The prestige of Rolex is immediately improved. When Emperor Bao Dai temporarily resided in Geneva he bought a yellow gold 6062 assembled in 1952 with a dial enhanced by diamonds, after he refused all other proposals. His watch recently discussed in this column will be sold by Phillips on May 13 in Geneva.
On May 14, second day of the same auction, Phillips sells a stainless steel 6062 assembled in 1953, lot 172 estimated above CHF 600K.
At that time steel watches were rarities intended for users needing a high stability of metal for severe conditions. Many have been damaged by an intensive use.
The watch that comes on sale is in excellent and unrestored condition. The Oyster back side configuration has protected from corrosion its fragile dial realized with a lacquered silver finish for providing a great luminosity.
The complications have a questionable interest for the traditional Rolex users : after a few years in production of the dual model 6062/8171, the brand waited until 2017 to release a new model offering the phases of the Moon.
SOLD for CHF 1.93M including premium