A rare 1999 platinum Rolex Daytona, one of only four privately commissioned timepieces, is set to auction at Sotheby's Geneva on Sunday with an estimated price of up to $1.7 million.
The Unique Timepiece
- Crafted from platinum, a material Rolex did not use for Daytona models until 2013.
- Features a mother-of-pearl dial set with 10 diamond hour markers.
- Unlike standard Rolex collections, this watch was custom-made for a private client.
Auction Details
- When: Sunday
- Where: Sotheby's Geneva
- Estimate: Up to $1.7 million
Rarity and Commission
- Only four such watches are known to exist, all created for the same family with unique dials.
- This particular piece is the final one to be offered for sale.
- Private commissions are exceptionally rare for Rolex, known for its standardized production.
Previous Sales
- The three other watches from this set have already been sold, each fetching over $3 million.
Expert Insight
Pedro Reiser, senior watch specialist at Sotheby's, emphasized the uniqueness: "It's very unusual to come across a commission... but not in the space of Rolex pieces where you barely can come across any commission whatsoever."
Historical Context
- The watch is believed to have been produced under the leadership of Patrick Heiniger, Rolex's CEO from 1992 to 2008, a period marked by significant growth and brand secrecy.
