Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 08, 2015

LOT 280

ROLEX REF. 18148 GURU OSHO'S CUSTOMIZED DAY-DATE DIAMOND & RUBY YELLOW GOLD Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, Day-Date, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified", case No. 8652207, Ref. 18148/18000. Made in 1984. Fine and exotic, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold center-seconds wristwatch partially aftermarket set with diamonds and rubies and a non-Rolex 18K yellow gold bracelet set with 31 carats of white diamonds with concealed clasp. Accompanied by a Rolex box, invoice to the present owner from the F.O.M. Foundation, Vaduz, dated 1990 and photographs of the watch being worn by Osho.

CHF 30,000 - 50,000

HKD 240,000 - 400,000 / USD 31,000 - 52,000

Sold: CHF 40,000

Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, the bezel set with alternating rubies and diamonds, diamond-set lugs, screw-down case back and crown, sapphire crystal with cyclops lens. Bracelet set with large square-cut, baguette and brilliant cut diamonds. Matte gold with applied yellow gold ruby-set indexes, inner circle of diamonds, outer minute track with Roman numerals , apertures for the day of the week (blocked with a ruby and diamond- set gold panel) and date. Luminous yellow gold baton hands. Cal. 3035, rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 27 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions and temperature, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-8-31

Good

Slightly scratched

Transformations
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-8-30-01

Good

Slightly scratched

Alterations

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 36 mm. THICKNESS 13 mm. Approx. overall length 190 mm. This exotic and flamboyant ROLEX was specially customized for the Indian mystic and spiritual guru BHAGWAN SHREE RAJNEESH known as OSHO. It was bought by the present owner in February 1990 from the F.O.M. Foundation. The watch head reference 18148 was factory made with gem-set bezel, however the shoulders of the lugs are aftermarket set. The dial is interesting because Osho instructed his jeweler to further set the dial with rubies and diamonds and at the same time to block the window for the day of the week as he had no interest in knowing what day of the week it was!. The watch and lavish non-Rolex bracelet is set with 290 brilliant cut diamonds, 63 single cut diamonds and 52 square cut diamonds all with a total WEIGHT of 31 carats. Formerly the property of Indian mystic guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh known as "Osho" CHANDRA MOHAN JAIN (1931-1990), known as ACHARYA RAJNEESH in the 1960s, BHAGWAN SHREE RAJNEESH in the 1970s and 80s and finally OSHO from 1989 is generally considered one of the most controversial spiritual leaders to have emerged from India during the 20th century. His message of sexual, emotional, spiritual and institutional liberation and the pleasure he derived in causing offence ensured that his life was surrounded by controversy. His international following has continued after his death. By the late 1970s and with tensions mounting against him in India he relocated to the United States in 1981. He and his followers established an international community in Oregon which became known as Rajneeshpuram. Osho was also notorious for his fleet of 93 ROLLS ROYCE motor cars bought for him by his followers and this attracted much criticism. Rajneesh's ashram in Pune is today known as the OSHO INTERNATIONAL MEDITATION RESORT. His teachings emphasise the importance of meditation, awareness, love, celebration, courage, creativity and humour: qualities which he viewed as suppressed by adherence to static belief systems, religious tradition and socialisation. Rajneesh's teachings have had a notable influence on Western spirituality, as well as New Age thought. Their popularity has increased since his death.