ROLEX | KING MIDAS, REF.4315, A RARE LEFT HANDED YELLOW GOLD BRACELET WATCH WITH GREEK LETTERS "ΜΙΔAΣ" DIAL, CIRCA 1976

Footnotes

In Greek mythology, King Midas of Phrygia craved boundless wealth, beseeching Dionysus for a gift that turned all he touched to shimmering gold. Feasts became inedible ingots, roses lifeless sculptures, and even his beloved daughter a tragic statue, a divine curse revealing the peril of unchecked avarice. This timeless fable of hubris and allure inspired one of Rolex's most enigmatic creations: the Ref. 4315 King Midas, a 1976 masterpiece in 18k yellow gold that embodies opulence and an era of bold designs from the era.

Crafted as a limited-edition dress watch, the reference 4315 dazzles with its asymmetrical tonneau case, left-handed crown alignment, integrated flat-link bracelet, and manual-wind Calibre 651 ticking beneath a golden sunburst dial. At just 7mm thick, the timepiece offers a sleek and sophisticated look on the wrist. Yet its design is far more steeped in horological history than most casual observers will realize. Enter Gérald Genta, the prodigious designer whose pre-Audemars Piguet genius (Royal Oak, Nautilus) first bloomed here in 1961 with the original King Midas. For the Ref. 4315 evolution, Genta channeled the Parthenon temple's majestic pediment: tilt the watch crown-up on its side, and the case's undulating silhouette mirrors the ancient Greek icon, a nod to architectural divinity. This avant-garde asymmetry, bold for Rolex's conservative canon, fused mythic symbolism with modernist flair, proving Genta's alchemy in turning steel-cold precision into golden legend.

While technically considered a Cellini, the iconic "Midas" signature on the dial evokes earlier model, thus truly cementing the reference 4315 as a transitional timepiece in the history of the Rolex King Midas collection. The current lot, in excellent condition, stands as a tribute to a time when Rolex, through the influence of Genta, was bold in their designs and aesthetics.