If you're a watch connoisseur who happened to be in Geneva yesterday with a spare $1.4 million lying around, here's the conversation you might be having today:
"What, this old thing? Nah, it's just Eric Clapton's old Rolex. Yeah that's right, the one that only has three others like it in existence. Was gonna buy a little beach house, but what the hell. Can you pass the foie gras?"
For those who aren't in on the whole luxury watch scene, the Rolex Reference 6263 Cosmograph Daytona, also known as the "Oyster Albino," that sold at a Phillips auction in Geneva yesterday is one of the rarest, most desired watches in the world.
Usually, the reference watch has black chronograph totalizers with white printing, but this Oyster Albino has silvered chronograph totalizers that are the same color as the silvered dial instead, a detail that is only found on three other 6263s in existence. And just to add to its rarity, or at least to its interesting history, it was once owned by legendary guitarist Eric Clapton, who bought it in the late '90s.
Phillips | Eric Clapton's The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference 6263 Oyster Albino set a world record for Rolex at auction on May 10, 2015
Originally manufactured in 1971, this 6263 is powered by a manually wound Caliber 727, and is housed in a stainless steal case. Apparently breaking auction records has kind of become its thing. Not only did its $1.4 million price obliterate the previous auction record for a Rolex, in 2003 it broke the then record for a Rolex Cosmograph Dayton when it sold for $505,000.
As for all time stainless steel watch auction record, that distinction belongs to a 1927 Patek Philippe monopusher "doctor's" chronograph, which sold yesterday at the same auction for $4,987,383. Big day for rich dudes and wrist wear.
Phillips | The 1927 stainless steel Patek Philippe chronograph
This article was originally published on Esquire.com
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