This April 22nd and 23rd in Monte Carlo the stars of many precious timepieces shone at the Monaco Legend Group auction. Among them, there was great anticipation for Patrick Heiniger’s platinum Yacht-Master, a unique piece in the world and never shown to the public before.
The first Yatch-Master, ref. 16628, was introduced in 1992 in an 18 kt gold and white dial version, immediately recognizable by its casual but elegant character. Known as the watch of “those who love the sea,” it features the characteristic bi-directional rotating bezel graduated 60 minutes, which allows a duration to be read, for example, the time between two buoys.
Since then, the Rolex catalog has been enriched with many versions of this model (most recently, the new RLX titanium version, ref. 226627, was presented at Watches & Wonders). There is, however, a unique version in the world, made entirely of platinum and never replicated. It is the watch created especially for Patrick Heiniger, CEO of Rolex until 2008.
Who was Patrick Heiniger
Patrick was born in Buenos Aires on August 26, 1950. Patrick’s father was the head of Rolex for South America as well as a trusted associate of founder Hans Wilsdorf, and when the latter passed away, he became CEO of the Maison, causing the entire family to move to Switzerland. Patrick, then, after finishing his law studies in Geneva, founded his own law firm as a lawyer in New York. In 1986, however, Patrick – following in his father’s footsteps – became director of Rolex marketing and, in 1992 and until 2008, CEO of the Maison. Mr. Heiniger left us in 2013, at the age of 62.
Certainly Patrick Heiniger has remained in Rolex’s heart for revolutionizing the Maison with important strategic choices. First and foremost, that of making it a company based on autonomy and vertical integration of production, that is, in which every component is produced by in-house manufacturing, allowing the parent company to govern all steps in the supply chain.
It was also his idea in 2002 to start the Rolex Mentor and Protegé Arts Initiative to help and fund young talent. Patrick Heiniger is also a legend among collectors for the incredible pieces that he commissioned: in particular, in addition to the Yacht-Master that was put up for auction, the five (and unique) Daytona in platinum with Zenith El Primero movement and gemstone dials (ref. 16 516), which Patrick gave to friends and assistants (to learn more, read The Rarest Rolex Daytona 16516 In Platinum) are legendary. It is also believed that Patrick Heiniger had the superb Daytona “Leopard” (ref. 116 598 SACO) commissioned, inspired by the glittering style of his girlfriend Nina Stevens.
But Heiniger is especially credited with the birth of a new model in the Rolex catalog, the Yacht Master, in 1992, the very year he took office as CEO.
The Yacht-Master ref. 16620PT
Exactly such a Yacht-Master, indeed “the one and only” Yacht-Master, was presented to collectors’ eyes by Monaco Legend Group in last days auction. A unique piece personally desired by Heiniger to commemorate Rolex’s 10 millionth chronometer-certified movement.
Made entirely of platinum, the rarest yet heaviest material, this timepiece features a dial made special by the commemorative inscription “Dix Millionième Chronometre,” with diamond and sapphire hour markers (baguette cut at 6 and 9 o’clock, pyramid cut at 12 o’clock). The Oyster bracelet is also in platinum with a Flip-lock clasp.
The watch mounts a caliber 3135, the same as the Submariner, and to commemorate Rolex’s ten millionth chronometer-certified movement, a specially engraved rotor was created.
Specially created at the request of Mr. Heiniger, this one-of-a-kind Yacht-Master boasts unique characteristics of beauty and value, but it is also a piece of significant historical value, given its affiliation with one of the most charismatic and influential figures in the evolution of the Maison.
The watch was auctioned yesterday at a price of 1.82 million euros, to which the auction house’s commission must be added.
Technical details
Reference: 16620PT
Year: 1992
Movement: Automatico
Caliber: 3135
Size: 40 mm
Hammer Price: EUR 1.820.000,00 + commissions
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