Rolex Daytona Four Seasons: 4 record-breaking seasons!

The world of haute horlogerie experienced a historic evening. The 4 extremely rare Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches from "The Four Seasons" collection, were sold at auction in London by the renowned auction house Phillips, for the astronomical combined sum of 37.3 million pounds, equivalent to approximately 43.3 million euros. The event, held on September 28, 2026, and led by legendary auctioneer Aurel Bacs, represents the first official charity auction in Rolex's history. The strategic decision to present the four watches as separate lots, rather than as a single set, sparked fierce competition among the planet's greatest collectors.

Credit of: Rolex.com

Four "Pièce Unique" masterpieces

Each of the four watches is a unique piece in the world made by Rolex, characterized by cases in different precious metals, dials in very fine natural stones, and a gem-set bezel with trapezoid-cut precious stones, that recall the colors of the seasons. All models also feature lugs and crown guards, entirely studded with 54 brilliant-cut diamonds.

• Spring, sold for 6.8 million pounds is made of 18-carat white gold, boasts a green chrysoprase dial, lepidolite and purple sapphire counters.

Credit of: Rolex.com

• Summer, awarded for the highest sum of the evening, a full 10.3 million pounds, is made of Everose gold, and features a luminous natural turquoise dial.

Credit of: Rolex.com

• Autumn, sold for 10.2 million pounds, is developed on an 18-carat yellow gold case, and features a very particular mustard-colored mookaite dial.

Credit of: Rolex.com

• Winter, sold for 10 million pounds, this masterpiece was forged in the noblest of metals, platinum 950, and adorned with a blue opal dial.

Credit of: Rolex.com

Avant-garde mechanics

Beneath the poetic and artistic beauty of the dials, beats the heart of the latest Rolex engineering. All four models share the Manufacture Caliber 4131, a mechanical chronograph movement with bidirectional self-winding via a Perpetual rotor. This "engine" guarantees a power reserve of approximately 72 hours and is equipped with the patented Chronergy escapement in nickel-phosphorus, which optimizes energy efficiency while offering absolute resistance to magnetic fields. Regulated by the paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring with Rolex overcoil and protected by the high-performance Paraflex shock absorber, the movement boasts the strict Superlative Chronometer certification, with a running precision that tolerates a deviation of just -2/+2 seconds per day with the movement cased.

Credit of: Rolex.com

The atmosphere of secrecy

To fully understand the true scope of this event, suffice it to say that the record figure of 43.3 million euros, immediately projects the "Four Seasons" collection into the absolute Olympus of world auctions. Until yesterday, the insurmountable benchmark for the crowned house was the legendary Rolex Daytona "Paul Newman" ref. 6239, which belonged to the actor and was sold in 2017 for 17.7 million dollars. Although that piece holds the record as the most expensive single Rolex watch in history, the "Four Seasons" set has set the absolute record for a contemporary collection or series of the brand, demonstrating how modern collecting is now willing to pay insane sums, even for today's most exclusive creations.

Credit of: Phillips.com

A collectible value that finds its maximum expression in a hidden detail that literally drove experts crazy: the back of the case. Rolex wanted to indelibly sign the link between these timepieces and the charitable cause, equipping the precious metal case back of each model with a personalized and hand-enameled engraving with the official logo of the respective foundations, Federer Foundation for Spring and Summer, Re:wild for Autumn and Winter, accompanied by the inscription “Pièce Unique – Charity Auction 2026”. 

This touch of absolute exclusivity heightened the already electric atmosphere in Phillips' London saleroom. Auctioneer Aurel Bacs managed frenzied bidding lasting more than twenty minutes for each lot, with international buyers joining from New York, Hong Kong and Geneva. The evening's real surprise was the performance of the “Summer” model in Everose gold and turquoise. Despite starting with a slightly lower estimate than its platinum “Winter” counterpart, it sparked a bidding war with offers rising by millions, confirming that vivid, colourful dials made from natural materials are currently among the most coveted and compelling on the global market.

Credit of: Rolex.com

A Record for the Planet and the Future

What makes this sale even more extraordinary is its purpose: Rolex departed from its strict commercial practices for a greater cause. The auction's entire proceeds, totalling more than €43 million, form part of the brand's Perpetual Planet initiative and will be donated to two major charitable foundations associated with its prominent ambassadors:

The Federer Foundation, established by tennis champion Roger Federer, focuses on education and early learning for children in Switzerland and southern Africa.

Re:wild, the international organisation dedicated to protecting the environment and biodiversity, co-founded by Academy Award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

This memorable result not only reshapes the hierarchy of modern Rolex Daytona collecting, but also sets a new global benchmark for charitable watch auctions.

Credit of: federerfoundation.org 

The Timeless Legacy Beyond the Legend

With the sale of the “Four Seasons” collection, Rolex has done more than set a financial record: it has redefined the boundaries of luxury, elevating fine watchmaking into an art form and a force for the common good. These four extraordinary Cosmograph Daytonas embody a perfect synthesis of rigorous engineering and the poetry of nature. Capturing the changing spirit of the seasons in dials of natural stone and precious gems demonstrates a mastery that transcends time itself. Every beat of the Calibre 4131, housed beneath these works of art, now resonates not only as a triumph of mechanical precision, but also as a heartbeat of hope for our planet. In the world of collecting, the “Four Seasons” Daytonas now shine as beacons of generosity and ethical beauty, demonstrating that a timepiece's true value lies not only in the precious metals from which it is forged, but also in the lasting contribution it makes to the world's future. The Crown of Geneva once again confirms its place at the summit of both timekeeping and legend.