Rolex Daytona Beach Models

 Rolex Daytona

Beach Models

Christie's Auction House Rare Watches, Including The Property of Michael Schumacher sale this week in Geneva, Switzerland was filled with some magnificent Rolex watch models including a full set of Rolex 'Beach" Daytona models in white gold as see below.

Rolex made these beauties in the year 2000, under the tutelage of Patrick Heiniger, and and Christies offered all four of these watches individually, instead of as a complete set. 

The 'Beach' Daytona models all feature beautiful mother of pearl dials, in mint green (CHF 70K), sky blue (CHF 75K), canary yellow (CHF 70K), and pretty pink (CHF 85K).

The white gold Daytona Beach models all included matching lizard skin straps with matching white gold deployment buckles.

Michael Schumacher's PAUL NEWMAN DAYTONA Coming To Auction with Christie's

 

Life in The Fast Lane

Legendary Formula 1 Champion

Michael Schumacher's

PAUL NEWMAN DAYTONA 

Auctioned by Christie's for $276,000

Michael Schumacher's magnificent 1971 Paul Nemwman Rolex Daytona Reference 6262

Man & His Machines

Michael Schumacher is one of the greatest Formula 1 racing champions having won the Formula 1 World Championship seven-times. Schumacher was also a collector of some magnificent Rolex Daytona models and we see him pictured below in 1993 rocking his Zenith Rolex Daytona with a white dial.

Formula 1 Racing Legend, Michael Schumacher rocking his 

stainless steel Daytona [Reference 16520] back in 1993 

Michael Schumacher's stainless steel Rolex [Lot 137] sold at Christie's for CHF 250,000 on May 14 in Geneva, which is approximately $276K. You can watch the entire Christie's auction on YouTube which is totally fascinating.

Special thanks to our Captain Danny who first brought this story to my attention on his excellent Coronet Rolex blog. 

You can learn more and see additional photos of this magnificent Rolex Daytona which belonged to legendary Formula 1 racer, Michael Schumacher by visiting Christie's Auction House sale catalog. This beauty, along with Schumacher's other watches will was auctioned off in Geneva, Switzerland on May 13, 2024.

Michael Schumacher's Paul Newman Daytona, Reference 6262 is a STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL example of this rare Rolex Chronograph model, which was one of last to feature push-down chronograph pushers. 

Update May 18, 2024: Several sources reached out to me to suggest there are a few details on this watch that are incorrect. Jose from Perezcope.com was the first to notice the irregularities on this watch and on an Instagram story commented: "OK, who sold this made up 6262 to Michael Schumacher? A 6262 with 300 bezel and a first generation Paul Newman dial? Seriously?". I asked Cameron Barr from Craft and Tailored and he said "Jose is correct. The bezel is too early and should be a BASE 50, and the dial is sing-a-song text which should be straight text."

Lot Essay from Christie's Auction House

This fantastic looking Paul Newman Daytona represents the synthesis of two great sporting icons – Rolex’s most recognizable and desired vintage steel chronograph, and its present owner, the former seven-times Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher.
The present chronograph provides collectors with not only the opportunity to obtain one of the scarcest references of the Daytona, reference 6262, but also to own an example with incredible and direct provenance to one of the world’s greatest ever Formula 1 Champions.
Reference 6262
No other model of Rolex watch focuses so much attention as the manual-winding Rolex Cosmograph, its many dial variations and different references now so intensely sought after by collectors, it can be said quite unequivocally to be the most desirable vintage watch in the world.
Requiring almost no introduction, Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches fitted with ‘Paul Newman’ dials have been, and continue to be, the most iconic and coveted of the Daytona.
One of the rarest vintage Rolex Daytonas, reference 6262 was in production for only a very short time between 1970 and 1972. Together with reference 6264, it was the last Rolex chronograph watch featuring the simple round push-down buttons. All future chronograph references, starting with references 6263 and 6265 in 1971 bear screw down chronograph buttons. Reference 6262 was available in stainless steel, as well as 14k and 18k gold. It has a polished metal bezel with engraved tachymeter graduation.

One More Thang!

Michael Schumacher also owned a yellow gold 1966 Rolex Daytona Reference Number 6241, which was also auctioned for CHF 220,000 by Christie's Auction House [Lot 138] in Geneva, and it came with an extra beautiful dial.

Lot Essay from Christie's Auction House

With the most incredible provenance, This incredible Daytona timepiece belonged to no other than seven-time Formula 1 World Champion racing driver Michael Schumacher, this extremely rare 14k gold Rolex reference 6241 is both a key piece for the serious Rolex collector and car enthusiasts alike.

The overall appeal of this 14k gold ref. 6241 is further enhanced by its very good overall condition and matching 14k gold riveted bracelet. The case retains full proportions and crisp gold mark, serial and reference numbers. It displays the traces of bluish oxidation to the case that are a typical indication that the watch has been carefully stored and not used in a very long time. The shade of the full gold reference 6239 bezel with engraved tachymeter scale perfectly matches the case. 

It can therefore be assumed that this bezel must have been added a very long time ago to bestow a new aesthetic by replacing the original ref. 6241 bezel which, for this model is in gold with a black plastic insert. A further noteworthy fact is the designation ‘ROW’ engraved on the movement, confirming that the original destination for this watch was the North American market.

Christie's Rare Watches Auction May 13th in Geneva Catalog

Christie's Rare

Watches Auction

May 13th in Geneva Catalog

Christies will be auctioning some beautiful Rolex watches next month in Geneva, Switzerland and you can see the cover of the catalog below which features a beautiful Rolex Moonphase [Reference 6062].

