1988 International Olympic Committee Rolex
The 2021 Summer Olympics are in full swing so I thought it would be fun to hop in the Rolex Time Machine and travel back to the 1988 Olympics to check out these fascinating Rolex Datejust Olympic models.
Back in May of 2014, Sotheby's auctioned off a very rare 36MM Rolex Datejust which was made for the International Olympic Committee in 1988. The watch achieved an auction sale price of $24,000. I have seen these models before, and of course it is always interesting to see something so fascinating with two great 20th Century icons together. If I recall correctly, Olympic Skiing legend, Jean-Claude Killy wears this same model.
Rolex also made a Ladies International Olympic Committee Two-Tone Datejust Reference 69173 (pictured below) with a Caliber 2135 which appears below courtesy of Christie's Auction House.
The Christie's lot essay reads:
The present ladies’ two-tone Datejust is quite a special watch that was made for the 1988 Olympic Committee. The Rolex guarantee confirms this by listing the buyer as “Comite Olympiques Geneve.” Both the Summer and Winter games were held in ’88 and the Winter games were hosted in Calgary, Alberta.
The consignor of this watch purchased it from the estate of the former late Mayor of Calgary, Ralph Klein. Klein would later go on to serve as the Premier of Alberta. His wife was presented with this watch in 1988 from the Olympic Committee.
Any Rolex with a unique dial is highly sought after. In addition to having this trait, the present watch is offered as complete and has a very nice history.
