Late in December of 2017 when Phillips Watches first announced their May 12, 2018 thematic sale: The Daytona Ultimatum, they did so with just two pieces of information. One, that the catalog for the sale would list some of the most desirable references of the watch in the best possible condition (provenance, hang tags and all).

And two, that the catalog would be curated by one of the most prominent Daytona experts known to the watch collecting community.

It’s been just about two months since that date, and on Valentine’s Day, no less, Phillips Watches have finally pulled back the curtain on their mystery curator and three watches that are going to be part of the sale in May.

First the mystery curator: Renowned collector, scholar and author, Pucci Papaleo. Known to the collector’s community at large, as Mr. Daytona, Papaleo is no stranger to Phillips Watches either. Together with his team at Pucci Papaleo Edition, Papaleo’s produced all of the auction house’s previous thematic sale catalogs.

So, when it came time to put together the definitive Daytona sale, they couldn’t have turned to a better figure of authority.

You might, also, be familiar with Papaleo’s name because of the 600-page epic he’s authored titled, ‘The Ultimate Rolex Daytona.’

Now we know that we’re in for quite the treat because the partnership between Papaleo and Phillips Watches is sure to bring some rare and obscure examples of the Daytona to light (and for sale).

But it looks like we going to have to wait a bit longer for the complete catalog. Phillips Watches have, however, announced three examples just as a way to whet our appetites.

Here we go.

“The Ricciardi Panda” Rolex, Reference 6263

“Pintabian” Rolex Daytona Reference 6265

“The John Player Special” Rolex Daytona Reference 6241

All three pieces are going to be on tour, along with a few others from the Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN, at the Opera Gallery Miami Design District during Watches & Wonders: Miami 16th through to the 18th of February.

Sale dates are as follows.

Daytona Ultimatum & Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN sale

Dates: 12-13 May 2018
Location: Hotel La Reserve, 301 Route de Lausanne, Geneva

phillipswatches.com

puccipapaleo.com