Rolex’s Four Seasons charity auction ended in London with a record-breaking result. The four one-of-a-kind Cosmograph Daytona watches sold individually through Phillips for a combined $49,467,260, setting a new benchmark for a charity watch sale in the watch world. Hosted by Phillips Senior Consultant Aurel Bacs, the auction featured four unusual Daytonas created specifically for the event, with every dollar raised going to the Federer Foundation and Re.
The four watches were never intended to be traditional off-catalog Rolex special editions. Each was built around a different season, using precious metals, natural-stone dials, colored gemstones and diamonds to give the familiar Daytona a completely different look. Winter, the platinum example with a blue opal dial, lapis lazuli counters and a blue-to-fuchsia sapphire bezel, sold for $13.2 million. Summer, in Everose gold with a turquoise dial, heart-of-ruby counters and pink sapphires, edged past it at $13.6 million.
Autumn followed closely behind at $13.5 million, pairing an 18ct yellow gold case with a mookaite dial, chrysoprase counters and green tourmalines. Spring brought the lowest result of the four, though $9 million is still an unbelievable result for a modern Rolex Daytona. Its 18ct white gold case was matched with a chrysoprase dial, lepidolite counters and a bezel set with purple sapphires. All four watches use Rolex’s Calibre 4131 and carry Superlative Chronometer certification, designed with diamond-set lugs and crown guards.
What makes the $49.4 million total especially notable is how quickly the four lots added up. Phillips offered Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter separately, giving collectors four chances to compete for a one-of-a-kind Rolex. The watches themselves were already rare to begin with, but the auction gave them a place in Rolex collecting history that goes well beyond their exculsivity.
Of course, the final numbers only tell part of the story. The proceeds will support the Federer Foundation’s work with children and education in Southern Africa and Switzerland, along with Re’s efforts to protect and restore ecosystems around the world. For Rolex, the Four Seasons auction turned four highly unusual Cosmograph Daytonas into a significant charitable contribution, while giving collectors a rare chance to bid on watches that will almost certainly never be replicated.
Source: Phillips
