This extremely rare white gold Rolex Submariner prototype recently sold at Christie’s “A Rolex Afternoon” in Geneva for $628,572 (631,500 CHF), making it the most expensive Submariner ever sold publicly. This pretty strange prototype is from the early 1970s and only three examples are known to exist (two with blue dials, one with a black dial). This watch doesn’t even have a serial number, but the watch is confirmed to be genuine and produced from Rolex‘s factory, and it has been with the same private collector for more than thirty years.
The white gold case has an extremely weird dive bezel that only has knurling on two opposing sections, and the faded blue nipple dial has yellow gold markers and hands.
The watch features a white gold case with a dive bezel with knurling on two opposing sectionsand an interesting bark finish, the watch’s faded blue dial features yellow gold markers and hands, while the solid white gold bracelet boasts a bark finish as well.
The estimate on this watch was 250,000 to 500,000 CHF, meaning it sold for a little more than 25% over its high estimate. The former record-holding Submariner was sold for $568,561 USD in November 2016 at the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction.
