The truly legendary Rolex Daytona ref. 6270 has the distinction of being perhaps the most expensive Rolex Daytona ever made by the brand, with factory-set Rolex diamonds and sapphires. Based on the iconic Rolex 6263, only eight examples of the watch are known to have been made for the Sultan of Oman from 1984-86. One of the hyper-rare watches sold for around $1 million in 2014 at Christie’s; last year another example went for $4 million at Phillips in Geneva. And now a Rolex 6270 has turned up on the wrist of Jay-Z at the star-studded Hamptons party recently thrown by billionaire e-commerce mogul Michael Rubin.
As Christie’s noted at the time of the landmark sale, “this piece is so rare that one can hardly find any documentation or literature devoted to it.” Rolex scholars have determined that His Highness Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman commissioned the eye-popping 18k Rolex Daytona gold watch via Asprey of London, holders of a royal warrant. The 37mm chronograph is powered by a cal. 727 mechanical movement features a pavé diamond-set dial, sapphire-set numerals, gold baton hands, and a baguette-cut diamond-set bezel.
“The dial in itself is a great achievement due to its homogeneous design, enhanced through the darker color of the sapphire numerals and the beautiful dark-blue subsidiary dials that shine through a deep blue iridescence,” as Christie’s noted. “The watch will play a predominant role in raising the value of a well-curated collection and will become the masterpiece in its future collection.” Regardless of which exact example of the Rolex 6270 Jay-Z has acquired, it’s safe to say his collection can now be labeled as such.
This iced out Rolex isn’t something you see often from the brand. Phillips added, “It was beyond outlandish to imagine a bejeweled sports watch at the time. And yet, in the 1980s, that is exactly what Rolex made, predating by a couple of decades what is today a mainstream trend. Such a brave decision would probably not have been made by the company, if they had not been spurred by one of their most important – if not their most important ever – clients: His Highness Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman,” known for his customized dials and bespoke timepieces.
When considering the best Rolex investment, the $4 million Diamond Rolex Daytona that Jay-Z wore to a Hamptons party exemplifies how a timepiece can transcend its functional purpose to become a symbol of luxury and status. The auction house notes that the exceptional Daytona offers the ultimate combination of “historical interest, overall rarity, collectability, and mind-boggling looks.” “For a diamond-studded Daytona, the 6270 is relatively understated,” points out Paul Altieri, Bob’s Watches Founder and CEO, who is one of the world’s top Rolex collectors. “Partly because it’s based on the iconic 6263, plus unlike other diamond-set Daytonas, this one has vintage appeal; it’s a little less ostentatious compared to the Rainbow models and their ilk. Jay-Z has always been a watch guy, with plenty of flashy Richard Mille and AP’s, but this piece is above and beyond. Welcome to the club, Mr. Carter.”
