We are sharing with you everything you need to know about the new Monaco Legend Group auction!
The first contemporary and vintage watch auction of the well-known auction house Monaco Legend Group will be held at the Meridien Beach Plaza hotel in Monaco on April 22nd and 23rd. An article from last year about the auction held in October was highly regarded, and I am glad to see that interest in auctions of this kind is growing in our region. Below, enjoy the best and rarest watches that are part of this year’s catalog.
ROLEX Day-Date: Lot 75; Lot 119; Lot 121; Lot 148; Lot 220
This time, due to the large number of excellent models, I decided to combine the Rolex Day-Date models that interest me in one paragraph. Namely, from the very beginning, the Monaco Legend Group has recognized the importance and beauty of vintage Day-Dates, and there is no auction without dozens of great watches for sale!
Lot number 75 is interesting for several reasons. The first one I would like to highlight is the unexpectedly low estimate for full yellow gold piece, as this watch is valued at around 10,000 to 20,000 euros. This means that you can buy a cult Rolex Day-Date ref. 18038 from 1979, which comes in a full set, for an affordable price. It is also a model with a “signed” dial, as the SNAS (Saudi Aviation company) logo is located at the 6 o’clock position. The champagne-colored dial, minute track on the outer rim, excellent condition of the case and bracelet are just some of the reasons why this watch is a great buy.
You think it can’t get cheaper than the previous Day-Date? It can. Lot number 121 brings you a watch with an estimated value of 5,000 to 10,000 euros. It is a model from 1976 with reference number 1803, which comes on a black crocodile leather strap and a very beautiful yellow gold case with a fluted bezel. Like the previous one, this Day-Date also has a signed dial with “GRAMCO” above the 6 o’clock position. In this case, the watch is sold without the accompanying box and papers from the 1970s.
Lot 119 is the lot for which I would raise my paddle if I were present in Monaco this weekend. Under lot number 119 appears the Rolex Day-Date Onyx in a yellow gold case on a brilliant president bracelet! In addition to this model being one of my favorites and a so-called grail watch, the estimated price of “only” 12,000-24,000 euros surprised me. I am almost certain that the hammer price will exceed the upper estimate for this beautiful model.
Lot 148, Rolex Day-Date ref. 1803, is interesting because of the turquoise color of the dial that has taken over the world of watches in the last few years. The estimated value is between 10,000 and 20,000 euros, but in this case, there is a logical explanation for why the price is lower for this beautiful dial with diamond indexes. The dial is cracked in several places and has created a structure, called a “spider dial.” Note that this is a watch from 1968. A true vintage!
Lot 220 features the “craziest” Day-Date you have ever seen: a Rolex Day-Date “Octopussy” ref. 1804 produced in platinum in 1970. This watch is truly rare with a gray sunburst dial and a multitude of diamonds on both the case and bracelet. The nickname Octopussy was given by the watch community, and the specific model offered has already been sold at auction: in 2012 at Christie’s for 165,000C CHF. The estimated value for the Monaco Legend Group is between 200,000 and 400,000 euros.
Lot 27 – PATEK PHILIPPE
The Patek Philippe Ref. 3550 is one of the most beautiful Patek models. It was launched in 1981 and produced until 1985, during which only 244 watches were made! The model for sale comes in yellow gold and a full set, produced in 1985, making it one of the latest models in this famous series. It closely resembles the reference 3448, but unlike it, the 3550 has an indicator for the leap year, as it is a Perpetual Calendar model. The estimated value is between 180,000 and 360,000 euros. Just look at it!
Lot 109 – LONGINES
The Longines 13ZN in a 38mm gold case with a pink dial is the dream of every vintage chronograph collector. First, it features one of the best chronograph calibers of the last century, cal. 13ZN, and secondly, it has a beautiful case with non-standard lugs, a true work of art. Last but not least is the beautiful ”pink on pink” dial. On top of it all, the watch is from 1945! The price that experts have determined goes between 12,000 and 24,000 euros.
Lot 167 – VACHERON CONSTANTIN
My favorite brand and one of the most beautiful gold watches ever: the legendary reference 222! This model appeared soon after the Royal Oak (1972) and Nautilus (1976) to celebrate the 222 years of the company’s existence (1977). Yes, Vacheron Constantin was already celebrating over two centuries of producing the world’s finest watches, so it’s not surprising that they created something this good at the time. I’m talking about the Jumbo 222 model with a diamond bezel and bracelet, which is advertised for around 80,000 to 160,000 euros! It can go over 200.000 euros, I think.
Lot 100 – ROLEX
The auction headliner. The watch that everyone is talking and writing about. The watch that could set a new record value. That watch is none other than the 10,000,000th certified Chronometer produced by Rolex. Such a unique destiny befell the Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 16620PT, which was produced as a piece unique and was owned by former Rolex CEO, Mr. Patrick Heiniger. The watch was made in platinum with an unusual gray dial that has Dix Millionieme Chronometre inscription and features blue sapphires and diamonds instead of the traditional hour markers. You can read more about who was Patrick Heiniger and his achievements during his tenure as Rolex CEO from 1992 to 2008 here.
Indeed, it is a staggering price estimate for this watch and goes from 1.000.000 to 2.000.0000 euros!
Lot 164 – PATEK PHILIPPE
Patek Philippe mentioned in the title of this article. New. Almost unworn. Perfect. These are all epithets that can describe the Patek Philippe ref. 2523/1 “Dual Crown” made in yellow gold in 1963. Read all about this rare model on this link. Watches with World Time complications are some of the most beautiful in the world of watches, and when they appeared in the mid-20th century, they immediately became a big hit. The model being offered for sale is very rare, incredibly well-preserved as it has spent decades in a safe and comes from the collection of an unnamed and important European collector. The estimated value of this watch is between 2,000,000 and 4,000,000 euros!
ROLEX Daytona: Lot 10; Lot 160; Lot 227
How can a vintage watch auction go by without rare vintage Daytonas? It can’t. The trademark alongside the brilliant Day-Dates and rare Nautiluses is certainly the Paul Newman Daytona, which always appears at Monaco Legend Group auctions.
Such is the case with the Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 “Paul Newman,” which is offered at the very beginning of the first day of the auction with lot number 10. This rare model, produced in 1968, just a year before it was discontinued, is not only in excellent condition, but also has a cream ”Paul Newman” dial, which is why this watch is so highly regarded. It is estimated to sell for between 500,000 and 1,000,000 euros.
For the same price, a watch under lot number 160 could also be sold for higher price: a Rolex Daytona ref. 6265 made in yellow gold with a black dial and a rare, very rare red Khanjar logo in the center. It was made for the Sultanate of Oman and sold by the importer Asprey. The ”sigma dial” is in excellent condition!
The last Daytona that will be of interest to you is the ref. 116518LN with, wait for it – a purple dial. The watch is from 2022, which means it’s new, especially compared to all the other watches in this article. It was done in collaboration with the retailer Asprey, whose signature color is purple. This watch will find its owner if they are willing to spend between 120,000 and 240,000 euros.
Lot 261 – PATEK PHILIPPE
To wrap up, the king of watches: the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3700 Jumbo with the Khanjar logo, also made for the Sultanate of Oman. The watch comes from the private collection of one of the most significant vintage watch collectors, John Goldberger. Made in white gold with an extract from the archive and priced at around 800,000 to 1,600,000 euros.
This was only 14 watches out of 261 that will be available for bidding this weekend in Monaco. For the complete offer, visit the link here. If you are interested in following the auction live, you can do so through the Monaco Legend Group Instagram profile.
