6 million.
4113 with a price tag of $2.5 million.
This shows the rapid price increase for rare and unique Rolex models.
The Neanderthal Rolex $3 Million
The next most expensive Rolex watch ever sold is the Rolex Daytona Ref.
6240, also known as the Neanderthal.
In 2018, a Phillips auction sold the Neanderthal Rolex Daytona Ref.
6240 for $3 million, making it one of the most expensive Rolex ever sold at auction.
One of them is the Cosmograph Zenith Daytona with a Turquoise Dial.
The turquoise dial Daytona is considered ultra-rare as Rolex only ever made five.
An auction in Hong Kong witnessed the watch smash its estimated price and sell for $3.1 million.
Former Rolex chief executive Patrick Heiniger requested five of the Zenith Cosmograph Daytonas to be made in 1998.
This caliber was based on the Zenith El Primero movement, hence the name Zenith.
A turquoise watch may not be for everyone, but Rolex sure made theirs look classy.
This Platinum Zenith Daytona is the only one of its kind with a lapis lazuli hard stone dial.
The high price tag is understandable with a watch as rare as this one.
One thing is for sure, whoever purchased this million-dollar watch sure does love the color blue.
Cosmograph Daytona The Legend $4.1 Million
The Cosmograph Daytona Legend Ref.
6263 was once the most expensive Daytona to sell at auction through a dramatic and intense bidding war.
In 1969, the Cosmograph Daytona Legend Ref.
6263 was launched, and both examples of the watch feature extremely early Rolex serial numbers.
Of course, the most breathtaking aspect of the Legend is the creamy dial that shimmers in the sun.
Nowadays, the Oyster on the dial features serifs.
Rolex Bao Dai $5.1 Million
The Bao Dai is a one-of-a-kind Rolex with an interesting story.
The final emperor of Vietnam entered a local Rolex boutique in Geneva in 1954.
He asked to be shown the rarest Rolex ever made and was presented with the Bao Dai.
This yellow gold-cased watch with a black dial and diamond indices was one of three reference 6062s.
However, the Bao Dais five-diamond layout was unique to only it, giving it its one-of-a-kind title.
The emperors descendants put the watch up for sale in 2002, where it fetched $235,000.
At the time, this was the highest price a collector had ever paid for a Rolex watch atauction.
Although they pocketed over $200,000, I bet they wished they had held onto the Bao Dai.
Newman reportedly wore his Big Red for 25 years, making it his most worn watch.
Rolex Daytona Unicorn $5.9 Million
One of the most dazzling Daytonas Rolex ever produced is the Daytona Ref.
The white-gold Cosmograph has a black SIGMA dial and bracelet that John Goldberger is responsible for.
When Rolex created the Unicorn in 1970, the original German retail owner requested a leather strap.
Paul Newmans Rolex Daytona $17.8 Million
The moment youve all been waiting for.
The top spot for Rolexs most expensive watch to be sold is taken by Paul Newmans Daytona Rolex Ref.
Paul Newman Rolex dials get their name from the once unpopular dial worn by the racer and actor.
This extortionate Rolex, however, actually belonged to Paul himself.
The watch, a gift from his wife Joanna, has DRIVE CAREFULLY ME engraved on the back.
Paul Newman wore this watch practically every day from 1969 to 1984.
Why Are Rolex Watches so Pricey?
So what exactly is it that makes Rolex so expensive?
Lets take a look at a few important factors.
This constant innovation keeps them ahead of the game, producing the best quality watches possible.
Manufacturing
Rolex doesnt just rely on machines to do all the heavy lifting.
Materials
Did you know that Rolex actually produces its own gold, platinum, and steel?
This hand selection and hand setting of the diamond match up to the processes used by renowned jewelry brands.
Turns out humans are the better positioners.
Should I Invest in a Rolex?
After reading that a Rolex can go for $17.8 million, then should I invest in a Rolex?
is an understandable question to ask.
For example, take watch collector John Goldberger, whom I mentioned previously.
As we wrap up the most expensive Rolex in the world, wed love to know your opinions.
Do you think $17.8 million is an extortionate amount for a watch?
Let us know in the comment section down below!
