Rolex King Midas Ref.9630 — The Mythic 18K Monobloc Sculpture of Time

“THE GOLDEN SCULPTURE THAT TOLD TIME.”

A Rolex so radical that the world mistook it for a piece of modern art.
A creation worn by Elvis Presley, re-discovered by Rihanna, and designed by the legendary Gérald Genta—the father of the Royal Oak and Nautilus.

Forged from a single monobloc of 18K gold, numbering under 1,000 pieces, the Rolex King Midas Ref.9630 is not merely a watch—
it is a cultural artifact, an objet d’art, a financial instrument, and a wearable museum relic.

This specimen, preserved with Japan Rolex OH documentation, represents the pinnacle of rarity, desirability, and long-term investment.

📝 DESCRIPTION 

The Rolex KING MIDAS Ref.9630 is one of the most enigmatic and artistically ambitious watches ever produced.
Created between 1964–1973, with production believed to total 799–1000 pieces, it stands as Rolex’s first true limited edition, and one of the very few models ever produced in numbered sequence.

A Watch Carved From Mythology

Inspired by King Midas, the Greek monarch whose touch transformed everything into gold, the design is an ode to ancient sculpture and architectural asymmetry.
The slanted “temple door” dial placement and horizontally grooved case sides echo Hellenistic columns, turning the watch into a miniature sculpture echoing ancient Greece.

Every surface of this watch was carved from a single solid block of 18K Yellow Gold — a process so expensive and difficult that Rolex never repeated it.

At 176 grams and with its unmistakable asymmetrical outline, the King Midas Ref.9630 feels more like a museum artifact than a commercial watch.

The Genta Genius

Although Rolex rarely credits external designers, period archives and industry consensus confirm that the watch bears the creative fingerprints of Gérald Genta — the same brilliant mind behind:

• Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

• Patek Philippe Nautilus

• IWC Ingenieur

• Omega Constellation Manhattan

King Midas predates these icons.
It is the seed of Genta’s design revolution, crafted long before the Royal Oak’s birth.

The Celebrity Legacy — Elvis, Rihanna, Rock Royalty

Few watches can claim a celebrity lineage like this one.

• Elvis Presley owned and wore the King Midas.

• His personal Midas is displayed today in the Graceland Museum, photographed endlessly by collectors.

• Rihanna, a modern cultural icon, has worn the same model, further elevating its desirability among a new generation of collectors.

This is a watch that transcends time periods, cultures, and markets.

Investment Trajectory — From Niche to Blue-Chip Asset

Auction results over the last decade show a dramatic appreciation:

• 2010s market: ¥1,000,000–¥1,500,000

• 2020s surge: ¥3,000,000–¥5,000,000

• Current international market: ¥8,000,000–¥13,000,000+ depending on condition

• Celebrity-provenanced or mint specimens: ¥15,000,000–¥30,000,000

The King Midas has entered the category of art-investment watches, similar to:

• Patek 3448

• AP Royal Oak A-series

• Cartier Crash

• Genta prototypes

The supply is frozen.
Demand is accelerating.
Its trajectory is the same as rare sculpture or fine art — a permanently shrinking pool of surviving specimens.

🌟 HIGHLIGHTS & FEATURES 

• Ultra-rare Rolex King Midas Ref.9630, early numbered production

• Believed production: 799–1000 pieces worldwide

• Case carved from a single monobloc of 18K Yellow Gold

• Weight: 176g (heft of a solid gold bracelet)

• Asymmetric sculptural case inspired by Greek temples

• Designed under the influence of Gérald Genta

• Owned/worn historically by Elvis Presley, worn by Rihanna today

• Japanese OH papers + international service documentation

• Original Rolex presentation elements included

• A true collectible art object, not merely a timepiece

🔍 ITEM DETAILS

• Brand: Rolex

• Model: King Midas Ref.9630

• Material: 18K Yellow Gold (monobloc)

• Movement: Manual wind

• Weight: Approx. 176g

• Bracelet Circumference: ~19cm

• Dial: Signature minimalist gold tone

• Accessories:

  • Japan Rolex OH / overhaul papers (Dec 2023)

  • International guarantee card

  • Original carrying case

  • Green Rolex documentation

  • Roger Lecoeur engraving confirmed (jewelry atelier)

🧭 CONDITION REPORT

• Light age-consistent handling marks

• Recently serviced at Rolex Japan

• Bracelet integrity excellent

• Dial clean with no moisture presence

• Case edges sharp; engraving crisp

• No functional issues; winding smooth

Overall Condition: A–AB (Investment Grade)

💎 WHY COLLECTORS WANT THIS PIECE

• One of the most undervalued Rolex art pieces historically

• Genta-designed object with museum presence

• Celebrity lineage adds cultural and historical premium

• Ultra-low production + no modern equivalent

• Solid-gold monobloc construction irreplicable today

• Proven long-term value appreciation

• Considered a holy grail for art-watch collectors

🏛️ BRAND HERITAGE

Rolex rarely creates radical experimental designs — but when they do, the results become legends.
The King Midas stands alongside the Daytona “Paul Newman,” the Stella dials, and the gold OysterQuartz as one of the maison’s artistic deviations that evolved into cult masterpieces.

It is the only Rolex model directly inspired by Greek mythology, and one of the few produced in numbered sequence.

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