The 12 Days of Rolex Auction from Bob’s Watches

This December, Bob’s Watches is proud to announce our first ever, public holiday themed auction: The 12 Days of Rolex. Consisting of 12 lots – a mixture of highly sought-after contemporary Rolex models and rare vintage references – the auction will run for 12 days, and each day, a single lot will be featured and sold to one lucky bidder. Participate in our holiday auction, the 12 Days of Rolex.

Bidding for the featured lots will start at 8:00am PST and end at 4:00pm PST each day. Like all of the luxury watches sold on our site, these highly desirable Rolex timepieces are guaranteed to be 100% certified authentic and come with our 1-year warranty.

12/10/18 LOT 1 – Rolex GMT-Master 116710 “Batman”

The reference 116710BLRN Rolex GMT-Master II Batman has been a popular favorite since it was first announced at Baselworld 2013. Supply has never been able too keep up with demand, and waitlists have existed at authorized dealers ever since its initial release. Given the recent rumors that Rolex has discontinued the “Batman” GMT-Master II, they are likely only going to get more difficult (and expensive) to obtain in the coming years.

12/11/18 LOT 2 – Vintage 1968 Rolex GMT-Master 1675 Pepsi

While it may not be the very first iteration of the GMT-Master, the reference 1675 is the quintessential vintage Rolex GMT reference. This example, with its “Pepsi” bezel insert, Jubilee bracelet, and Mk I matte dial, is the same configuration that served as the inspiration for Rolex’s new, stainless steel and ceramic “Pepsi” GMT-Master II, and is a true staple within the world of vintage Rolex collecting.

12/12/18 LOT 3 – Rolex Sea-Dweller 116660 Deepsea

The Deepsea represents the ultimate incarnation of Rolex’s classic dive watch design. While the Submariner possesses more water resistance than the vast majority of people will ever require in their daily lives, the Rolex Deepsea is more water resistant than anyone will ever require, under any circumstances – period. Built for extreme depths and unparalleled water resistance, the Deepsea is a decidedly modern wristwatch and the perfect showcase of Rolex’s dive watch manufacturing capabilities.

12/13/18 LOT 4 – Vintage 1971 Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 Double Red

For many, the Double Red Sea-Dweller represents one of the “Holy Grails” of vintage Rolex collecting. This particular example is fitted with a Mk II dial that is starting to turn to a rich, chocolate brown color, while its luminous hour markers are taking on a dark cream tone. Since the vast majority of surviving examples have had their original dials damaged or replaced, “Double Red” Sea-Dweller watches are highly coveted by collectors, and are becoming increasingly difficult to find in well-preserved condition.

12/14/18 LOT 5 – Vintage 1970 Rolex Red Submariner 1680

Another vintage Rolex dive watch with red letting on its dial surface is the reference 1680 “Red Submariner.” The reference 1680 marks the introduction of a date complication to the Submariner line, and those with their “Submariner” name in red text represent some of the earliest and most desirable examples of date-displaying Rolex Submariner dive watches.  

12/15/18 LOT 6 – Vintage 1983 Rolex Submariner 16800

The reference 16800 Submariner is a transitional reference that is the perfect blend of modern and vintage design elements. While most reference 16800 Submariner watches have gloss black dials with white gold hour markers, this particular one has a matte dial under its sapphire crystal, giving it distinctive design traits from both older and more recent Submariner references.

12/16/18 LOT 7 – Unworn Rolex Cellini 50505 Everose Gold

The Cellini collection is home to some of Rolex’s most elegant and classically-styled timepieces, and the reference 50505 Rolex Cellini is a fresh and modern take on the traditional time-only dress watch. With a 39 mm diameter, a self-winding movement, and a case craft from 18k Everose pink gold, the reference 50505 is a blend of time-honored styling with modern technologies, proportions, and materials.

12/17/18 LOT 8 – Rolex President 18238 Full Baguette Diamond Dial

Yellow gold Rolex Day-Date President watches with diamond-set dials are not particularly rare; however very few Day-Date timepieces ever left the Rolex factory with full baguette diamond dials. At first glance this watch may appear to simply have regular, stick-style hour markers; however a closer inspection reveals that each hour marker that protrudes from the dial surface is actually a perfect, baguette-cut diamond.

12/18/18 LOT 9 – Vintage 1979 Rolex Submariner 1680

Although the earliest reference 1680 watches had the “Submariner” name printed in red text on their dial surfaces, Rolex switched to dials with all white text halfway through the reference 1680 Submariner’s production run. This particular example is among those with the Submariner name in white letters, and over the years, its tritium hour markers have taken on a deep cream tone, while its bezel insert has faded to a unique light gray color.

12/19/18 LOT 10 – Rolex Explorer 214270 Mark I Dial

The reference 214270 Explorer is the latest rendition of Rolex’s original sports watch that uses a larger case with a 39 mm diameter. In 2016, Rolex updated the reference 214270 to feature a slightly different dial and handset; however the reference number for the watch did not change. While the updated dials now include luminous centers on their Arabic numeral hour markers, the Mk I dial has solid white gold Arabic markers, making it slightly different from the version that is still available through authorized retailers.

12/20/18 LOT 11 – Rolex Daytona 16520 Zenith Movement

The Rolex Daytona chronographs that contain Zenith movements are favorites among collectors, as they were the very last Rolex watches to be fitted with movements that were not manufactured entirety in-house. Now that the only stainless steel Daytona watches that Rolex produces are fitted with ceramic bezels, the various stainless steel Daytona watches with metallic bezels, such as this Zenith-movement, reference 16520 Daytona, are becoming increasingly less common and more sought-after by collectors.

12/21/18 LOT 12 – Vintage 1972 Rolex Daytona 6265

Vintage Rolex Daytona watches are some of the most valuable and desirable timepieces in the world. The reference 6265 is one of the “Oyster” Cosmograph Daytona references, as both the crown and chronograph pushers screw down for increased water resistance. This particular reference 6265 dates back to 1972, and pre-dates the widespread arrival of the “Daytona” name on the surface of its dial, a trait that can be found on all contemporary Rolex Daytona watches.