Rolex

A Rolex used by Spanish sailor and scientist Vital Alsar Ramirez (1933-2020) during his Amazon and Atlantic expeditions in 1977 sold for £10,000 at Halls (24% buyer’s premium).

Watches with provenance will naturally command a premium.

This rare Rolex reference 6238 was one made for the Japanese market in 1965.

This Rolex Cosmograph Dayton is proof that some branded wristwatches have become an exceptional investment

A 1963 Rolex Submariner 5513 that was featured on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow last year is to be offered for auction at TW Gaze in Diss on May 11.

The Fine Wristwatches & Pens auction at Chiswick Auctions includes a rare variant of perhaps the most celebrated of all Rolex ‘tool’ watches: a 1970s Submariner with the so-called ‘single red’ Mark IV dial.

Auction consultant tells us about his own collection.

Two Rolex tool watches were estimated to bring £80,000-120,000 each at a recent Fine Watches sale at Bonhams’ (27.5/25% buyer’s premium).

The reference 3330 antimagnetic is one of the rarest pre-Oyster chronographs made by Rolex.

Although Roamer fell victim to the ‘quartz crisis’ – the introduction of quartz watches in the 1970s and early 1980s that largely replaced mechanical watches – in the 1950s-60s the firm enjoyed a good reputation as the maker of good-quality, affordable automatic mechanical watches.

The Rolex Deep Sea Special, with its remarkable bubble case capable of withstanding huge pressure, was created in the early 1950s to test just how deep a diving watch could go.

A Richard Winterton (20% buyer’s premium) sale in Lichfield included this 1973 Rolex Explorer II which sparked international interest.

Along with its Summer Fine Art sale, Tennants held a jewellery, watches and silver sale on July 17.

Tennants’ recent sale of Jewellery, Watches & Silver included, at a top-estimate £9000, a rare Omega aviator’s watch.

In these days of the internet search engine and the live bidding platform, it is reassuring to know that bargains are still out there.

After a decade riding a market wave, ‘original owner’ Rolex tool watches are increasingly scarce at auction.

Rolex made the reference 6150 Oyster Perpetual Explorer for around two years after the 1953 Everest expedition. It is believed that Tensing Norgay wore a prototype of the watch, the first Explorer model to have the Mercedes hands, while completing the ascent.

Unrestored models selling for top results

Watch parts such as replacement dials, cases and hands from well-known models can add up to a lot of interest at auction, as recent results show.