3. Lot 93: Rolex ref. 6062
Formerly the property of Emperor Bao Dai of Vietnam, lot 93 is – as the lot notes read – “spectacular and historically important”. Dai (who was, indecently, Vietnam’s last Emperor) purchased the watch in 1954 whilst in Geneva to participate in negotiations with the Việt Minh after the First Indochina War.
The watch, now know by the moniker ‘Bao Dai’, is powered with an automatic movement and has a 36mm yellow-gold case, black dial, diamond indexes and triple calendar and moonphase complications. Only two other yellow-gold, black-dial ref. 6062s are known to exist — the other two, however, have a slightly different diamond-index layout.
Phillips previously sold this watch in 2002, for CHF 370,000. The auction house describes the 6062 ‘Boa Dai’ as “one of the most valuable timepieces ever produced”. Its estimate will only be provided on request.