DALLAS, TX.- Few, if any, watchmakers can equal the blend of elite craftsmanship, style and functionality offered by Rolex – which partially explains the enormous popularity of its watches. Throughout its history, Rolex has created an array of precise, innovative pieces that have captured the attention of collectors of all levels.

Not coincidentally, a selection of vintage Rolexes will be among the top attractions in Heritage Auctions’ Watches & Fine Timepieces Signature® Auction November 17.

“Vintage Rolex is currently the hottest market among collectors,” Heritage Auctions Watches & Fine Timepieces Director Jim Wolf said. “Many of the top selections in this sale were made between the 1950s and 1980s, which is considered the ‘Golden Period’ for tool watches.”

A Rolex, An Important And Very Rare Yellow Gold GMT-Master, Bakelite Bezel, Ref. 6542, circa 1959 (estimate: $50,000-60,000) is the cover lot in the auction’s catalog. Its demand is boosted by the fact that it is in gold and has no crown guard, features the chocolate dial and that it features a bezel made in Bakelite, a material used on very few watches. Bakelite can be fairly fragile, so finding one that is in very fine condition is exceedingly rare.

A Rolex, Ref. 8171 “Padellone” Triple Calendar With Moonphase, 18K Yellow Gold, Automatic, Circa 1950 (estimate: $50,000-60,000), nicknamed "Padellone," or Large Frying Pan, is considered one the most important timepieces that Rolex introduced during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It is also unusually large for the time at 38mm, and stands out from other vintage or modern Rolex due to the non-oyster case and full calendar moonphase complication.

From a private collector, a Rolex, Important And Rare Ref. 5513 Submariner, Gloss Gilt Black Underline Dial, Pointed Crown Guard, circa 1963 (estimate: $40,000-60,000) was used by the original owner as his tool watch while diving for lobsters in San Diego Bay. This exceptionally attractive example of the rare black gloss “underline dial” – an indication of lume plots consisting of tritium as opposed to radium – and the “Cornino” case has an added thermometer gauge added to the band. The 40mm stainless steel case includes a rotating time elapse bezel and is marked “III.63” inside the back.

One of the most popular Rolexes from the late 1970s is the Very Fine Steel Oyster Cosmograph Daytona, Ref. 6263, circa 1979 (estimate: $30,000-40,000). It features one of Rolex’s most attractive dials. It features one of Rolex’s most attractive dials and a very well preserved case, bezel, movement and band. The 37mm stainless steel case includes a fixed black bezel calibrated to 200 units per hour.




Other non-Rolex highlights in the auction include, but are not limited to:

• A Cartier, Highly Important Piece Unique "Pendule Quatre Faces", circa 1992 (estimate: $125,000-150,000)

• A Ferdinand Berthoud, Rare and Important Chronomètre Certified COSC, Constant Force Regulation With Fusee And Chain Transmission And Tourbillon, Ref. FB 1R.6-1, Limited Edition No. 02/20 (estimate: $100,000-150,000)

• An Audemars Piguet, Very Fine and Important Jules Audemars White Gold Minute Repeating Wristwatch With Tourbillon Regulator, Ref. 25858BC, circa 2019 (estimate: $100,000-110,000)

• A Patek Philippe, Ref. 565 Extremely Rare And Important Stainless Steel Wristwatch, Center Seconds, Silvered Dial With Breguet Numerals, circa 1950 (estimate: $80,000-100,000)

• A Maîtres du Temps, Highly Important "Chapter One" Rose Gold Wristwatch, "Round Transparence" Tourbillon, Mono-Push Chronograph, Retrograde Date, GMT, Day Of The Week, Moon Phase, Ref. C1R.55.2E.60-2 (estimate: $75,000-100,000)

• A Patek Philippe, Important And Rare Limited Edition 175th Anniversary Chronograph, Ref. 5975J-001, circa 2014 (estimate: $80,000-85,000)

• A Manufacture Royale, 1770 Micromegas Revolution Double Tourbillon Limited Edition Titanium Wristwatch (estimate: $60,000-70,000)