An Ultra-Rare Rolex Ref. 6062 Just Sold for a Record $6.2M at Auction

The list of the most expensive Rolexes ever sold at auction, as you’d expect, is quite impressive. And now the exquisite lineup has a new member.

A yellow-gold Ref. 6062 recently hammered down for a whopping $6.2 million, making it the third-priciest piece from the Crown to sell on the block and a record for the reference. The rarity was a part of the offerings at the Exclusive Timepieces event held by Monaco Legend Auctions last weekend—and it sure left its mark.

Ref. 6062 is a true collector’s item, with just 350 examples thought to have been produced between 1950 and ’53. It notably combined a water-resistant Oyster case, a “Perpetual” automatic movement, and a complete calendar complication. The 6062 is one of only two vintage references with triple-date moonphase, according to GQ. (The other is Ref. 8171.) It was offered in various metals—yellow gold, pink gold, and stainless steel—and with different dial types. This particular yellow-gold example showcases the ultra-rare black dial with six diamonds at the odd-numbered positions, a.k.a. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 o’clock. It last appeared in the public eye almost 20 years ago, when it headlined Antiquorum’s Mondani Collection sale. It sold for €5.33 million (about $6.2 million) over the weekend, with the new buyer yet to be identified.

A close-up of the rare Rolex. Monaco Legend Auctions

The crown for the most expensive Rollie ever sold at auction is worn (rather fittingly) by Paul Newman’s very own “Paul Newman” timepiece, which was given to the actor by his wife. Ref. 6239 hammered down for a whopping $17.75 million in 2017 during a Phillips auction. Then, an ultra-rare 18-karat-white gold iteration of the Cosmograph Daytona—aptly nicknamed “Unicorn”—sits in the second-place spot; famed collector John Goldberger donated the timepiece to Phillips, where it fetched around $6.5 million in 2018.

And formerly rounding out the top three was Ref. 6062 “Bao Dai,” another 1950s stunner that was owned by the final emperor of Vietnam, which sold for $5.06 million in 2017. Now, of course, that watch has been ousted by this other Ref. 6062. What sets the Bao Dai apart from this example is that it has diamonds on even numbers instead of odd.

If you missed out on the Monaco Legend Auction’s event, don’t fret. A pair of coveted vintage Rolex Daytonas is heading to auction next month via Christie’s, giving you the chance to snag your own retro beauty. Happy bidding.

Nicole Hoey

Digital Editor

Nicole Hoey is Robb Report's digital editor. While studying at Boston University, she read, wrote and read some more as an English and journalism major. A class taught by a Boston Globe copy editor…

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