Forbes Asia — May 2017

COURTESY OF PHILLIPS

IN 1954, BAO DAI, the last emperor of

Vietnam, was in Geneva for peace talks

when he excused himself to do a

little watch shopping. Th e “Keeper of

Greatness” selected a timepiece that

lived up to his name—the most com-

plicated Rolex made, a 6062 Oyster

with a triple calendar and a moon

phase. Th e most expensive watch for

sale at the time—it cost more than

$900, or $8,300 today—the Rolex was

one of three that came with a black

dial and diamond markers. (Th e

other two feature six diamonds on

odd numbers, but Bao Dai’s has fi ve

diamonds on even numbers, which

meant the Rolex crown logo had to

be shift ed down.)

Th e timepiece has changed hands

just once since then—in 2002, when

it sold for $235,000, setting a then-

record for the most expensive Rolex

ever auctioned—and now Phillips

will off er it for sale (along with some

other rare Rolexes) in Geneva on

May 13 and 14. Once again the watch

is expected to set a record for a Rolex at

auction, with a very conservative presale

estimate of $1.5 million. Th is is “Rolex’s

ultimate rarity in terms of complications,”

says Paul Boutros, head of watches for the

Americas at Phillips. “But it’s one of the

most valuable timepieces ever produced,

regardless of the brand.” Given its prov-

enance, it will surely fetch an emperor’s

ransom.

The

Imperial

Rolex

This Tiff any-signed

“John Player Special”

Rolex Daytona (circa

1968) has a presale

estimate of $400,000

to $800,000.

Known as The

Neptune for its dial,

this rare Rolex 8382

(circa 1953) is expected

to sell for $300,000

to $600,000.

A stainless-steel cousin

of the Bao Dai watch,

this Rolex 6062 (circa

1953) has a pre-auction

estimate of $600,000

to $1.2 million.

FORBES ASIA

LUXURY WATCH

BY MICHAEL SOLOMON

MAY 2017 FORBES ASIA | 35