Auction preview: Guido Mondani collection - DDs and more

[foxytimes]

ABOUT

Guido Mondani is a well known publisher and author of books about luxury watches from Genoa, Italy. He will sell his collection May 11th and 12th at Phillips in Geneva.

There are some interesting pieces in the vintage, neo-vintage and contemporary range. I will discuss only a limited selection of the 75 Rolex pieces for sale.

You can browse the catalogue here:

https://www.phillips.com/auctions/au...makers%3DRolex

DISCUSSION

In the contemporary range you will find rather basic pieces like 126710BLRO, 126710BLNR, 116500LN black or white, 126719BLRO meteorite or blue but also a 116598SACO, 116599TBR or 116759SANR.

Vintage classics like a 6062 OP «Stelline» from 1951 (est. 120-240k CHF/140-260k USD) or a nice 6098 OP «Galaxy» black dial (est. 150-300k CHF/165-330k USD).

Let's look at some of the DDs in Mondani's collection:

The first example is a RG 1803 from 1959 named «El Dorado»:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080224/172

This exact watch seems to be considered a celebrity because it appeared in several important books e.g. by Pucci Papaleo. I'm more interested in the brick link bracelet actually. It makes this watch rather special. Phillips' estimate is 20-40k CHF/22-44k USD.

Next we move into 5-digit-territory. To an early 18038 from 1977, apparently the only stone dial in the collection:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080224/34

The ammonite dial is nice but it's the version with the diamonds embedded in the arabic 6 and 9. I prefer the versions of the stone dials without hour markers but I have an other question: Is this dial period correct or belongs it to the 18200 era? Also - I remember the 6/9 configuration especially with lapis lazuli dials and few others. Was it available for every stone dial?
It isn't a big deal probably given the estimate of 20-40k CHF/22-44k USD. And yes, I like the French day wheel.

Now to a reference 18049 from 1986. The only stella dial if I counted correctly:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080224/40

The bright green dial with diamond markers seems to be in good shape. All lume dots are there. The hands seem to be of a younger age. The patina of the Rolex writing has a sparkling red vibrance - but what the heck does this YG dial and hands in a WG reference? It's not a Tridor if I'm not mistaken. A possible explanation: It was custom made - by Rolex. For the Sultanate of Oman. You'll find a Khanjar on the back of the case. Estimate here is 30-60k CHF/33-66k USD.

For the next specimen I need the wisdom of the «dial-masters» out there. The watch is a regular 18239 from 1990 actually but with kind of a hybrid dial:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080224/192

The black dial possesses of stick hour markers at 1,5,7,9 and 11 and diamond hour markers at 2,4,6,8 and 10. I consider this hybrid setting as not very common. Side note: The watch comes with papers from Taiwan. Estimate 18-25k CHF/20-27k USD.

Finally a unique foursome - three 18039B Tridors and a 18239B Tridor with lot of bling:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080224/135

First up is a 18039B Tridor from 1984 with a champagne diamond string dial and diamond baguette hour markers and Spanish day wheel. The overall condition seems to be excellent, the bracelet seems crisp but I expect some stretch from the photo provided but it's difficult to tell from a photo with a few links only. Estimate 18-30k CHF/20-33k USD.

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080224/136

The second 18039B Tridor born 1986 has the same champagne diamond string dial but sapphire baguette hour markers. The Tridor bracelet seems to be a little less sharp than the previous one though. The same estimate as above applies: 18-30k CHF/20-33k USD.

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080224/140

The third 18039B Tridor is literally the same like the previous one. 1986 and same champagne diamond string dial but this time ruby baguette hour markers. While the Tridor bracelet in this case seems to be excellent, the dial presents itself not that crisp anymore. The Tritium dots have been worn away mostly but the rest seems to be fine.

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080224/141

Finally the 18239B Tridor from 1990 closes the group with the same champagne diamond string dial but now emerald baguette hour markers. Emerald dials are generally less common afaik. In this particular string dial configuration I prefer the emeralds with the silver dial instead of champagne. The Tridor bracelet here has the colors of gold the other way round. I was told that oxidation of the non-gold parts in the alloy could cause such a thing but I'm not sure if this is true. Estimate here is 25-50k CHF/27-55k USD.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion I would like to evaluate this part of the Mondani collection for sale as follows: Many important references are represented but only a few in the DD-range. Given the immense variety in the DD universe this is to be expected. I'm somewhat surprised that a «celebrity» collector must deal with the same issues about watch condition as anyone else. The «perfect» vintage watch - is it a unicorn? It could be one reason why Guido Mondani offloads (a part of?) his collection.

[miamiclay]

I want to look at these tomorrow, but a few quick thoughts for now -

The green YG Stella dial in WG case - This seems certain to be a franken, perhaps assembled around the khanjar caseback.

The black dial 18239 - As per Phillips’ description, these diamond and baton dials are indeed rare. Below is a YG example (with different batons), I’ve never seen another one in WG that I can recall.

As for the Tridors, I believe differing oxidation (and/or lighting) is the correct explanation, I don’t believe Rolex made different arrangements of the three gold colors.
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