Earlier we took a close look at Bob Barth's Submariner, a watch that will command top dollar ($150,000) due to its spectacular provenance. This past weekend, a different Submariner sold at an Antiquorum auction that also has a pretty interesting history, and it sold for nearly a quarter million dollars. The watch's past owner was not a diver or movie star, rather it was Israel's most powerful man in the 50's and 60's, Isser Harel. What's more, the watch was estimated to sell between $20,000 and 30,000. So what led to the astronomic price it ended up selling for?
Isser Harel was director of the Mossad from 1952 until 1963, a rather tumultuous decade for the young State of Israel. Shortly after the creation of Israel in 1948, Harel formed and became director of the State's international security agency, Shin Bet. A role that would see his involvement is multiple historic events over the course of his tenure. His power grew when, in 1952, he was named director of the Mossad, Israel's institute of intelligence and special operations. Harel is perhaps best known for his oversight of the capture and secret transportation to Israel, of holocaust organizer Adolf Eichmann.
At the conclusion of his role as director of the Mossad, Haser was gifted the Rolex we see here. A 1959 Submariner with pointed crown guards and a meter first dial. Standard Rolex up front, but on the case back is engraved with emblem of the State of Israel, encircled by the motto of the Mossad and Isser Harel's name written in Hebrew.
We weren't in the room for the bidding, but there must have been stiff competition for this historically significant watch as it brought it beat estimates by a factor of 10. The winning bid: 248,500 CHF. Whoever hit the winning bid of 248,500 CHF got a fine example of a 5512 and a great conversation piece. See the listing here.
Rolex Antiquorum Submariner Antiquorum Sells Isser Harels 5512 Submariner For Big Money 1854