Rolex

Sometimes a watch is not just a watch – it’s a trophy, and it becomes treasured as such. That is certainly the case of this 1981 Rolex Submariner. It was awarded to Cynthia Nicholas in 1981 for her record crossing of the English Channel. It’s only fitting that she would have been awarded a Rolex, as it was Rolex that swimmer Mercedes Gleitze wore in 1927 on her crossing of the English Channel which proved that the Rolex Oyster case was waterproof. However, Mercedes’ crossing took over 10 hours – and Cynthia did it in 8 hours and 29 minutes. No small feat.

Cynthia Nicholas was a truly remarkable swimmer –completing the cross-channel swim on 19 occasions and becoming the first woman ever successfully to complete a two-way swim in 1977. Not only was she the first woman to do it in 1977, but she beat the existing record by over 10 hours upon completion. On her 1981 crossing, she set a blistering fast speed from England to France of just 8 hours and 29 minutes for which she was awarded this Rolex Submariner, but not being content – she rested and swim back to England the following day doing the entire round trip in just 22 hours and 21 minutes. While it was not her fastest round trip – it was her fastest single crossing.

Cynthia’s fastest round trip swim would be the following year in 1982 in 18 hours and 55 minutes, as mentioned when we began – Cynthia Nicholas was truly remarkable. As if her swimming wasn’t enough, she was elected to the Canadian Parliament, served her country from 1987 to 1990, and practiced law after her political career. Her Rolex Submariner just sat in its box, though, like the trophy that it was. While you would wear a wristwatch, you wouldn’t wear a trophy. Maybe look at it occasionally, regale your friends and family with the story of how you came to win it – but certainly not wear it. As such, this Rolex Submariner is perhaps one of the finest preserved examples we have ever seen. Beyond the luminous material having turned a beautiful cream color, it shows only very light signs of wear or aging – all evidence pointing to the fact that Cynthia Nicholas did treat this as a trophy locked up in its box.

We are thrilled to present this exceptional watch with its unique pedigree for auction this season.