A Winner’s Watch – the Rolex Daytona
Now you have the opportunity to get your hands on a genuine winner's watch – claimed by the Danish racing driver Michael Christensen at the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona race. The former world champion wants to support the children of Ukraine in achieving a brighter future and has therefore chosen to put his extremely rare Rolex Daytona up for auction. It will be sold in our Copenhagen saleroom on 29 September.
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The 32-year-old race car and factory driver for Porsche Motorsport, Michael Christensen, clearly remembers the 2017 edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona race in Florida. After his colleagues had overcome several challenges such as rain and cold tyres, he got into the car a good two hours before the finish line would be in sight. From this point on in the race, he managed to drive the car from 7th place and all the way to victory. Together with his team, the Dane stepped onto the winner's podium, where he received the iconic Rolex Daytona as part of the prize. |
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Now Michael Christensen has chosen to put his winning watch up for auction. The watch is uniquely laser engraved, proving that it was presented as a prize to the winner of 24 Hours of Daytona. It is valued at DKK 250,000-300,000, and Michael Christensen wants to donate the profits from the sale to Save the Children in Ukraine:
"I have been lucky enough to grow up in a safe environment and be able to do what I do now. The situation in Ukraine is absolutely terrible. The children are growing up under completely different circumstances than I did. I want to help them, as much as I can, so that they can look forward to a better life."
Michael Christensen, racing driver and winner of 24 Hours of Daytona in 2017.
A Rolex Watch for WinnersThe offered Daytona watch is a further development of the sports model that Rolex launched in 1963 under the name Cosmograph and is designed for all kinds of races. Inspired by race car driving, the watch is designed with a stopwatch function and a tachymeter that can be used to measure speed. On the back you will find a laser-engraved inscription confirming that this particular watch was given as a prize at the 24 Hours of Daytona race. The watch comes in a special box, with a decoration only seen on the Rolex boxes for watches won in this race. |
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''There are already many similarities between watches and cars, not least the great appreciation of the engineering and design work, but it is rare that you see both parts combined in one and the same auction. While many Daytona models may seem the same, it is precisely in the details that things start to get exciting. In addition to the watch's distinctive caseback, it carries a sentimental value that can be difficult to place a price on since it was given as first prize at one of the world's biggest races. It’s a truly amazing story.”
Vilhelm Islandi Bramsen, head of the department for wristwatches at Bruun Rasmussen.
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The Daytona model on offer has the ref. 116503 and is made of 18k gold and steel with a white dial, gold hour markers and hands and fitted on an "Oyster" bracelet with folding clasp. The watch has a self-winding chronograph movement, calibre number 4130. |
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About the Rolex DaytonaIn 1965, Rolex launched the Daytona model. Initially, the model was called the Le Mans, but Rolex quickly decided that Daytona suited the watch better. The model is named after the 24 Hours of Daytona race at the racetrack in Florida, which has long been a centre for some of the world's most popular motor races. The watch has appeared in countless variations over the years and has been on the market under the name Daytona since 1965. |
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The special thing about the Daytona model is that it is equipped with a chronograph, while on the bezel of the watch there is a so-called tachymeter scale, which enables you to calculate your average speed over a given distance. The watch is available in several versions, including steel, gold and platinum, and it is also available with different dial variants. |
For further information, please contact:
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Frederik PlumFrederik PlumSpecialist / København |