AuctionsApr 29, 2025
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Custom Rolex Pulled From Sotheby’s Sale
The one-of-a-kind platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was estimated to fetch up to $1.7 million.
Sotheby’s said Tuesday that the consignor of this custom 1998 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona that was set to be the star of its recent watch auction withdrew it from the sale.
Geneva—A custom Rolex Cosmograph Daytona that was expected to be the top lot in Sotheby’s Important Watches Part I auction was pulled from the sale.
The auction took place Sunday in Geneva.
In an email to National Jeweler Tuesday morning, Sotheby’s confirmed the watch, a Ref. 16516 made in 1998, was withdrawn at the request of the consignor.
Estimated to sell for between $850,000 and $1.7 million, the one-of-a-kind Rolex is one of the most “elusive and compelling” automatic Daytonas ever discovered, Sotheby’s said.
The platinum Zenith-powered Daytona was one of four Rolexes commissioned in a single order by the same collector (rumored to be the late Patrick Heiniger, Rolex’s CEO from 1992 to 2008) in the late ‘90s, more than a decade before Daytonas were even made available in platinum.
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The auction took place Sunday in Geneva.
In an email to National Jeweler Tuesday morning, Sotheby’s confirmed the watch, a Ref. 16516 made in 1998, was withdrawn at the request of the consignor.
Estimated to sell for between $850,000 and $1.7 million, the one-of-a-kind Rolex is one of the most “elusive and compelling” automatic Daytonas ever discovered, Sotheby’s said.
The platinum Zenith-powered Daytona was one of four Rolexes commissioned in a single order by the same collector (rumored to be the late Patrick Heiniger, Rolex’s CEO from 1992 to 2008) in the late ‘90s, more than a decade before Daytonas were even made available in platinum.
The news of this rare Rolex being pulled from auction follows the withdrawal of another high-value auction item last month.
According to Christie’s, the owner of the “Golconda Blue,” a 23.24-carat blue diamond set to headline its Magnificent Jewels sale today, decided to sell it within the family instead of putting it up for auction.
Set in a ring by Joel Arthur Rosenthal, better known as JAR, the diamond was estimated to sell for $35 million to $50 million.
The top lot of Sotheby’s Important Watches Part I sale, according to its website, was a Patek Philippe Nautilus, Ref. 5711/1300A-001.
The stainless steel and diamond-set wristwatch, circa 2021, with a green dial sold for 368,300 CHF ($440,000), within its expected range.
It was followed by a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time white gold automatic wristwatch, which also sold within its estimate, achieving CHF 336,550 ($405,000).
The auction totaled CHF 6.7 million ($8.1 million) with 78 percent of lots finding new owners, according to Rapaport.
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