NEW YORK, 25 June 2020 – Richard Lopez, Sotheby’s Senior Specialist and Head of Online Sales, said: “We are very pleased with the results from yesterday’s sale. Led by the exceptional Rolex ‘Panda’ Daytona Ref 6263, which set a world auction record for any wristwatch sold in an online sale, we saw very strong interest in a range of pieces, from a series of vintage Rolex Daytonas to impeccable modern classics from Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille, Ulysse Nardin and more. Coming on the heels of the sensational Masterworks of Time online sale in Geneva and our recent successes with the Watches Weekly online auctions in New York, the market remains resilient with consistent new benchmarks achieved for across our global online watch sales.”
AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Yesterday’s auction was highlighted by two exceptionally rare vintage Rolex Daytona’s, led by a Rolex Daytona Reference 6263 with a Paul Newman ‘Panda’ dial which achieved $500,000 – meeting its high estimate and a world auction record for a wristwatch sold in an online sale and a world auction record for a Rolex Daytona in an online sale. One of the most iconic and desirable of all Daytona’s, the present watch is considered one of the most beautiful examples to appear at auction in recent years. Produced circa 1970, the original owner purchased the present watch in 1971 while on a trip with a friend. Nicknamed the ‘Panda’, the Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Cosmograph is named after the famous actor and race car driver known for sporting one throughout his life.
A striking, important and possibly unique ‘Transitional’ Reference 6238 Daytona retailed by the world’s distinguished luxury retailer ‘Tiffany & Co’ circa 1967 fetched $187,500 (estimate $150/250,000). The watch bears the reference number 6238 and has the matching case back stamping of 6238. In the mid 1950’s, Tiffany joined a select group of retailers worldwide given the privilege of printing their logo on the dial of Rolex’s most prestigious models. Rolex allowed the retailer to stamp their dials at their 5th Avenue premises and completed by Tiffany watchmakers, rather than the Rolex factory in Switzerland. The exact number of Tiffany dialed Rolex’s from this era is unknown, making these extremely rare, and representing some of the most sought after, desirable and iconic watches to ever come to market.
A Richard Mille RM11-02 RG, A Titanium And Pink Gold Automatic Semi-Skeletonized Dual Time, Flyback Chronograph Wristwatch With Month And Date, circa 2012 achieved $150,000 (estimate $110/180,000). Since its inception, Richard Mille has been dedicated to utilizing the latest technical innovations to yield timepieces that are unmistakably modern. Beyond consistently championing innovative technology, Richard Mille’s signatures include airy, skeletonized movements that display the architectural beauty of the firm’s intricate mechanics, and sleek tonneau cases featuring complex movements, which are considerably harder to build than for classic round cases. The present RM11-02 is housed in a tonneau shaped case constructed from pink gold and titanium, with satin finish and a 50m water resistance. The movement – an inhouse RMAC1 caliber – is a skeletonized automatic winding movement with hours, minutes, seconds at 3 o’clock, oversize date, month indicator, flyback chronograph with minutes and countdown register at 9 o’clock, hour register at 6 o’clock, GMT function and variable-geometry rotor with 55-hour power reserve.
