Rolex has been synonymous with luxury and precision for over a century. The brand's iconic timepieces have graced the wrists of some of the world's most memorable and influential people. Rolex watches are known for their durability, accuracy, and timeless design, but they are also renowned for their eye-watering price tags.

 In this article, we will explore the Top 15 Most Expensive Rolex Watches Ever Sold. From rare vintage pieces to modern masterpieces, these watches have fetched astronomical prices at auctions around the world, cementing Rolex's status as a symbol of luxury and exclusivity.

Rolex Watch History

Rolex is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis. Initially named Wilsdorf and Davis, the company began as an importer of Swiss movements and sold them to jewelers who would then add them to their own watch cases. However, Wilsdorf had a vision of creating his own line of wristwatches that would be both accurate and stylish.

In 1908, the brand registered the name Rolex and opened an office in Switzerland. Rolex became the first watch company to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, which attested to the accuracy of its watches. The brand continued to innovate and in 1926, it introduced the first waterproof watch, the Rolex Oyster, which featured a hermetically sealed case that protected the movement from dust and water.

In the 1930s, Rolex continued to push the boundaries of watchmaking with the creation of the Perpetual rotor, which wound the watch automatically through the natural motion of the wearer's arm. The company also introduced the first watch with a date function, the Rolex Datejust, which has become an iconic timepiece. 

Over the years, Rolex has continued to innovate and create some of the world's most iconic watches, including the Submariner, the GMT-Master, and the Daytona. Today, Rolex remains a symbol of luxury and prestige, with a reputation for exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

The Top 15 Most Expensive Rolex Watches in the World Ever Sold

1. 1963 Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239 - $17.8 million (Sold in October 2017)

The most expensive Rolex watch ever sold is a "Paul Newman" Rolex Daytona that belonged to the renowned actor whose nickname it bears, auctioned for $17.8 million in 2017.

Officially called the Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Daytona, the watch was produced in six different series between 1963 and the late 1970s, but was discontinued because of poor sales. It wasn't until the 1980s that it began to gain traction as a valuable collectible piece.

The wristwatch in question, tagged with reference number 6239, sets itself apart from the others as it is fitted with a white "exotic" dial that features a red seconds scale on the periphery of the dial, as well as a Daytona signature above its lower sub-dial. It was gifted to Paul Newman by his wife, Joanne Woodward, who engraved “Drive Carefully, Me” on the caseback.

This timepiece comes with a chronograph function and a tachymeter stainless steel case, and it is powered by a hand-wound caliber 722, 17 jewels mechanical movement.

2. 1970 Rolex “The Unicorn” Oyster Cosmograph Ref. 6265 -  $5.9 million (Sold in May 2018)

Second on the list is the Rolex "The Unicorn" Oyster Cosmograph watch that was auctioned for $5.9 milion in 2018.

Photo credits: Phillips.com

This timepiece is one of the rarest and most sought-after Rolex watches in existence. It earned its nickname because of its unique case made of white gold, an unusual material for Rolex at the time. It is believed that only one example of this watch was ever produced, making it a true unicorn in the world of Rolex collecting.

The watch features a 37-mm white gold case, a black dial with silver sub-dials for the chronograph function, and a tachymeter bezel. It is powered by the Valjoux 727 manual-winding movement, a renowned mechanism also used in other classic Rolex chronographs from the same era. The piece also features a screw-down crown and pushers, making it water-resistant.

3. Paul Newman’s Rolex "Big Red" Daytona Ref. 6263 – $5.5 million (Sold in June 2020)

Next up on our list is yet another timepiece that was part of Paul Newman's collection, this Rolex "Big Red" Daytona watch sold for $5.5 million in 2020.

Photo credits: Phillips.com

The Rolex "Big Red" Daytona Ref. 6263 is a highly sought-after vintage Rolex watch known for its iconic design and historical significance. It was produced in the 1970s as an update to the original Daytona model and was given its nickname due to the large red "Daytona" text on the dial.

The watch features a 37-mm stainless steel case with screw-down pushers and crown, making it water-resistant. Its dial has three black sub-dials with white accents, all surrounded by a tachymeter bezel with a black acrylic insert. On its back, the words "Drive slowly Joanne" were engraved by Newman's wife before the timepiece was gifted to him.

This chronograph watch is powered by the renowned Valjoux 727 manual-winding mechanical movement.

4. Rolex Triple Calendar Moonphase Oyster Perpetual Bao Dai Ref. 6062 - $5.1 million (Sold in May 2017)

The Rolex "Bao Dai" Oyster Perpetual watch is a one-of-a-kind timepiece that was auctioned for $5.1 million in 2017.

The piece was commissioned in 1954 for the last emperor of Vietnam, a man whose title it bears to this day (Bao Dai - meaning the "Keeper of Greatness). The watch was originally purchased by him during a trip to Geneva, Switzerland, and has since become one of the most sought-after collector's items in the world. Read the full story here.

