Rolex

Rolex

Cosmograph Daytona “The King”, Reference 6270

A highly important yellow gold, diamond and sapphire-set chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, Circa 1985

Dial: pavé-set diamond

Calibre: cal. 727 mechanical, 17 jewels

Case: 18k yellow gold, screw down case back, inside case back stamped 6263

Case number: 9’827’955

Closure: 18k yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet and clasp

Size: 37 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 175 mm

Signed: case, dial and movement

Accessories: none

In the early 1980s, His Highness Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman contacted his long-time collaborator and watch retailer Asprey of London with a request. This was not unusual, indeed the Sultan made a habit of gifting his friends, subjects and loyal employees Rolex wristwatches as a sign of favour and gratitude. Often diamond-set, stamped with the Omani Khanjar or both together, these pieces have today become extremely sought after. However, unknown to the Sultan, his collaborators at Asprey and even the watchmakers at Rolex, this particular request would go on to birth one of the most coveted references ever made by the brand, and without overstatement, simply one of the most important, rarest and sought after treasures in all of watch collecting.

The Sultan’s gifting habits can only be speculated, but it is claimed that stainless steel models were given to staff, and precious metal pieces were offered to friends, political dignitaries and diplomats. This particular order belonged to the latter, with the Sultan requesting a batch of yellow gold Daytonas. This was also not unusual, with many Omani stamped Daytonas surfacing throughout the years. However, what was unusual was the configuration: a never-before-seen and indeed never-again-seen breathtaking combination of baguette diamond-set bezel and fully pavé diamond-set dial, with the dazzling sparkle contrasted by sapphire hour markers and dark blue sub-dials. When compared to other Rolexes of the period and especially its compatriots within the Daytona family, this unbelievable creation can only be described as absolutely daring and miraculous. As Daytonas up until that point had never been set with stones, Rolex gave the resulting watch a brand new reference number: 6270.

Rolex began delivering the Sultan’s new creations in 1984, and the monarch must have liked what he saw, as observed serial numbers span the following two years, indicating that he likely placed subsequent orders for the same watch. In total, only 8 of the reference 6270 have been identified by the market, making it unquestioningly one of the rarest watches ever produced by Rolex in series. In comparison, its sister reference 6269 which did not feature baguette diamonds, has seen around 30 examples surface over the years. These pieces seldom appear due to the extreme rarity, but when they do turn up, it is always in the hands of the most important collectors in the world. Examples are known to have passed through the hands of mega-collector and dealer Alfredo Paramico, and current owners include both Jay Z and John Mayer. The future custodian of this incredible watch can be assured that they are joining the most exclusive of owners’ clubs.

Today, after the explosion and proliferation of vintage watch enthusiasm and when all present factors are counted: fame, rarity, condition and storytelling, it is absolutely no overstatement to rank these watches among the most important ever made by Rolex. The present example of reference 6270 is offered in wonderful condition, featuring pristine diamond-setting and perfect dial, along with a full case with crisp hallmarks. Considered by connoisseurs to be the more masculine of the two first-ever gem set Daytonas, Sotheby’s is proud to present “The King”. 

二十世纪八十年代初，阿曼蘇丹卡布斯·本·賽義德阿勒賽義陛下聯係了他的長期合作夥伴、倫敦鐘錶零售商Asprey，提出一項特別請求。這並非罕事，事實上，這位蘇丹素有向友人、臣民及忠誠部屬贈與勞力士腕錶的習慣以表感激。這些時計通常鑲嵌鑽石、鐫刻阿曼匕首標誌，或兩者兼具，如今已成為藏家競相追逐的珍品。然而，無論是蘇丹本人、Asprey及合作夥伴勞力士的製錶師們都未曾預料到，這次的特別委托最終將催生出勞力士有史以來最令人垂涎的錶款之一。毫不誇張地說，它堪稱鐘錶收藏史上最具分量、最稀罕且最令人向往的瑰寶之一。

蘇丹的贈禮習慣不得而知，但曾傳蘇丹將精鋼款式贈予下屬，貴金屬款式則贈予友人、政要與外交使節。此次訂單正屬後者，蘇丹要求訂製一批黃金款的Daytona。這在當時并非特例，歷來市場亦曾出現多枚鐫刻阿曼標誌的Daytona。然其獨特之處在於配置：前所未見且自成絕響的驚世組合——長方形切割鑽石錶圈與密鋪鑲鑽石錶面，璀璨的光芒與藍寶石時標及深藍色小錶盤形成鮮明對比。相較於同期勞力士作品，尤其是Daytona系列的其他錶款，此創作之大胆卓絕，堪稱奇跡。由於此前Daytona從未推出寶石鑲嵌款，勞力士為此款賦予全新型號：6270。

勞力士自1984年起開始交付這款蘇丹訂製時計，而君主顯然對其青睞有加, 因爲市場上在此後兩年中又出現了該款腕錶的序列號，於此表明蘇丹之後又訂購同款腕錶。迄今爲止，市場上僅發現過8枚6270型號腕錶，這無疑為勞力士量產錶款中至為稀有的存在。相較之下，未鑲嵌長形鑽石的姊妹款6269型號，歷年來則約有30枚現身。由於極度罕見，本系列時計鮮少露面，每次現世必有全球頂級藏家所競逐。知名大藏家兼經銷商Alfredo Paramico曾經手此錶，其他6270現任錶主更包括Jay Z與John Mayer等重量級藏家。這枚傳奇時計的未來守護者，將注定加入這極致尊榮的藏家之列。

時至今日，隨著古董錶熱潮蓬勃興起，若綜合名聲、稀有度、品相與傳奇性等一切要素，將此作譽為勞力士史上最具代表性的傑作絕非虛言。是次呈獻的6270型號品相極佳，鑽石鑲嵌工藝如新，錶盤完美無瑕，錶殼稜角分明，金印清晰。這款被行家譽為勞力士首批寶石鑲嵌的Daytona中更顯陽剛氣韻，蘇富比榮幸呈獻——「王者之錶」。