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The Timeless Classic: Exploring the Rolex GMT Master II “Coke” and Its Enduring Appeal

in Designer Spotlight / Discover / Watches

NOTE: The watch presented here (the specific example shown in the images in this blogpost) was sold in FORTUNA’s ‘Fine Jewels & Watches’ auction, in April of 2023. After reading the article below, if you would like to visit this exact lot, Click Here.

The Rolex GMT Master II “Coke” has long captivated watch enthusiasts with its distinctive aesthetics, rich history, and enduring popularity. As a revered timepiece, the Coke has left its mark on popular culture and established itself as a staple in the world of horology.

The Rolex GMT Master II “Coke” was introduced in 1983 as the successor to the original GMT Master, which made its debut in 1954. Developed in collaboration with Pan American Airways, the GMT Master was designed for pilots who required a watch capable of tracking multiple time zones simultaneously. The GMT Master II “Coke” (Reference 16760) built upon this functionality, boasting an independent 24-hour hand and a bi-directional bezel that allowed wearers to track three separate time zones.

The nickname “Coke” stems from the watch’s distinctive red and black bezel, reminiscent of the Coca-Cola company’s iconic colors. The vibrant two-tone bezel not only contributes to the timepiece’s unmistakable appearance but also serves a practical purpose. The red and black segments differentiate between day and night hours, enabling wearers to track time zones more intuitively.

Over the years, the Rolex GMT Master II “Coke” has become a popular choice among celebrities and high-profile figures, further cementing its status as a cultural icon. Actors, musicians, and sports stars, such as Clint Eastwood, Orlando Bloom, and Michael Jordan, have all been spotted wearing the timepiece, testifying to its universal appeal.

This timepiece embodies the watch’s celebrated features, from the striking red and black bezel to the robust stainless steel construction. As a testament to the brand’s commitment to precision and durability, this GMT Master II “Coke” promises to impress even the most discerning collectors.

In conclusion, the Rolex GMT Master II “Coke” is a legendary timepiece that perfectly blends practicality, style, and cultural significance. Its fascinating history, unique features, and undeniable allure make it a must-have addition to any watch collection.

Where to buy Rolex watches?

You can find Rolex watches for sale at nearly every one of FORTUNA’s biweekly auctions. We are honored to sell watches from Rolex—one of the greatest brands in the history of the world—and would be thrilled to help you on your journey to build your collection, whether you are a veteran collector or just getting started. 

Register to bid at an upcoming auction today. 

View The Example Featured In This Article
View Other Rolex Watches That Have Sold at FORTUNA

Type IIa D IF 4.07-carat Marquise Diamond

FORTUNA® Ends the Year Strong with Important Estate Diamonds

in Announcements / Media

FORTUNA’s most-anticipated sale of the year, the December Jewels & Watches auction, came to an exciting close on Thursday, December 10, 2020 after nearly a full day of live bidding activity. December’s curated collection offered a wealth of iconic estate jewels, important gemstones, and rare vintage timepieces—giving holiday shoppers the perfect opportunity to surprise their loved ones with one-of-a-kind treasures. In total sales revenue, the December auction sold nearly $1.9 million in jewelry and watches, showing promising signs of the return of consumer confidence in luxury accessories. For full sale results, click here.

Rolex Daytona Ref. 6241 in 14K Gold (Lot 1047, December Jewels & Watches)

Only a year after setting global auction records for a 1991 limited edition Cartier Crash watch, FORTUNA has returned bringing yet another vintage watch rarity to market. Despite being one of the later consigned items of FORTUNA’s over 400-lot catalog, the impressive Rolex Daytona Ref. 6241 in 14K Gold got the bidding attention it deserved. Amassing one of the world’s largest followings in vintage sports watches, the Rolex Daytona is a tour de force of mechanical timepieces. Debuting in 1966, the Ref. 6241 is especially rare for its 14K gold case—only seeing about 3000 examples made in all metals. Opening at auction with a starting bid of $70,000, the price quickly climbed between multiple phone bidders. After a tense final exchange between two phone bidders, the classic timepiece eventually went for a hammer price of $135,000 and a final achieved price of $168,750. 

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Estate Jewels Dazzled at FORTUNA®’s November Sale

in Announcements / Media

NEW YORK, November 13, 2020—FORTUNA’s November Jewels & Watches sale concluded last Thursday, affirming the return of the strength of the fine jewelry and watch market, despite a challenging year for the industry. The NYC-based boutique auction house was extremely well-positioned to tackle the changes in luxury shopping that 2020 has brought by bringing the excitement of an auction completely online. With its state-of-the-art website and growing social media presence, the boutique auction house attracted plenty of new bidders to their autumn auction.

Cartier Rivoli Diamond Bracelet, achieved $25,000 at auction.
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Join Fortuna Online and On Our Mobile App

Message from Our CEO: Join FORTUNA® Online!

in Announcements

Dear Friends, Family and Loyal Supporters,

I am writing you today not just as the CEO of FORTUNA® but as a concerned citizen at a time in which fear and uncertainty has permeated our lives. More importantly, I write you this message out of a sense of responsibility and from a place of confidence, faith, and determination.