Highly Collectable Rolex Watches Defying Economic Crisis...

Highly Collectable Rolex Watch Value Enduring

John Goldberger who wrote the amazing 100 Superlative Rolex Watches is one of the top vintage Rolex collectors on planet earth. If you missed it, I recorded a detailed podcast along with a superb preview of his book which you can see by clicking here.

I talk with John on a pretty regular basis and we were discussing how Rolex would perform at the recent Antiquorum action and then at the even more recent Christie's Important Watches auction in Geneva on November 17, 2008.

John said "Christie's and Antiquorum had good results and a high percentage of items sold. Regarding the Christie's auction, the high quality Rolex watches achieved huge auction results–especially the classic models like the Prince, Bubbleback, Moonphase 8171, Chrono 3525–the kind or watches illustrated in my book."

"I think the era of high prices for Comex, Cosmographs with brown dials, low quality Sports models, and other overpaid amenities is over. In times of crisis the classic models with rare dials, in great condition will be the only good investment. Remember, quality always pays."

You can watch a video news story of the Christie's auction in French that features an interview with John Goldberger by clicking here.

One of the star performers at the Christie's Auction was this magnificent and very rare, Pink-Gold Rolex Triple-Date Moonphase [Reference 8171] which was made in 1949. Christie's points out in their auction catalog "Rolex has produced only two different models of moonphase wristwatches, reference 8171 and 6062. Both models are automatic, however reference 8171 has a snap on back, while reference 6062, the Oyster version, is fitted with a water-resistant type screw back."

"Reference 8171 was made in a small series between 1949 and 1952, mostly in yellow gold. Examples in pink gold or stainless steel are very rare."

This magnificent Rolex Moonphase [Reference 8171] significantly exceeded the estimated sales price at the Christie's auction [LOT 16/Sale 1357] on November 17, 2008 in Geneva of between $140k - $220K to sell for $250K. You can learn more about this beautiful watch by visiting the  Christie's auction page for this watch by clicking here.

Upcoming Christie's Auction In Geneva, November 17, 2008...

Christie's Important Watches Auction Next Week In Geneva

Christie's Auction house is having an Important Watches Auction next week on Monday, November 17, 2008 in Geneva Switzerland. There are some really nice Rolex Historical pieces on the auction block and I thought I would share a few beauties with you.

This first piece is a Rolex Oyster reference 2081 Cushion-shaped 32mm wristwatch stamped with the Glasgow import letter for 1937. The reason this watch is very interesting to me is because it was made at the same time as the first Rolex made Paneria watches. The design language between the Panerai and Rolex Oyster are uncanny. [Lot 12. Sold for $3161]

This next stainless steel 36mm Rolex Explorer is most interesting. Its Rolex reference number is 6098 and it was made in 1950. It has a two-tone silvered dial. Christie's points out that at the time the Rolex Explorer was "the largest, hence most practical and readable of all models in production at the time." [Lot 344]

Next is this ultra rare stainless steel Rolex reference 6062 automatic triple calender with moonphases and Jubilee bracelet. This watch is ultra-rare because it is stainless steel. Rolex made many more in gold. This stainless steel Rolex has an estimated range between $140k-$220k. [Lot 349]Next, we have an unusual Rolex Submariner reference 5514 manufactured in 1970 with a helium release valve. 

Chistie's point out "Reference 5514 is an extremely rare variant of the well-known reference 5513, featuring a helium release valve usually reserved for the professional deep sea line, Sea-Dweller. It is understood that only an extremely small number of reference 5514 was ever made and that they were never available to the public. Few professionals and scientific organizations had the privilege of ordering specific and small quantities of the tailor-made versions such as COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d'Expertise), a professional diving operation for the oil industry. In fact, many examples of reference 4414 feature the COMEX-logo on the dial and a COMEX issue number on the case back." [Lot 164]

This next piece is amazing to me. It is a rare and unusual stainless steel automatic Rolex Turn-O-Graph made in 1953, with a reference number 6202 and a white honeycomb dial. 

According to Christie's, "The present watch is a rare example of the celebrated Turn-O-Graph reference 6202 model, fitted with the less common white honeycomb dial. Marketed as a tool watch, the Turn-O-Graph is commonly accepted as one of the godfathers of all Rolex sports watches preceding most notably the Submariner and consequently the Sea Dweller and also the GMT-Master."

"The Turn-O-Graph was presented at the Basel Fair in 1953, the year of production of the present watch. The model was always fitted with a rotating bezel with five minute divisions, referred to as a time-recording-rim by Rolex. Designed to be used as a simplified chronograph version for timing events for up to an hour, it was promoted as being able to calculate the Timing of a transatlantic telephone call, the rate of a machine, a patient's pulse, the speed of a train or the development of a film. The Turn-O-Graph was available with a black dial, the De Luxe Model featured a magnificent white honey-comb dial.

"Despite its brilliant concept, the model was at the time not as successful as excepted by Rolex, mainly due to the simultaneous in-house competition from the Submariner and the GMT-Master." [Lot394]

Note: I refer to this combination of a white Rolex dial with a black bezel as the Oreo Cookie.

Last but not least we see the star of the Rolex Show which is a 35mm reference 3525 stainless steel chronograph with a black dial and pulsometre scale on an early riveted Rolex Oyster bracelet, which was made during the middle of World War II in 1941. This watch is estimated to get between $140k-$220k and its provenance is from the Mondani Collection. [Lot 80]

To learn more about this Christie's Important Watches Auction and see all the watches please visit www.Christies.com