An experimental square Rolex from the early 1940s is heading to auction with a starting price of $1.2 million, leading a lineup of rare timepieces hitting the market as gq.com reported.
Auction estimates are routinely set low to encourage competitive bidding. This particular piece is considered by Phillips auction house to be “most probably unique” because Rolex operated similarly to many other Swiss manufacturers at the time, frequently making one-off experimental designs before establishing the modern Submariner look. The watch last appeared at public auction in 2004, and no comparable example has surfaced for sale since that time.
Rare Patek Philippe Chronograph Reaches High Estimate
- The unique case shape predates Heuer’s blocky Monaco design by more than 25 years.
- A stainless steel Patek Philippe reference 1436 split-seconds chronograph carries an estimate reaching $4.8 million.
The 1940s Experimental Rolex Case
The vintage Rolex features a blocky case geometry that bears a striking resemblance to Heuer’s Monaco model, a design that would not debut for another quarter of a century. Phillips auction house noted in its catalog essay that the piece is “most probably unique.” As gq.com reported, the watch does not come with onyx prayer beads despite its distinct aesthetic. Bidding on the rare item starts at $1.2 million, bypassing standard conservative auction estimates.
The Patek Philippe Reference 1436 Split-Seconds Chronograph
A rare stainless steel Patek Philippe reference 1436 represents another major highlight of the upcoming sales, carrying a high estimate of $4.8 million. Oren Hartov noted that the piece checks multiple boxes for extreme rarity: it is a complicated Patek, produced in stainless steel, made in a very small number of examples, and preserved in exceptional condition. As a split-seconds or rattrapante chronograph, the watch possesses the mechanical capability to time successive intervals of a race or event. With only two stainless steel examples of this reference known to the wider market, the valuation spans a pre-sale range of $2.4 million to $4.8 million.
| Watch Model | Era/Production | Estimated Price / Starting Point |
|---|---|---|
| Rolex Square Prototype | Early 1940s | Starting at $1.2 million |
| Patek Philippe ref. 1436 | Vintage Stainless Steel | $2.4 million – $4.8 million |
The public market has not seen another example of the 1940s experimental Rolex since its previous appearance on the auction block in 2004.