Most of our daily lives have completely transformed with the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19); however, we view this situation as an opportunity to step up as leaders in our industry and work together to battle this threat. We will continue to provide a safe, healthy, and exciting experience as we always have, and innovate to adapt to these newly developed circumstances.

Regarding Health & Safety:

At FORTUNA we are taking very specific steps in our efforts to combat this threat and to protect our team and clients. FORTUNA’s NY office is temporarily closed and our entire staff is now working remotely, in compliance with the statewide response to stunt the spread of COVID-19. However, our phone lines are still active and we will attend to all of your calls.

We will continue to closely monitor updates from state and federal authorities, along with guidelines set by the CDC and WHO. If there are any significant changes to our services, we will inform you as soon as possible. To ensure you receive our updates, please subscribe to our mailing list here:


Regarding Future Auctions:

We are still keeping to our 2020 auction schedule and haven’t postponed or cancelled any sales. We encourage you to participate via our state-of-the-art digital bidding platform, either by visiting our auction site or by downloading our free mobile app for iOS or Android. For an instructional video on how to set up and use our app and/or bid online, please click here.

At FORTUNA, we are truly blessed to have a business that can interface with our clientele as effectively through our innovative technology as we can in-person. Whether this is your first time bidding with us remotely or you are one of our many remote international bidders, I am excited to inform you of significant improvements to the ways you can participate in our auctions from the comfort and safety of your home:

  1. We are now including close-up video shots of every lot offered in our online catalog, providing a more realistic view of its general size, what it looks like from multiple angles, and its presence in a room.
  2. We are also pleased to introduce a new service, Virtual Preview, in which you can video chat with our specialists directly for a closer look on lots of interest. To schedule a Virtual Preview with one of our specialists, simply call our office at (212) 389-9040 or email condition@fortunaauction.com.
  3. Everyone interested in the excitement of an auction can watch it streamed live on our website and on our Facebook page on the day of the sale.

Until we are able to open our showroom to the public, we are committed to providing our buyers with every alternative method possible of viewing our auction offerings so that they can bid with confidence.

Regarding Selling with FORTUNA:

While our NY office is still closed, we are still accepting consignments for upcoming auctions. We ask that you contact us in regards to any items of jewelry or watches you are planning to send to our office so that we can provide you with an updated, insured shipping label, to monitor and track the package. If you have any questions about getting started with selling through FORTUNA or you have an ongoing consignment, please contact us at (212)389-9040 or email us at valuation@fortunaauction.com.

Wishing all the best to you and your loved ones! We hope you can join FORTUNA online!

Kind Regards,

Herbert John Saxon, CEO of FORTUNA®

Cartier Crash 1991 Limited Edition - Fortuna December 2019 Important Watches

Record Breaking Cartier Crash Leads Fortuna’s December Sales

in Announcements / Media

NEW YORK, December 16, 2019—Fortuna, the NYC-based auction house specializing in fine jewelry and watches, concluded its final auctions for the year, Important Jewels and Important Watches, achieving over $1.8 million in revenue and setting a world record for the iconic Cartier Crash, one of the most unusual and intriguing watches on the market.

Created in 1967, legend has it that the Cartier Crash, which resembles the melting clocks in Salvador Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory,” was inspired by a timepiece recovered from a scorching car wreck. Reissued in 1991 in a limited edition of only 400 pieces, the rare timepiece is quickly achieving cult-status and has been spotted on the wrists of high profile celebrities, such as a style icon and avid watch collector, Kanye West. Yet, veteran collectors were shocked when the Crash flew by its high estimate of $50,000, achieving $81,250 at the boutique NYC auction house.

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Cartier 6.69ct Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Ring - Fortuna Exchange: February Sale

Fortuna Exchange: February Sale Highlights

in Announcements

NEW YORK, NY— Fortuna Exchange: February Sale was a strong start to a new monthly auction series that Fortuna introduced in 2019, offering collectors a broad range of fine jewelry and watches from celebrated makers across all eras. The Fortuna Exchange was created to provide our sellers greater opportunities per year to sell their assets on a global platform, without the constraints or limitations of consigning their pieces to seasonal sales that are few and far between.

With the addition of regular monthly auctions, alongside our larger signature sales that occur biannually, we are excited to offer our clients a year that is overflowing with rare and exciting fine jewelry and watch offerings.

Estate and Signed Jewelry Lead the Sale

In fine jewelry highlights, signed jewelry performed very strongly—achieving a total sell-through rate by value of 85.4%. In particular, the cover lot, a very fine Cartier 6.69ct Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Ring, prompted a roar of competitive bidding. The property of a New York lady, the finely crafted ring achieved a final price of $65,625, exceeding a pre-sale estimate of $40,000-$50,000. All in all, jewelry by Cartier and Tiffany & Co. drew the attention of bidders across the globe, achieving sell-through rates by value of 81.5% and 84.6% respectively.

A Cartier Unheated Burmese 6.69ct Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Ring. Achieved $65,625 at auction, against a pre-sale estimate of $40,000-$50,000.

