Rolex is known for keeping its traditions intact and it is quite rare to find a Rolex that veers off the path to unique and odd designs. This is why it is so much fun discussing some of the rare times that Rolex did make a unique design decision.
The Rolex Datejust pictured above with reference 6604 is an unusual design. It was launched in 1957 and features a solid platinum case with an original woven platinum bracelet. It also has a black dial with gilt printing lame plots.
It is quite rare to find early Rolex timepieces made from platinum. Yet, this is one of the only times I recall seeing a Rolex with a platinum weave for a bracelet. It is quite different from the 3 link Oyster bracelet. It doesn’t have the same kind of elegance as a Jubilee bracelet either. It is not surprising that Rolex didn’t market the weave style bracelet on its timepieces over the years.
Unique Rolex Designs
The Leopard Print Rolex is often considered the “ugliest” Rolex. However, with superstars like Steven Tyler from Aerosmith wearing this timepiece, I feel that it is starting to get some love.
The Rolex Daytona 116598 SACO is bound to turn some heads. The diamond hour markers and on the gold case offer tremendous bling. Yet, the orange-colored sapphire jewels around the edge would amaze any gemologist for their selection, cut, and beautiful arrangement.
It is a Rolex Daytona after all. Above we see the 116598 with our Rubber B Orange and Black rubberized band – further tying together the orange and black elements from the dial to the wrist.
John Goldberger’s “Unicorn” Rolex Daytona is made from white gold. All of Rolex Daytona’s up to this point were made with stainless steel. This timepiece is the 2nd most expensive Rolex ever sold at auction. Coming in at nearly 6 million, the proceeds went to charity.
Even if this Rolex was made from Stainless Steel, it is one of the Grail Rolex Daytona classic timepieces that collectors are hotly competing for. The panda-style dial and the manual winding mechanism are just some of the standard features you see in the 1970s and earlier Daytona.
The tachymeter scale also only goes to 200 which indicates the lower speed of vehicles 50 years ago. Current tachymeter scales on modern chronometers show 400 or 500 mph/kph.
This timepiece is powered by reference 6265. It was made for an unknown German gentleman in 1971 by special request.
The above Rolex Daytona 116595 RBOW-0001 uses a rainbow of 36 sapphire crystals around the bezel of the timepiece. It also uses sapphire as hour markers, matching the outer sapphire crystal and diamonds on the outer case.
This timepiece does not have any tachymetric scale, reducing its effectiveness as a Daytona. However, there is no question it is one of the most eye-popping examples of a Rolex timepiece ever made. And the price of nearly $800,000 makes this one of the most expensive Rolex timepieces in existence.
The Rolex Cellini King Midas is a unique Rolex design that is not currently found anywhere on the Rolex site. Yet, this minuscule 30mm case is a truly vintage style Rolex that you will probably never see in real life.
It is powered by a manual wind caliber 4342. It has a champagne-colored dial and is made from pure yellow gold. One of the most interesting aspects of the King Midas is the 18k yellow gold flat-link bracelet with a deployant clasp.
The Midas line was introduced by Rolex in the 1960s and features pure gold as its concept. Elvis Presley owned a King Midas himself, although his version looked slightly different. The King Midas above has a triangular point on the left and right sides.
Rolex offered several designs, one of which was a pure square design, and another (the Elvis) which has a triangular left side and a flat right. The bezel is flat like a picture frame and has minimalistic tendencies with rare hour markers or other markings on the dial. Designed by the famed Gerald Genta as a tribute to ancient Greece, this timepiece is actually fairly affordable, at just over 25k in after-market sales today.
The above timepiece is a vintage and rare 1918 Rolex WW1 Silver Officer’s trench watch. It is hard to believe that Rolex is over a hundred years old. However, it is not often to find an early example of a 100-year + timepiece like this one in reasonably good condition.
It has 15 jewels and is made from sterling silver. It is only 31mm wide and is a manually wound timepiece. The interesting thing about this watch is the fact that it is a pre-oyster design and it looks like a pocket watch with loops for leather wrist bands made as an afterthought.
It has a small seconds window at the 6 o’clock position. The blue hour and minute hands are interesting in their design with a see-through skeletal design that almost approaches industrial. Of course, this is before luminescent paint appeared on all of the Rolex timepieces.
The dial has the name R.L Christie Edinburgh, which was the retailer selling the Rolex. It is unique to find any other brand on a Rolex. On occasion, you can see a brand like Dominos, or Micky Mouse on a Rolex dial. However, for the most part, Rolex has only a limited amount of timepieces showing anybody else’s brand displayed next to or in lieu of the mighty Rolex Crown.
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