rolex ref. 6062 “Bao Dai”, the watch of the last Emperor of Vietnam

Among the many record sales achieved by Phillips in recent years, the 5 million francs of the Rolex 6062, alias "Bao Dai", have remained etched in the minds of all enthusiasts.
The historic sale saw it far exceed the initial estimate of over 1.5 million set by Phillips to become the most expensive Rolex ever auctioned. A royal provenance and geopolitical rearrangement frame one of the most exclusive timepieces ever produced by Rolex.
We are in 1954 and with the Indochina war just ended, it is urgent to negotiate with the heads of state to establish the future borders of Vietnam. The place chosen to host the concordats was diplomatic Geneva, where in the spring of 1954 the Vietnamese emperor, better known as Bao Dai, or "guardian of greatness", also arrived.

Known to history as a man of great taste, more accustomed to frequenting the international jet-set than to politics, the Bao Dai was an all-round collector, ranging from cars, boats and obviously watches.
Thus, between one conference and another, the emperor did not miss the opportunity to visit the most exclusive boutiques in the hometown of timepieces, always driven by the desire to own the rarest and most precious object possible. The walks through the streets of Geneva lead him to Philippe Beguin, historic Rolex dealer, where once he enters the Bao Dai makes a very specific request. He wants to buy the most exclusive Rolex there is. After several politely declined offers, Beguin understood the caliber of the client and contacted the Rolex headquarters directly.
Headquarters that immediately gets to work and sends an emissary who brings with him a timepiece that fully satisfied the emperor's ambitions.
The watch in question bears reference 6062 and together with 8171, both with an annual calendar, the most complicated Rolex ever made. Produced in a few hundred pieces from 1950 to 1953, the Rolex 6062 is still today one of the milestones of collecting. The example proposed at the Bao Dai is enriched by a very rare black dial with 5 diamond indexes, present on only three other examples of 6062.

However, the arrangement of the diamonds is different from the other three watches, making the 6062 “Bao Dai” a unique piece in all respects. The black dial with a lacquer finish, together with the diamonds gives the watch an unrivaled allure, all housed in a 36mm yellow gold oyster case.

Appeared publicly only twice, the first in 2002, when with its 370.000 francs auction it became the most expensive Rolex ever beaten up to then. The second time in 2016 by Phillips, the Rolex Bao Dai received its consecration, passing the test of time unscathed.

Research curated by Lorenzo Rabbiosi (The Watch Boutique) for FIRSTonline Arte