Photo credits: hodinkee.com

Its design is truly impressive, featuring a black dial with diamond markers for even hours and gold markers for odd hours, as well as two display windows for the day and date and a moonphase sub-dial at 6 o'clock. An 18k gold case and a matching bracelet complete the exquisite look. A chronometer certified 18 jewels automatic mechanical movement powers this alluring watch.

5. Rolex Daytona Oyster Ref. 6263 "The Legend" - $4.18 million  (Sold in May 2017)

The fifth most expensive watch ever sold is the Rolex "The Legend" Daytona Oyster that auctioned for $4.18 million in 2017.

Photo credits: watchcollectinglifestyle.com

This extremely rare timepiece is one of only two 18k yellow gold Rolex Daytona's with screw-down pushers. It also comes with an early version of the "Paul Newman" exotic dial in a creamy lemon shade that features three black sub-dials for the chronograph function. It is signed "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph" instead of "Rolex Cosmograph Oyster", a direct reference to the screw down Oyster pushers. A tachymeter bezel placed on top of an 18k gold case completes the unique design.

The Rolex Daytona "The Legend" watch is powered by a manual-winding mechanical movement: the Rolex Caliber 727. This movement is based on the Valjoux 72 movement, which is known for its reliability and precision. The Caliber 727 was specifically modified by Rolex to meet their high standards and is considered to be one of the finest chronograph movements ever made.

6. 1999 Lapis Lazuli Dial Rolex Daytona Ref. 16516 - $3.27 million  (Sold in July 2020)

Next up on the list is the 1999 Lapis Lazuli Dial Rolex Daytona that auctioned for $3.27 million in 2020.

Photo credits: sothebys.com

The watch is a one-of-a-kind timepiece as it comes with a deep-blue dial made of Lapis Lazuli hardstone and a rare 40-mm platinum case, unlike most Rolex Daytona watch models, which are made of stainless steel. It also features silver-tone hands and markers, as well as three minimalistic sub-dials for the chronograph function and a tachymeter bezel.

This piece is powered by a caliber 4030 automatic movement with 31 jewels and it is rumored to have belonged to former Rolex CEO Patrick Heiniger himself.

7. Rolex Daytona Ref. 6240 Paul Newman “NEANDERTHAL”  - $3.01 million  (Sold in May 2018) 

In the seventh spot we have the Rolex Daytona "Neanderthal" watch, a piece that sold for $3.01 million in 2018.

Photo credits: Phillips.com

This rare collectible gave birth to controversy over the years, as it is equipped with a one-of-a-kind dial that some have described as an ancestor of the exotic "Paul Newman" dial, while others have claimed it originally belonged to a different Rolex watch and was swapped into this Daytona 6240's case.

The piece is considered unique nonetheless and its "unicorn" black dial with white sub-dials is paired with silver-tone hands and a 37.5-mm stainless steel case with a black acrylic tachymeter bezel. It also comes with screw-down chronograph pushers, improving its water-resistance.

 A 17 jewels caliber 72B mechanical movement with manual winding powers this watch.

8. 1942 Rolex Chronograph Antimagnetique Ref. 4113 - $2.5 million  (Sold in May 2016)

The only split-seconds chronograph ever built by the brand, this Rolex Chronograph Antimagnetique watch sold for $2.5 million in 2016.

Photo credits: Phillips.com

The ref. 4113 timepiece is only one of twelve ever made, neither of which was ever sold to the public but rather gifted to a select group of racing teams back in the day. As mentioned before, this particular model is the only one with a split-seconds chronograph function, and it comes equipped with telemeter and tachometer scales.

Design-wise the watch features a 44-mm stainless steel case that is surprisingly slim, as well as a white dial with two sub-dials, silver-tone hands, and rose gold colored hour markers. A light-brown leather strap completes the exquisite look.

And a caliber 55 manual-winding mechanical movement with 17 jewels powers this rare collectible.

9. 1953 Rolex Pink Gold Moon Phase Triple Calendar Ref. 6062 - $2.1 million (Sold in April 2022)

This 1953 Rolex Ref. 6062 is a highly sought-after timepiece that managed to fetch a price of $2.1 million at a 2022 auction.

Photo credits: monacolegendauctions.com

This watch model was produced in three different versions, namely in steel, yellow gold, and pink gold. This particular piece is the latter of the three, featuring a 36mm 18k pink gold case and a matching bracelet. It also comes with a gorgeous white dial with a day and date display at 12 o'clock and a moonphase display at 6 o'clock. It caught the eye of many collectors due to the extremely well preserved condition it is in, showing very few signs of age for a watch produced in the 1950s.

It is powered by a certified chronometer caliber 9 3/4 automatic mechanical movement.

10. 1974 Rolex Cosmograph Ref. 6263 “The Arabian Knight” - $2.16 million  (Sold in May 2018)  

In 10th place we have "The Arabian Knight", a unique Rolex watch that was auctioned for $2.16 million in 2018.

