Rolex Princess Midas

God save the… Princess! Rarer than rare, this piece is the female counterpart to Rolex’s bossy ‘70s BDE-infused King Midas (which you may be familiar with, after seeing Rihanna wear a customized version). The Princess is smaller but just as sharp and full of swagger, which may have something to do with the fact that she's made out of solid 18 carat white gold. WHITE HOT. 

THE BASICS

Rolex Queen Midas reference 9903

DATE OF BIRTH: 1961

MATERIAL: Solid eighteen carat white gold

SIZE: 19mm

MOVEMENT: Manual wind 

CONDITION: Light scratches, worn but unpolished. Bracelet is tight throughout. Dial original

BOX/PAPERS: No/No

THE NITTY GRITTY:

A solid eighteen carat white gold Rolex "Princess Midas" manual wind wristwatch. Love it or hate it, this watch is very difficult to ignore. It is essentially an amazing bracelet made from a chunk of solid gold, which the famed Gérald Genta had a hand in designing. The quality of the make and the richness in construction speaks for itself. The design may seem like a child of the 1970's; however, the King, Queen and Princess Midas first appeared in a Rolex catalog as early as 1962. Given its very bold and daring design, especially when compared to every other model that Rolex was launching or running in their line at this time, the watch must have appeared to have come from another planet.

Given the lavish name, the watch is a very hefty study in gold work. The fully integrated and masterfully made bracelet melds seamlessly into the asymmetric case beautifully. This rare version found in white gold looks so eye-catching on the wrist, it is hard to distinguish from a gold bracelet.

At the time, the watch was essentially out of reach for most watch buyers. Coming in  at 50% more than the then most expensive watch in the Rolex collection, the Day-Date, the advertising was equally unabashed:

"Never before - a watch so daringly new, so outrageously different, so harmoniously classical. Named after the legendary king with the golden touch, sculpted from a block of solid 18ct gold, the King Midas is a watch designed for the most discriminating people in the world. Each watch is a wonderfully solid mass of gold, very, very heavy and ...very, very expensive."

It enjoyed celebrity status, with Elvis Presley being presented one on 1970. The King for the King! This example is from 1971, entering the market just after Elvis wore his.  It was also on the wrist of the "Duke", John Wayne... Two impossibly bold and iconic men of their time would think to wear nothing else.

This present example is in good, original condition throughout, having been worn, but not carelessly. The bracelet is as tight as the day it was made. On the underside is the unique, hand engraved number; with only one thousand having been made, this one is in the third quarter of its production. The hand stamped model and reference numbers are opposite on the other side of the bracelet. This was quite special for Rolex, as only the 5100 Oyster Quartz was to be given a hand engraved issue number.

The dial itself is a sheet of white gold featuring an applied white gold Rolex coronet, and the Midas name spelled out in Greek script, with "Swiss" this time not in the customary six o'clock position, but stacked below the Rolex name. The dial is very clean, and in perfect untouched condition. Another interesting and unique feature to this watch is the hand engraving of King and Queen Midas into the side of the case, flanking the unique saw blade crown. This is not found on these early versions, but rather found only on the Cellini made later version.

The movement is a seventeen jewel, manual wind caliber, adjusted to five positions, also in superb condition and working perfectly. As touched upon earlier, the tapered integrated bracelet is a work of art and is almost manacle-like in its feel on the wrist.  The clasp is also unique to this watch with an unfolding mechanism from the center revealing a stainless steel centerpiece, surrounded by two, more sturdy pieces of stainless steel – all original and all signed. Once snapped into place, a Rolex coronet covers the seam on both sides. It is very interesting to note that stamped onto the inside of this deployant part is the words “PRINCESS MIDAS BY ROLEX OF GENEVA." 

This exceptional watch is certainly not for everyone. But, in the world of Rolex collecting, surely this most expensive, and perhaps outlandish watch ever created deserves its place upon the throne of brand history. This example falls to having been made circa late 1961, making it one of the first pieces to come out of the factory.