Every year in May the big three auction houses carry out the watch auctions in Geneva.

Besides those in November, the May auctions are the most important of the year. A total of 1318 watches will be offered for sale.

While there are many nice brands to buy, we will concentrate on Rolex in this post. All three auction houses have a strong offering for vintage Rolex, Christies perhaps the strongest but also Sothebys and Antiquorum have many vintage Rolex to offer.

Because the Rolex Daytona is turning 50 years old this year- Antiquorum has even dedicated the last few pages of their catalogue towards the legendary Daytona.

Out of all the Rolex watches I have chosen 2 watches which collectors should pay attention to:

1. Rolex Ref 6542 GMT Master  from circa 1959

The Rolex GMT Master remains an Iconic line within Rolex.

Originally created for PANAM pilots who traveled in the mid 1950s, the line remains very popular even today. Priced even higher than the submariner line at the time of introduction, the GMT Master started out with the Ref 6542. Orignal watches from that reference are extremely rare today. Most have replacement dials and more than 80% do not have the original ‘Bakelite’ Bezel which was notorious for cracking under heat and breaking.

The Ref 6542 is one of the most collectible of all Rolexes. It is the only GMT Master without protective crown guards and finding one with the original Bezel, all papers and box is extremely rare. Christies has managed to pull another rabbit out of their hat and produce an outstanding example. If there ever was an investment blue chip Rolex- it would be this watch. Complete with all papers and original box which is over 53 years old!

The estimate by Christies of CHF 50-80’000 seems conservative to us.    

2. Rolex Ref 6538 Submariner circa 1959 – also known as ‘Big Crown’ James Bond 

The Submariner Ref 6538 is among the most collectible of all Rolexes period.

Even within the submariner Family (which is pehaps the most collectible family within Rolex) only the Ref 6200 is more collectible and sought after than the 6538.

While normal ‘two liner’ 6538 exist and are in itself very collectable, this watch is a ‘four line’ 6538 and even more rare than the standard two liner reference.

Only a 6538 with Explorer dial could potentially delight a collector more. While nobody really knows which reference Sean Connery wore in the early Bond films, it is pretty clear that most collectors associate both reference 5510 and 6538 (both big crown) with the Bond films.

This example that Christies is selling is one of the best examples the auction house has come across in a number of years: The dial has turned to a warm brown and the printing of all four lines are clear. The Bezel is now correct (having been previously incorrect when the watch was sold via Sothebys in 2007).

The buyer then paid CHF 211’000 – a strong price at the time. See Sothebys listing here. The watch is estimated at CHF 150-250’000 which is slightly on the end for a 6538 ‘four liner’.

We think the mid range represents a fair price for any potential buyer.

(For more information click here)

by Edmond Saran