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Victorian Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring - Fortuna NYC Fine Jewelry & Watch Auction

Fortuna Achieves Nearly $1.4 Million in Important Jewels Sale

in Announcements

Session Two of Fortuna’s fall auction series witnessed strong bidder activity from a packed showroom and oversea buyers.


On September 27, 2018 Fortuna’s IMPORTANT JEWELS sale, followed Session One: Important Watches, and achieved a total of $1,378,977 in sales revenue, with well over 150 lots selling for exceptionally strong prices. Of the many estate jewelry highlights, the most notable was the cover lot, a stunning rectangular cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire, weighing 4.30-carats, surrounded by eight old mine-cut diamonds, set in an 18K gold Victorian setting. This rare beauty achieved $187,500, against a $150,000-$200,000 estimate.

A rare Victorian 4.30-carat Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring. Achieved $187,500 at auction, against estimate of $150,000-$200,000.


Additional highlights in colored gemstones included an Oscar Heyman & Bros. Sapphire and Diamond Ring, which sold for $40,625 against a pre-sale estimate of $30,000-$40,000, and a Tanzanite and Diamond Platinum Ring, which achieved $22,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $18,000-$25,000.

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Fortuna Hosts Exclusive Cocktail Event with Rolls Royce

in Announcements

Together with Rolls Royce and The Surrey Hotel, Fortuna Hosted an Unforgettable Night Celebrating The Estate of Bo Legendre

On April 12, 2018, Fortuna hosted an intimate cocktail party in partnership with Rolls Royce Motors and The Surrey Hotel, celebrating the life and unparalleled jewelry collection of Bo Legendre at the presidential suite of The Surrey Hotel in New York City.

Fortuna Partners with Rolls Royce Motors for Special Event

Rolls Royce town cars await outside The Surrey Hotel to transport guests to and from Fortuna’s highly anticipated event.

The elegance and understated luxury of one of The Surrey’s finest living spaces provided the perfect atmosphere for guests to lounge and thoughtfully appreciate the stars of the show—a few dozen of the most important offerings from The Estate of Bo Legendre, resting serenely within towering, pristine glass vitrines. Of the rare jewels displayed, some of the most coveted were jewelry pieces designed by the legendary French designer, Suzanne Belperron, and stunning Art Deco Cartier jewels.

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Bo Legendre Estate Sale Achieves Over $1.6M with 100% Sell-Through

in Announcements

Bidding Wars Erupt in a Packed Saleroom for Iconic Pieces from Suzanne Belperron, Verdura, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and More—A Continuation of the Incredible Momentum of the Rapidly Growing Auction House

FORTUNA’s auction of the jewelry collection of Bokara “Bo” Legendre achieved overwhelming success with a sale total of more than $1.6 million, and selling 100% of the lots—a remarkable feat rarely achieved at auction. On April 25, Fortuna hosted The Estate of Bo Legendre in their Fifth Avenue showroom, where a packed room of bidders watched as intense bidding wars erupted over nearly every lot.

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Read about Fortuna in How to Spend It

“Bo” Legendre’s Jewels Go On Sale at FORTUNA

in Media

BY CHRISTINA OHLY EVANS, Financial Times “How To Spend It”

Legendre’s private collection is a tantalising trove of rare gems By Belperron, Verdura and Van Cleef & Arpels.

The late heiress to the Sanford family fortune, Bokara “Bo” Legendre – was an artist, performer, philanthropist, writer and, above all, nonconformist with eclectic and exquisite tastes. So an auction of her jewels is enough to prick up aesthetes’ ears the world over – especially when the lots include a large collection of pieces by French jewellery designer Suzanne Belperron whose rare designs were sought after by the Duchess of Windsor, Christian Dior and, more recently, Karl Lagerfeld. The Bokara Legendre Estate Sale at Fortuna in New York on April 25 will feature a rare selection of Belperron’s sculptural pieces, in addition to gems by Verdura, Van Cleef & Arpels and numerous Art Deco Cartier designs.

[…]

Read full article at Financial Times’s “How To Spend It.”

Forbes: Jewels From The Estate of Bo Legendre Will be Sold At Auction

in Media

BY ANTHONY DEMARCO, FORBES

 

An eclectic collection of signed modern jewels owned by Bokara “Bo” Legendre, the late heiress to the Sanford family fortune, will be sold by Fortuna Auction on April 25.

Belperron "Cambodian" Chalcedony Cuff

Blue chalcedony “Cambodian” cuff accented by bezel-set sapphires by Suzanne Belperron. Its estimate is $100,000 – $150,000

 

Legendre, who died in December 2017, lived a multifaceted life as an actor, painter, spiritual explorer, world traveler and philanthropist, while spending time at homes in New York, Northern California and the family estate in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Her jewels reflected her artistic and eclectic tastes, pursuing pieces from some of the greatest designers and artists in the mid-20th Century. Legendre’s collection shows she favored yellow gold, colorful gems and intricate designs.

[…]

 

Read full article on Forbes.com