Two Ultra Rare Rolex Daytonas Are Headed to Auction
The timepieces will lead Christie’s Rare Watches live sale on November 10 at the Four Seasons Hotel de Bergues in Geneva
Christie’s has announced the upcoming sale of two ultra-rare Rolex watches that boast Hollywood ties and configurations not seen in over a decade. The first on offer, a Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 nicknamed “The Doctor,” is estimated to sell for up to $760,000, and is believed to be one of fewer than five in existence today. The second, a 1970 stainless Steel Rolex Daytona ref. 6262 with the Tiffany & Co. signature and an inscription from George Peppard to his son, is expected to fetch up to $250,000.
While “The Doctor” does not have a storied Hollywood past, it does have history worth noting. The watch is one of the rarest Rolexes to emerge and features the model name “Cosmograph” but not “Daytona,” which only began appearing on models after the brand’s NASCAR sponsorship, according to Christie’s. The auction house notes that the watch model, consigned by a Florentine doctor, was favored by the medical community due to the pulsation scales.
The second watch was originally purchased by George Peppard at Tiffany’s in Beverly Hills in 1972 as a Christmas present for his son, who has held onto the timepiece since. “When I think of my father, I always imagine him wearing his Rolex,” Bradford Peppard told Christie’s. “It was simply a part of him. So you can well imagine my delight, my amazement, when Christmas of 1972 I found exactly the same watch he loved, waiting for me under the Christmas tree. It was an unforgettable moment. I have treasured this watch for over 50 years, and it is not easy for me to say goodbye to this piece of my history, of my link to my father. I hope that it will find a home with someone who will understand and appreciate all that it represents.”
Similar to “The Doctor,” less than five examples of the 6262 model bearing the Tiffany & Co. signature are believed to exist today. The inscription “Brad Peppard December 1972 Love Dad” on the reverse makes the timepiece truly one of a kind. Both watches will lead Christie’s Rare Watches live auction on November 10 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva.