In the late 1950s, Rolex commissioned a young Swiss designer, Gérald Genta, to create an exceptional jewelry watch for its most discerning clientele. The result exceeded all expectations. Inspired by the mythology and architecture of ancient Greece, the King Midas was launched in 1962 and immediately became the most expensive and heaviest watch in the Rolex catalog – and one of the most audacious ever produced by the brand. Many years before designing the Royal Oak for Audemars Piguet (1972) and then the Nautilus for Patek Philippe (1976), Genta had already laid the foundations of his signature style with the King Midas: a sculptural case with strong geometry, complemented by an integrated metal bracelet.
The watch's name refers to King Midas of Phrygia, who, according to myth, turned everything his left hand touched into gold. It is precisely this legend that dictates the crown's position at 9 o'clock – on the left side. The serrated crown evokes the sun atop Mount Olympus, while the asymmetrical pentagonal case recalls the silhouette of the Parthenon in Athens; the deep grooves in the integrated bracelet represent its columns. Entirely hand-sculpted from a solid block of 18-carat gold by highly skilled goldsmiths, each King Midas is a unique piece: the weight and finish vary slightly from one watch to another.
Reference 9630 was the first – and at the time the only – numbered and limited series in Rolex history. Fewer than 800 examples were produced between 1962 and 1972, approximately 144 in white gold and the remainder in yellow gold. This limited production, combined with a price tag significantly higher than that of a Day-Date, reserved the King Midas for an elite group of discerning individuals. Famous owners included Elvis Presley (no. 343), who received his after his concerts at the Houston Astrodome in 1970, and John Wayne (no. 557).
The example we are pleased to offer bears production number 058 – making it one of the very first examples manufactured. Its Rolex serial number (842xxx) places its production in 1962-1963, right from the model's launch. This incredibly early status is reflected in a notable and sought-after feature: the absence of the "KING MIDAS" inscription engraved on the side of the case, on both sides of the "saw-like" crown. This engraving was only introduced from approximately the 250th example onwards. The case sides of our example are therefore smooth and untouched – a marker of age appreciated by the most discerning collectors.
The solid gold champagne dial bears the inscriptions "Rolex" at 12 o'clock and "Cellini" at 6 o'clock, followed by "SWISS." This is presumably not the dial originally supplied with the watch, which featured the word "ΜΙΔAΣ" (Midas in Greek letters), but a Cellini version fitted by Rolex during a service – a common practice during the transition from the King Midas collection to the Cellini line in the mid-1970s. This Rolex dial is completely authentic and in superb condition. The gold baton hands are original.
The case and integrated bracelet are in impressive condition. The watch has almost certainly never been polished: the brushed/satin and mirror-polished surfaces are clearly defined, and the edges of the pentagonal case are sharp. Having remained within the same French family for decades without being worn, this King Midas possesses a remarkable aesthetic feature: the 18-carat yellow gold has developed, notably between the bracelet links, a superb surface patina with bluish, purplish, and coppery iridescence. This natural, multicolored oxidation, evidence of decades of undisturbed rest, gives the watch a unique character and singular beauty that only time can produce.
The integrated solid gold bracelet is complete and terminates with the model's characteristic double-folding clasp, adorned with Rolex crowns on either side and engraved "King Midas by Rolex of Geneva" on the inside. The sapphire crystal – one of the very first used by Rolex, well before its widespread adoption on sports models – is in perfect condition.
At the heart of the watch beats the Rolex Calibre 650, a hand-wound movement based on the Frédéric Piguet Calibre 21 ébauche. This ultra-thin movement, developed as early as 1925 and used under various names by the most prestigious watchmakers (Patek Philippe Calibre 175, Vacheron Constantin Calibre 1003, Cartier Calibre 21, etc.), is only 1.8 mm thick – a technical feat that allows the King Midas to maintain a remarkably slim profile despite its 183 grams. The Calibre 650, with its 17 jewels, beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour and offers approximately 42 hours of power reserve. It has been fully serviced by one of our experienced watchmakers and is in perfect working order.
With its avant-garde architectural design, ultra-limited production, Genta pedigree, and exceptional ultra-thin movement, the King Midas ref. 9630 occupies a unique place in Rolex history. Our example, number 058, one of the very first produced, in remarkable condition and displaying the multi-colored patina that only decades can provide, represents an exceptional opportunity for the collector seeking a truly extraordinary timepiece.
