PHILLIPS PRESENTS STOPPING TIME: THE PUCCI PAPALEO COLLECTION OF ROLEX CHRONOGRAPHS, PART I

GENEVA, 22 September 2026 — Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo has announced Part I of the Pucci Papaleo Collection of Rolex Chronographs, comprising 16 watches to be offered during The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV on 7 and 8 November at Hotel President, Geneva.

Assembled over more than three decades, the collection traces the development of the Rolex chronograph from the 1930s through the manual-winding Daytona era. Papaleo pursued examples distinguished by rarity, originality and condition, with many retaining sharp case geometry, preserved dial surfaces and details often lost through decades of wear or intervention.

The approximately 70 watches in the wider collection span references, periods, metals and styles. Part I presents 16 pieces, while selections will travel to Dubai, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, Riyadh and London before returning to Geneva.

Pucci Papaleo: Collector, Publisher and Rolex Scholar

Based in Rome, Pucci Papaleo has occupied a distinctive place in vintage Rolex collecting for more than 30 years. His interest in chronographs began in the late 1980s, developing alongside a career in publishing, graphic design and photography. In 2004 he published I Cronografi Rolex – La Leggenda, followed in 2012 by Ultimate Rolex Daytona. His research compares dials, cases, scales, typography and other details across watches sourced from his collection and the wider market.

Selected Highlights

Lot 99: Rolex Ref. 3525 “Bariletto”, stainless steel, circa 1940 Estimate: CHF 250,000–500,000

Introduced in 1939, Ref. 3525 was Rolex’s first chronograph wristwatch housed in an Oyster case. This early example retains sharply defined bezel steps and brushed case surfaces. Its multi-scale dial has developed a warm vanilla tone and bears the signature of Australian retailer Prouds.

Lot 24: Rolex Ref. 3335, 18k pink gold, circa 1941 Estimate: CHF 250,000–500,000

One of Rolex’s larger vintage chronographs, Ref. 3335 has a 37mm case, concave bezel and oversized 12-hour register. This pink-gold example retains pronounced bevels, a sharply defined hallmark and a well-preserved pink dial signed by Naples retailer Monetti.

Lot 22: Rolex Ref. 6239 “Paul Newman Musketeer”, stainless steel, circa 1969 Estimate: CHF 250,000–500,000

The first Cosmograph Daytona reference is presented here with the rare black “Paul Newman Musketeer” dial. The watch retains luminous dots and crisp graphics and is accompanied by its original Rolex guarantee and presentation box.

Lot 131: Rolex Ref. 6264 “Paul Newman Lemon”, 14k yellow gold, circa 1970 Estimate: in excess of CHF 1,000,000

Phillips describes this Ref. 6264 as the only known 14k example within the celebrated 2.3 million “Lemon” serial range. The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV takes place on 7 and 8 November 2026, with the final preview from 4 to 7 November.

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