Luxury Rolex Wristwatches at John Moran Auctioneers This May

John Moran Auctioneers will present its second sale of the year on May 24, 2023. The Fine Jewelry & Timepieces event includes over 275 lots and a striking selection of Rolex wristwatches. Before the bidding begins, Auction Daily takes a closer look at some of the top lots.

Rolex President Day-Date II 

Introduced in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date wristwatch has a long-running association with Presidents of the United States. This self-winding chronometer was the first to display both the day of the week and date of the month in full on the watch face. It is considered an iconic status symbol, partly due to its association with figures such as John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and LeBron James. Rolex released a slightly larger version of this watch, the Rolex Day-Date II, in 2008. With a 41mm case, the Day-Date II had a more chunky, striking appearance on the wrist. It had equal critics and admirers for the duration of its production run.

The available 2010 Rolex President Day-Date II features a platinum presidential bracelet and “Black Out” dial (lot #73). This ref. 218206 piece also includes a smooth bezel and original certification card. It comes to auction with an estimate of USD 30,000 to $40,000.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was designed especially for racing drivers and has been produced since 1963. The style’s name refers to the Daytona racetrack in Florida, and it has since become known for its reliability, precision, and efficiency. The Cosmograph Daytona is among the most collectible luxury watches on the market due to its elegance and many niche variations in detail. It has enjoyed three generations since its inception. 

Available in this upcoming auction is a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with a two-tone steel and yellow gold case and bracelet (lot #63; estimate: $20,000 – $30,000). This ref. 116523 features a circular black dial and three sub-dials for chronograph functions. Known as a “Big Red” variant, this watch features the word “Cosmograph” written in red letters above the sub-dial at six o’clock. The floating text at 12 o’clock reads “Rolex Oyster Perpetual Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified Cosmograph.”

Rolex DeepSea 

Another notable lot in John Moran Auctioneers’ upcoming event is a DeepSea stainless Rolex wristwatch. Rolex developed its Oyster Perpetual Date Sea-Dweller diver’s watches starting in 1967. The brand was partially responding to the growing needs of professional divers. At significant depths, most watches cannot withstand high degrees of water pressure. The Sea-Dweller watches are able to maintain their waterproofing and form thanks to a patented gas escape valve that allows helium to escape the watch during decompression. 

The offered Rolex DeepSea wristwatch is a ref. 116660 with a black dial, luminous dot hour markers, date aperture, and stainless steel case and bracelet (lot #69; estimate: $18,000 – $24,000). The DeepSea model has an underwater diving depth rating of up to 12,800 feet. It was introduced by Rolex at the BaselWorld watch and jewelry show in 2008. The available watch has a diameter of 44mm and a total weight of 212 grams.

The Fine Jewelry & Timepieces event at John Moran Auctioneers will begin at 1:00 PM EDT on May 24, 2023. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete catalog and register to bid. Find additional coverage of this event on Auction Daily.