100 Rolex Former Property of Patrick Heiniger, The Late President of Rolex, The One and Only, Dix Millionieme Chronometre, Yacht Master, Automatic Wristwatch in Platinum, Sapphires and Diamonds Indexes Dial, Reference 16 620PT

Estimate: €1,000,000 –⁠ 2,000,000

Model: Yacht-Master
Reference: 16620PT
Case Material: Platinum
Bracelet Material: Platinum
Year: 1992
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: 3135
Dimensions: 40 mm
Signed: Dial, Case and Movement

Among Rolex’s creations, the Yacht-Master is one of the youngest models produced but with its everyday design, casual elegance and sporty style, in a short time has carved out an important space on the consumer’s wrists. The first model of Yacht-Master, the 16 628, was introduced in 1992 in full 18 kt gold with white dial. Soon a Yacht-Master fever came out and with that raised a request for some other versions, which were the steel and gold and the steel with platinum bezel. Monaco Legend Group is excited to offer here a unique and very special Rolex Yacht-Master that has been consigned for this sale. The watch is made entirely in platinum and is a prototype ordered by the Heiniger family. Patrick Heiniger was born on August 26, 1950, in Buenos Aires, Argentina in South America to André and Odette Heiniger. Patrick’s father, joined Rolex in 1948, ran Rolex South America and grew to become a close and trusted associate of Rolex Founder Hans Wilsdorf. When Wilsdorf passed away, in 1960 Rolex was left leaderless and after 2 years, André was appointed Directeur General de Rolex. For this reason, the whole family moved to Switzerland and Patrick went to law school in Geneva, later becoming an intellectual property attorney in New York and founding his own law firm specializing in intellectual property and international law. In 1986 he came on-board taking over as the Director of Marketing for Rolex. Next, he went on to take over the reins of Rolex from his father, André Heiniger, becoming CEO in 1992 until 2008 when he left for “personal reasons”. Andrè and his son Patrick represent an incredible legacy that runs Rolex for over 50 years. Patrick Heiniger achieved many things as the CEO of Rolex, among the most import he drove to turn Rolex into a completely integrated vertical company, which means he bought up all of Rolex’s suppliers to bring all manufacturing in-house. That was a crucial strategic move, which helped secure its prized autonomy by giving Rolex control of the manufacturing of all important components for the production. He also developed the Rolex Mentor and Protegé Arts Initiative in 2002 to help talented young artists realize their potential. During his 16-year tenure from 1992 to 2008, as CEO, he consolidated Rolex’s entire business into four super-state-of-the-art facilities and, most of all, introduced one new model only: the Yacht Master, the exact year he took the head of Rolex. Despite his personal life and all the achievements he reached with Rolex, Patrick Heiniger is also known among collectors and passionate for having commissioned and manufactured some of the most important and precious examples ever produced: the only 3 Daytona in platinum on a leather strap with Zenith El Primero derived movement, known with unique stone dials. Bearing the reference 16 516, they were given away to friends and associates, to surface in the auction market in the last 5 years. It is also believed that the Daytona reference 116 598 SACO, known as the Leopard, was inspired by Patrick Heiniger’s then-girlfriend Nina Stevens. Almost every photo of Mr. Heiniger shows him in a characteristically wide necktie, and when his watch is visible it was inevitably a platinum Rolex, whatever it was the reference (mainly a Day-Date or possibly the present watch). Today Monaco Legend Group presents another special piece created by the Heinigers, and former property pf the family: a one and only platinum watch, made to commemorate the ten-millionth chronometer movement — a piece unique Yacht-Master. Try to connect the dot: love for platinum, only one model introduced by himself and an historic event to celebrate. Here is the solution for you: a Unique Yacht Master, fully manufactured in platinum, with a special dial celebrating the “Dix Millionième Chronometre” as testified by the text with a unique special shade of grey, with diamond and sapphire index configuration dial. Never seen in public, this watch also shows on the balance of the same text “Dix Millionième Chronometre”, an absolutely outstanding achievement for any watch brand. Rolex design language has always been about evolving and then checking back-in with the past. This design methodology typically results in a timeless product that has strong ties to its past. Considering this, it appears clear that looking closer to the platinum Yacht-Master, the similarity with the Submariner is evident. The Submariner was for underwater use, and the Yacht-Master was for topside. More luxurious, sportier than the Datejust and simpler than the GMT-Master, the Rolex Yacht Master is the brand nautical-inspired luxury sport watch. Let’s go into more detail to discover the watch. The present lot is unique a made entirely in platinum, featuring the Yacht-Master reference in the case back 1. Furthermore, the watch is fitted with a platinum Oyster bracelet, complete with a flip lock, which is also unique. The full-size men’s Yacht-Master is measured at 40 mm and both case and bracelet of this specimen are in excellent condition and give the watch solidity and strength. The movement used is the caliber 3135, the same equipped on the Submariner. Rolex has been known for almost a century as making superlative chronometer movement, flagship of its excellence in quality. When it completed its 10th million, a special occasion by any standards, the moment was marked by the creation of a specially engraved rotor. This movement was then placed in the present platinum unique Yacht-Master and remained with the Heiniger family to mark a very important moment in Rolex history. To give more elegance and preciousness, Rolex has created this unique design dial, featuring a unique shade of grey with diamond hour markers and baguette-cut sapphires at six and nine and a triangular-cut sapphire at 12. This unique silver dial has a one of a kind colour and finish and is signed “DIX MILLIONIEME CHRONOMETRE”. Outer minute track, aperture for the date and a special bezel complete the watch. This attractive bidirectional revolving frosted graduated platinum bezel is a time-lapse Rolex idea, the perfect tool used to measure an elapsed amount of time in sports, such as sailing. This bezel has later become a trademark for all Rolex Yacht-Master produced to this day. Manufactured under the special request of Mr. Heiniger, this Yacht-Master is not only an extremely important and valuable watch, but also a true piece of history of the Rolex brand, as the Heiniger father and son duo led the brand through some of its most important moments and are credited with establishing the brand as the ultimate luxury business: a legacy of their personal and professional relationship.