Four one-of-a-kind Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches will go under the hammer this month, with the sale supporting education and conservation.
Rolex is taking the unusual step of putting four unique Cosmograph Daytona watches up for auction. The watches, each designed around one of the four seasons, will be sold through Phillips on Sep 28, with proceeds going to charitable organisations focused on education and conservation.
The collection gives the Daytona a different treatment from its more familiar configurations. Each watch uses a different precious-metal case, natural stone dial and combination of coloured gemstones to represent spring, summer, autumn or winter.
The Spring model uses an 18 ct white gold case with an apple-green chrysoprase dial. Purple sapphires mark the hour markers and bezel.
Summer switches to 18 ct Everose gold, with a turquoise dial and ruby counters. Pink sapphires mark the hour markers and bezel.
The Autumn watch is set in 18 ct yellow gold. Its yellow mookaite dial is paired with chrysoprase counters, while green tourmalines cover the bezel and hour markers.
Winter takes a cooler approach in 950 platinum. It features an iridescent blue opal dial, lapis lazuli counters and 36 trapezoid-cut sapphires arranged in a blue-to-fuchsia gradient.
All four watches also feature 54 brilliant-cut diamonds set across the lugs.
As reported by CNA, the auction is part of Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative and will benefit two organisations: Roger Federer’s Federer Foundation and Leonardo DiCaprio’s re:Wild.
The Federer Foundation supports early and foundational learning for children in Southern Africa and Switzerland. re:Wild focuses on protecting and restoring biodiversity and natural habitats.
The four watches will be offered as separate lots at the Phillips auction on Sep 28. Since each configuration is unique, there is only one example of each.
