The Vault › All references › Moonphase
Moonphase · 1950 to 1953
“Stelline”
Grade S · 92/100Today's call: Buy
S: trophy asset. Ranked #4 of 129 references in The Crown Index vault.
| Original retail (1951) | $950 |
|---|---|
| Market today | $350,000 – $800,000 |
| Vs original retail | +60426% |
| 1-year trend | +4% |
The holy grail of complicated Rolex: a triple calendar moonphase in an Oyster case, made for only three years. The star-dial 'Stelline' examples are among the most valuable Rolexes on earth.
Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam, owned the most famous one; it sold for $5.1 million. Fewer than a few hundred survive in any configuration.
One of only two moonphase references Rolex made in the 20th century, and the only one in an Oyster case. Production: three years. Survivors: a few hundred. The star-dial 'Stelline' version is the one that ends up on auction catalogs' covers.
Bao Dai, last emperor of Vietnam, bought the most famous example during the 1954 Geneva peace talks, asking Rolex for 'the rarest watch in the house'. It resold in 2017 for $5.1 million. This page is a museum plaque with a price history.
Our verdict: S: museum-grade. This page exists so you recognize one if it ever surfaces at a country estate sale. If it does, call an auction house, not a dealer.
| Sizes | 36mm |
|---|---|
| Case & bracelet material | 18k yellow gold (steel examples exist, rarer) |
| Factory bracelet | Leather strap or Oyster bracelet |
| Factory bezels | Smooth or fluted, yellow gold or steel |
| Notable dials | Star-marker 'Stelline'; Triple calendar with moonphase |
| Caliber | 655 (9¾ Hunter) |
| Production | 1950 to 1953 (discontinued) |