Stylish Icons with Coolness to Spare

At this autumn's Live Auction in Copenhagen, we have dedicated a special evening to wristwatches on Tuesday 15 September at 6:30 pm. The highlights include the coveted Rolex ref. 6263 in both steel and gold.

Wristwatches from Rolex have rarely been lacking in the style department. But this steel Rolex 6263 got an extra dose of coolness added to it when French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo (b. 1933) became a fan of the watch. Belmondo is famous as one of the main actors of the French New Wave, with films such as "Á Bout de Souffle". He is also a well-known Rolex enthusiast and can be seen wearing his ref. 6263 with a black disc in two films, including “L'Animal” from 1977. The original ref. 6263, worn by Jean-Paul Belmondo himself, was auctioned off by his son Paul Belmondo in 2013, which has only made the model more coveted and interesting for collectors.

The ultimate highlight of the auction, however, is without a doubt a Rolex ref. 6263 of 18k gold. While many watch enthusiasts and collectors are familiar with the many early Oyster Cosmograph variants, this example of a ref. 6263 of 18k gold is an absolute rarity. Ref. 6263 was launched in 1970, equipped with the chronometric movement 727. Looking closer, this example does not have the text “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” featured on the dial, as very early variants of ref. 6263 were not certified by COSC. The watch is also equipped with the early “millerighe” screw-down pushers and correct bezel insert, which sends this particular watch into the absolute apex of vintage Rolex watches. Furthermore, it is fresh to the market since it comes directly from the family of the original Danish owner.