Few watches reveal the quieter, more experimental side of Rolex quite like the King Midas. Long before the Crown became synonymous with near-universal icons, Rolex was willing to test the boundaries of form, proportion, and ornament—nowhere more boldly than with the Cellini King Midas 4620.
Produced in extraordinarily limited numbers—just nine known examples—the reference 4620 occupies a rarefied position within Rolex history. It is not a watch designed for consensus. Instead, it reflects a moment when the maison explored design as a statement rather than a standard.
Crafted in white gold, the King Midas 4620 departs decisively from Rolex’s familiar round language. Its rectangular case is architectural and assertive, embracing a geometry more closely associated with mid-century modernism than tool-watch pragmatism. The proportions are deliberate, the presence unmistakable.
What elevates the piece further is its restrained yet striking use of gemstones. A silver ribbed dial sits between two rows of oversized baguette-cut sapphires, set along the upper and lower edges of the case. Rather than overwhelming the design, the stones act as framing elements—adding depth and refinement while preserving the watch’s graphic clarity.
The integrated mesh bracelet completes the composition. Fluid and finely executed, it reinforces the sense that the watch was conceived as a single object rather than a case-and-strap pairing. Comfort and elegance coexist here, underscored by crisp hallmarks that affirm both authenticity and craftsmanship.
Within the broader Rolex canon, the King Midas has always existed at the margins—overshadowed by sport models that would later define the brand’s global identity. Within the broader Rolex canonYet it is precisely this marginality that makes the reference so compelling today. It represents Rolex unencumbered by expectation, operating in a realm where design experimentation took precedence over ubiquity.
With market values hovering around the low–mid five figures, the King Midas 4620 remains one of the most accessible gateways into Rolex’s rarest design language. For collectors, it offers something increasingly scarce: a Rolex that feels genuinely singular.
The King Midas is not about status signaling or instant recognition. It is about understanding that even the most disciplined watchmakers occasionally allow themselves moments of audacity—and that those moments, decades later, often become the most revealing.
