Rolex is a symbol of luxury and precision in watches, with rare models fetching millions of pounds at auctions. Collectors and connoisseurs are fascinated by the prestigious brand, founded in 1905.
Brothers-in-law Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis launched the company in London as Wilsdorf and Davis, changing the name to Rolex in 1908. Their luxury watches each came with a serial number from 1926 onwards to mark the series and production date.
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With an estimated global value of £8.03 billion, Rolex is the world’s number one watch brand today, selling an estimated 1.2 million units annually. If you’re lucky enough to own a rare or antique Rolex, you may be sitting on a small fortune without realising it.
Should I pawn my Rolex watch?
If you’re thinking of pawning your Rolex watch as collateral for a loan, you may be surprised at its value. As luxury timepieces, they should be taken to a trusted pawnbroker for a full professional assessment, whether it’s a vintage or modern model, to ensure you receive the highest amount possible.
The brand’s most famous models include the Rolex Oyster, pioneer of today’s diving watches; the Rolex Datejust with its self-changing date and the Rolex Daytona, a chronograph watch initially aimed at racing drivers.
There are a number of unique Rolex watches that have become famous for specific reasons, such as having had a celebrity owner, historical significance, or unique features.
Take a look at the top five Rolex watches today, in terms of how much they’ve fetched at auction, as you may own one without even realising its worth.
1. Paul Newman Rolex Daytona 6239 – £14.2 million
The Rolex Daytona 6239 belonging to legendary actor Paul Newman sold for a world record £14.2 million in 2017. Not only was it the Rolex most expensive watch, it was also the highest-priced wristwatch from ALL brands! Newman’s timepiece was described as the “Holy Grail of watches”, with collectors having been searching for it since the 1980s.
Given to Newman by his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, in 1968, he wore it constantly. His interest in motorsport was sparked while training for his role as professional racing driver Frank Capua in the 1969 film, Winning. Only around 2,000 of the Daytona 6239 model, with the exotic cream dial and black sub-dial face, were released. This one was completely unique, because on the back, Joanne added a personal inscription: “Drive carefully. Me.”
With its distinctive art deco-style dial, it appealed to the public, rather than simply to collectors, because of its links to Newman, Hollywood memorabilia, motorsports and American history. In 1984, Newman gifted the £1,500 watch to his daughter Nell’s then boyfriend, James Cox, who had cherished it privately since.
When it surfaced at Phillips’ 2017 Winning Icons: Milestone Watches of the 20th Century auction in New York City, more than 400 people jetted in from around the world to attend. After 12 minutes’ frantic bidding, it was won by an anonymous telephone bidder. Cox donated a “significant portion” of the proceeds to the Nell Newman Foundation, a charity that supports various philanthropic causes.
2. Rolex Daytona Unicorn 6265 – £4.7 million
Another unique watch, the Rolex Daytona Unicorn 6265, is number two on the list. The only white gold edition of the entire Daytona collection, the model was nicknamed “Unicorn”, as most 1970s models were made of yellow gold or stainless steel. The watch has white gold hour markers and white chronograph counters.
Originally sold by a German luxury watch retailer in 1971, it was a bespoke design made to order for a wealthy customer, featuring an 18ct white gold bezel and textured bracelet and a contrasting black Sigma dial.
It was later acquired by world-famous Italian watch collector John Goldberger, who sold it at a Phillips auction in May 2018 to an unnamed bidder for £4.7 million. Goldberger, a collector for more than 35 years, donated the proceeds of the sale to charity.
3. Marlon Brando Rolex GMT Master 1675 – £4.17 million
The third most expensive Rolex in history was the GMT Master 1675 wristwatch worn by big screen icon Marlon Brando in his cult 1979 film, Apocalypse Now. Later selling for a cool £4.17 million, its association with Brando and the culture surrounding the epic war film caused its value to soar.
The Academy Award winner wore the 1972 Rolex for his lead role as highly-decorated US Army Special Forces officer Colonel Walter Kurtz, who goes rogue during the Vietnam War and starts running his own military force that is feared by all sides.
The back of the watch was hand-engraved “M Brando” by the actor, making it totally unique. It was also quirky due to having been modified for his role as Kurtz in the film. He had removed the bezel, as it made the watch stand out too much, and replaced the regular bracelet with a rubber strap. This also caused its value to rocket when it was sold at the 2019 Phillips Game Changer auction.
4. Rolex Bao Dai 6062 – £4 million
The unique Rolex Bao Dai 6062 wristwatch, the fourth most expensive in history, was once owned by the last emperor of Vietnam, Bao Dai, whose reign spanned from January 1926 to August 1945. It sold for £4 million to a telephone buyer at a Phillips auction in Geneva in 2017, following an eight-minute bidding war. The timepiece was previously sold at an auction in 2002, when it fetched £277,000, making it a shrewd investment at the time.
The 18ct yellow gold Rolex has a distinct black dial and diamond markers, one of only three of this design. Purchased by Bao Dai on an official visit to Switzerland, it’s a unique artifact linked to Vietnam’s last emperor, who died in 1997. The diamond-encrusted watch was commissioned by Bao Dai in 1954 while attending the Geneva Conference for peace talks during the Indochina conflict.
5. Rolex Oyster Daytona 6263 – £2.9 million
Actor Paul Newman is also linked to the fifth most expensive Rolex, the 1969 Oyster Daytona 6263, known as The Legend. The ultra-rare timepiece is one of only three to feature a rare “Lemon” dial set in an 18ct gold Oyster case. Once owned by Newman in his Hollywood heyday, The Legend watch had disappeared off the radar for years, until journalist Michael Clerizo sensationally broke the news online, in the Wall Street Journal, that the famous Cosmograph Daytona had been found.
One of three yellow gold Paul Newman watches with a screw-down pusher, the Daytona 6263 was actually worth more than the 6239 in its heyday. Not only was it older, but it also had some stunning aesthetic features, including a unique lemon dial with contrasting black sub-dials, outer seconds track and bezel. In 2022, The Legend was sold at a Christie’s auction for £2.9 million after heated bidding.
How do I pawn my luxury watch?
There are many watches out there that could be worth a fortune. To enquire about pawning your luxury wristwatch, please contact us by phone, email, WhatsApp or via our online form with details and we’ll be happy to discuss your loan options.
