Exceptional 1963 Rolex King Midas/Cellini in Yellow Gold, Ref. 9630 – The first MIDAS

In 1962, Rolex launched the King Midas, designed by Gérald Genta well before the Royal Oak and the Nautilus. Hand-sculpted from a solid block of 18-carat gold, its asymmetrical pentagonal case is inspired by the Parthenon in Athens, while the crown at 9 o’clock evokes the sun atop Mount Olympus. The first numbered and limited series in Rolex’s history, ref. 9630 was produced in fewer than 800 pieces between 1962 and 1972. Our example is number 058 – making it one of the very first produced. Characteristic of the first approximately 250 examples, it does not bear the inscription "KING MIDAS" engraved on the case sides. The solid gold champagne dial is a Cellini version later fitted by Rolex. Most likely never polished, the watch retains sharp edges and extremely well-defined surfaces. The gold has developed a superb patina between the links, with bluish, purplish, and coppery iridescence. The ultra-thin Rolex caliber 650, based on the Piguet 21 ébauche, has been fully serviced and runs perfectly. The original bracelet, bearing the model’s characteristic markings, is complete and fastened with the double-folding clasp unique to this reference. An exceptional opportunity for the collector looking for an extraordinary piece.