Prince BernhardS Custom Rolex, Featuring Rare ‘Tropical Bracelet,’ Heads to Auction
The Hague, Netherlands – A Rolex wristwatch, personally tailored for Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and featuring a unique, openwork ‘tropical bracelet,’ will be auctioned in The hague on December 9th. The 18-karat gold timepiece,dating from 1964,is estimated to fetch between €10,000 and €20,000.
The watch was specifically designed for Bernhard’s African hunting safaris, boasting a gold-colored, lightly textured dial, baton indexes, a guilloché bezel, and a date window at three o’clock. What sets this Rolex apart is the specially commissioned ‘tropical bracelet,’ engineered for comfort in hot climates while maintaining elegance for formal events. The caseback is hand-engraved with bernhard, replicating the Prince’s own signature sketch, which is included with the watch.
Prince Bernhard regularly wore the watch during his safari trips before gifting it to a member of his court. It remained in private ownership for decades before being consigned for auction. Prospective buyers can view the Rolex at Nobelstraat in The Hague on December 4th-7th.
The auction comes amid renewed interest in the history of Rolex, including past MI5 suspicions that founder Hans Wilsdorf may have been involved in espionage for Germany.
