We can all agree that Rolex is one of the most sought after luxury watch brands in the entire world. Shocking as it may seem, there are a few specific models that are even more sought after than just a typical Rolex. Have you ever heard of a “unicorn” watch? Playing off the name of the majestic, fictional creatures, “unicorn” watches are so rare they are usually the only one produced by a specific brand. If you’ve never heard of these rare timepieces, you’re about to be blown away by The Unicorn Rolex. On May 12^th, 2018 the Geneva-based auction house Phillips will be auctioning off one of the rarest Rolex watches ever produced. Quite possibly the rarest Rolex ever manufactured, The Unicorn Rolex, is a Cosmograph Daytona, reference 6265. But why is this watch so special?

Why is The Unicorn Rolex so Unique?

Before this watch was discovered, it was believed that Rolex only produced manually-wound Daytonas in stainless steel or 18-karat yellow gold. But a watch isn’t dubbed The Unicorn because it’s just like everything else. This specific Rolex is the only known white gold manual-winding Daytona ever produced! The watch was manufactured in 1970 and delivered to a German retailer a year later. Since it was unlike Rolex to stray from their typical yellow gold Daytonas, it is believed this specific retailer had lots of influence on the Swiss-watch brand and requested a special order. It wasn’t uncommon for Rolex to manufacture watches in white gold, but they were Day-Dates, not Daytonas. The metal isn’t the only special feature about this watch. Another significant identifying characteristic is the black Sigma dial with white gold indexes. The lower-case Greek letters surrounding the word “Swiss” on the lower portion of the dial are used as proof that the watch is made of solid gold. There are also 18k hallmarks on the lugs of the watch. The case is original and is in excellent condition. The hands of The Unicorn Rolex are also gold, as is the Rolex-made bracelet. But the bracelet is not original. The white gold bracelet with a bark finish was added by the current owner to replace a leather strap. The bracelet comes from an Oyster Date reference 1507, and increases The Unicorn’s aesthetic appeal.

How Much The Unicorn Rolex is Worth

It’s difficult to put a price tag on such a rare piece of horology. But Phillips knows the watch auction game better than most others. The opening bid for this one-of-a-kind watch is set for $3 million! The bids will only go up from there. Only time will tell how much this majestic creation will go for. It’s no surprise that Phillips will auction this watch off for such a staggering price. The renowned auction house has already set two previous records for the price of a watch sold at auction. Last year, the “Paul Newman” Daytona sold for $17.8 million. Before that, the Bao Dai Rolex amassed $5 million.

Selling The Unicorn Rolex for a Good Cause

The current owner of The Unicorn Rolex, John Goldberger, has been in possession of this rare timepiece for almost a decade. His intentions were never to sell the watch, as he knew how unlikely it would be to come across another “unicorn”. However, when he realized how much good he could do by selling this beauty, he changed his mind. The entire proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Children Action Foundation, a Geneva-based organization dedicated to helping the lives of youth around the world. It’s amazing to see such a selfless act of humanity, isn’t it?

Mark Your Calendars for May 12^th

Watch enthusiasts worldwide- don’t forget to mark your calendars!  Phillips’ “Daytona Ultimatum” auction takes place on May 12^th and will feature 32 of the finest Rolex Daytona watches ever made. Of course, The Unicorn will be the headliner. While most of us might not be able to actually bid on The Unicorn Rolex, it will definitely be intriguing to see how much this unique timepiece goes for. What are your thoughts? Take a wild guess and tell us what you think the final bid on this beauty will be in the comments section below!

* all images courtesy of National Jeweler