rare rolex auction

(Rare Paul Newman Daytona Ref 6264)

The newly formed Patrizzi Auction house is holding an auction to sell Italian watch collector Davide Blei's entire collection of rare Rolex watched.

The Hodinkee blog tells us some background on Blei and how he got into collecting:

The story behind Davide Blei's love of watches is rather interesting as well. He fell in love with a woman who owned an antique jewelry store and in order to win her affection and to spend time with her, he would accompany her to exhibitions and fairs. It was at these fairs that he first gained an interest in watches, Rolex in particular. In fact, he didn't even begin collecting until he was 41 years old. So how did his plan to win over this woman of his desire work? Pretty well, she is now his wife.

Some of the rare Rolexes being sold at this auction include:

Ref 6062, pink gold “Stelline”, Rolex Oyster Perpetual Officially Certified Chronometer with star indexes and original case. Estimate: € 180,000 – 220,000; $ 260,000 – 320,000; CHF 290,000 – 355,000

Ref 3525, pink gold Rolex Oyster Chronograph Antimagnetic with pink dial. Estimate: € 60,000 – 80,000; $ 87,000 – 116,000; CHF 97,000 – 129,000

Ref 6264, stainless steel “Paul Newman”, Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with white dial, black subdials and applied gold indexes, black bezel and push pieces in stainless steel. Estimate: € 40,000 – 60,000; $ 58,000 – 87,000; CHF 65,000 – 97,000

Ref 6062, stainless steel Officially Certified Chronometer with white dial, stainless steel indexes and phases of the moon. Estimate: € 120,000 – 140,000; $ 174,000 – 203,000; CHF 193,000 – 225,000

Rolex GMT-Master Officially Certified Chronometer Series 1a, in yellow gold with brown dial, 24-hour dual time zone arrow hand and Bakelite bezel. Estimate: € 60,000 – 80,000; $ 87,000 – 116,000; CHF 97,000 – 129,000

Ref 1680, yellow gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date, Submariner 660 ft/200 m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified with gold indexes on chestnut brown dial and bezel. Estimate: € 60,000 – 80,000; $ 87,000 – 116,000; CHF 97,000 – 129,000

The auction of Blei's amazing vintage Rolex collection will take place on March 22nd, 2009 in Milan.  We will of course bring you the results of that auction as soon as they are available.