A rare vintage Rolex watch found at the bottom of a dusty old box has broken auction records with a winning bid of over £200,000.
The 1954 Rolex Submariner 6200, believed to be one of only 300 ever produced, was discovered by the seller in a box of forgotten possessions passed down to her as inheritance upon the death of her uncle.
Thought to be worthless until the Rolex name was spotted on the dial, the anonymous new owner took the item to a local jeweller who advised her on the incredible rarity of the wristwatch.
Listed through Watch Collecting, a specialist selling platform devoted to prestige and luxury watches, the iconic Rolex went on to break records with a winning final bid of £205,500, making it the most expensive timepiece ever sold on the website.
The Submariner 6200 is a vintage Rolex collector’s dream and features the A296 automatic movement with both gilt dial and gilt Mercedes hands finished in original radium luminous material. The thick case and prominent 8mm ‘Big Crown’ allow a deeper depth rating of 200m – subtle hallmarks of a professional tool diving watch.
Adrian Hailwood, head of Watch Collecting, said: “We are delighted to be part of the history of this magnificent 1954 Rolex Submariner. The condition is everything a collector could hope for with original components, unrestored condition, and featuring all the authentic signs of wear of a 67-year-old legendary Rolex.”
Compared to traditional watch auctions, Watch Collecting offers significantly better value for sellers and buyers alike. For sellers, there is no listing fee, and they receive 100% of the hammer price. For buyers, the premium on auction lots is just 6% including VAT, a rate substantially lower than traditional auction houses, which typically charge upwards of 25%.
