Four watches, nearly $50 million: Rolex just had quite an evening.

The Crown auctioned off a quartet of unique gem-set Daytonas in London on Monday night, with Aurel Bacs of Phillips selling the four lots for a total of $49.5 million. All proceeds will benefit charities established by Rolex Testimonees Roger Federer and Leonardo DiCaprio.

“This is a historic moment for the world of watchmaking,” Bacs said in a statement. “We are deeply honoured to have played a role in this first-ever charity auction with Rolex and to support the important work of the Federer Foundation and Re:wild.”

The timepieces each embody a different season, but are united by a brightly colored design. All four combine precious metals, natural stones, coloured gemstones, and diamonds, putting a fresh, punchy spin on the iconic 1960s chrono.

The summer Daytona, featuring an Everose gold case, a turquoise dial with ruby counters, and a pink sapphire-encrusted bezel, achieved the highest sum, hammering down for $13.65 million. The fall iteration, which combines yellow-gold architecture with a mookaite dial, chrysoprase counters, and green tourmalines, followed closely behind, selling for $13.5 million. The winter variant, which pairs platinum with a blue opal dial, lapis lazuli counters, and blue sapphires, was next, realizing $13.2 million. Last but not least, the spring version, showcasing white gold architecture, a chrysoprase dial, lepidolite counters, and purple sapphires, sold for $9 million.

The results are not exactly surprising. The Daytona is widely considered the most coveted model in the Rolex catalog, with the chrono commanding eye-watering prices on the secondary market. Paul Newman’s own Daytona famously fetched nearly $18 million at a Phillips auction in 2017. Making these four even more special is the fact that the Crown confirmed each one is unique—something it rarely does.

“It was a privilege to stand on the rostrum and witness the energy and passion in the room, united by shared values of excellence, craftsmanship and, above all, a commitment to making a positive difference,” Bacs added. “The extraordinary amount raised will make a meaningful contribution to future generations and to the protection of our natural world.”

As mentioned, the auction proceeds will be split between two charities. The Federer Foundation, founded by tennis star Roger Federer in 2003, champions early and foundational learning for children across Southern Africa and Switzerland, while Re:wild, cofounded by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, protects and restores wild ecosystems around the world.

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  Rachel Cormack

  Digital Editor

  Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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