When it comes to high horology, Rolex remains the watch brand to beat. Just ask the bidders at the latest Phillips charity auction, where four ultra-rare Daytona timepieces sold for a staggering combined total.
Known as the “Four Seasons” Collection, the quartet of Rolex Daytona timepieces featured exclusive gem-set designs and were auctioned individually by Phillips’ Senior Consultant Aurel Bacs. The final price under the hammer? Nearly $50 million (or about 37.3 million pounds), with all proceeds set to go to the Federer Foundation (founded by tennis legend Roger Federer) and the Leonardo DiCaprio-founded Re:Wild. That both gentlemen are Rolex Testimonees ups the ante even further.
The milestone is unprecedented and utterly distinctive, the luxury auction house noted. “The four unique timepieces each embody a different season through a combination of precious metals, natural stones, colored gemstones, and diamonds,” Phillips said of the sale, which marks the largest charity auction consignment ever sold.
Phillips Senior Consultant Aurel Bacs was certainly struck by the gravitas of the moment, handling the sale of each watch individually at the exclusive London event earlier this week. It was a privilege to stand on the rostrum and witness the energy and passion in the room, united by shared values of excellence, craftsmanship and, above all, a commitment to making a positive difference,” he said in a statement. “The extraordinary amount raised will make a meaningful contribution to future generations and to the protection of our natural world.”
Most notable among the quartet of sales was the final hammer price for the Cosmograph Daytona Summer, crafted with 18-karat Everose gold and featuring a dial made from turquoise with counters in heart of ruby. That particular timepiece fetched the highest total sum, clocking in at about $13.6 million in illustrious fashion. The Autumn Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in 18-karat yellow gold fetched just under that sale price, with the final bid totaling about $13.5 million.
Bacs, the senior consultant at the Phillips auction house, noted that each watch is as much a work of art and a piece of history as it is a charitable contribution. “This is a historic moment for the world of watchmaking,” Bacs said, adding that the company was “deeply honored 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.” It remains to be seen what milestone Rolex will eclipse next, but these watches have set a new benchmark in matters of form, function and a meaningful contribution to groundbreaking charity.