Photo credits: phillips.com

The timepiece was likely made for a member of a middle eastern royal family, and thus comes with white Arabic-Indic numerals that are printed directly on the black dial. It also features a white-gold crown at 12 o'clock, silver-tone hands, a matching 37.5mm stainless steel case, and a black tachymeter bezel.

Powering this watch is a manual-winding caliber 727 mechanical movement with 17 jewels.

11. 1972 Marlon Brando’s Rolex GMT-Master "Apocalypse Now"  - $1.95 million (Sold in December 2019) 

 A piece that was thought to be long lost before resurfacing at an auction in 2019, this Rolex GMT-Master sold for no less than $1.95 million.

Photo credits: phillips.com

The watch belonged to renowned actor Marlon Brandon who wore it in the movie "Apocalypse Now" and later passed it on to his daughter on her university graduation day. It stands out both due to the great condition it was preserved in and also due to its missing bezel, a piece which Marlon removed as he considered it "too flashy" to star in the war-themed movie.

Design-wise the timepiece comes with a stainless steel case that houses a sleek black dial, yellow hands and markers, as well as a white date display window at 3 o'clock. Its case back features an engraving of Marlon's name made by the actor himself, and the watch also has a black rubber strap that he attached to it.

Powering it is a caliber 1570 automatic mechanical movement with 26 jewels.

12. 1969 Rolex Cosmograph Oyster Daytona Ref. 6263 "The Oyster Sotto" - $1.66 million (Sold in May 2018)

The most sought-after version of the Rolex Daytona, this show-stealing watch sold for $1.66 million at an auction in 2018.

Photo credits: phillips.com

The timepiece's rarity comes from its black dial, as it is estimated only 20 models with this feature were ever made. It also features a red seconds scale and three white sub-dials for the chronograph function, as well as a red uppercase "Daytona" written above the 6 o'clock sub-dial. Silver-tone hands match the stainless steel case and bracelet, while a black acrylic bezel adds an extra touch of elegance to complete the design.

A caliber 727 manual-winding mechanical movement with 17 jewels powers this wristwatch.

13. Eric Clapton’s Rolex “Oyster Albino” Cosmograph Daytona  $1.4 million  (Sold in May 2015)

A piece much desired because of its ties to famous guitarist Eric Clapton and also due to its incredibly rare features, this Rolex "Oyster Albino" Daytona sold for $1.4 million in 2015.

Photo credits: phillips.com

The watch stands out due to its silver-tone sub-dials that perfectly match the dial plate, making this piece one of only four ever made to not have black sub-dials. The unique centerpiece is paired with a 37.5 mm stainless steel case that's flanked by a matching bracelet, as well as a black acrylic bezel that forms a beautiful contrast with the otherwise monochrome design.

Powering it is the 727 caliber manual-winding mechanical movement with 17 jewels.

14. Rolex Daytona Ultimatum Ref. 6263 "The Red Sultan"  - $1.35 Million (Sold in May 2018)

A watch specially designed for the Sultanate of Oman, this Rolex "The Red Sultan" Daytona watch was auctioned for $1.35 million in 2018.

Photo credits: phillips.com

The stand-out feature of this timepiece is the red "Khanjar" logo illustrated at 12 o'clock, part of the emblem of the Sultanate. It is believed more of these watches were commissioned to be presented to the British Air Force and the Royal Air Force by the Sultan himself as a show of gratitude for their help in defeating the rebel forces, but very few have surfaced on the market so far.

This particular piece impresses with its amazing condition, featuring an extremely well-preserved black dial with white sub-dials and silver-tone hands. A 37.5 mm stainless steel case and a matching bracelet round off the design.

A 17 jewels 727 caliber manual-wound mechanical movement powers the watch.

15. 1967 Jack Nicklaus Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803 -  $1.22 Million (Sold in December 2019)

The last watch in the Top 15 most expensive Rolex watches ever sold is a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date that auctioned for $1.22 million in 2019.

Photo credits: phillips.com

The piece belonged to star golfer Jack Nicklaus who claimed to have worn the piece on a daily basis ever since acquiring it in 1966. The watch was present on his wrist during 12 of his 18 professional major championship titles wins, with Nicklaus noting it is by far his favorite timepiece. He decided to part ways with it in order to raise funds for his children's health care foundation.

In terms of looks, the watch catches the eye with a full yellow gold design, featuring a day of the week display at 12 o'clock and a date display at 3 o'clock. It is known for being the first watch model to fully spell the weekday on its dial.

It is powered by a caliber 1556 automatic mechanical movement.

 The most expensive Rolex watches ever sold

These were the Top 15 Most Expensive Rolex Watches Ever Sold. Each of these watches has a unique story and exceptional features, making them truly remarkable timepieces. Although they have commanded enormous price tags, they are undeniably a testament to the exceptional quality and craftsmanship that Rolex is known for.

 Do you think these Rolex watches are worth the money? If so, which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

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