This Ultra-Rare Rolex Is in Unworn Condition—And It’s For Sale

If you’re familiar with the Rolex King Midas, you know just how strange and historically significant this watch really is. But for those unfamiliar: this is not your typical Rolex. The King Midas ref. 9630 was a completely left-field experiment when it launched in 1962—ultra-thin, fully integrated, and made entirely of solid gold. It was the heaviest gold watch in the world at the time, with the heftiest price tag in Rolex’s catalog. In 1970—the earliest year I could find an exact retail price—the King Midas 9630 sold for $2,500, or about $20,000 adjusted for inflation.

Rolex King Midas ref. 9630 Sold in 2016. Image Source: Phillips Watches

Despite its distinctive design and overall opulence, people didn’t care much about this watch when it first launched. That has certainly changed.

Today, early King Midas examples are finally being treated like what they are: rare, early, numbered limited editions (a Rolex first), complete with cultural cachet (from Elvis to Rihanna), sapphire crystal innovation, and a design that still doesn’t look like anything else Rolex has ever made. Which brings us to the example you’re looking at here.

Probably the Cleanest King Midas 9630 We’ve Ever Seen

Unworn Rolex King Midas ref. 9630. Image Source: Plus Ultra

This first-series ref. 9630, offered by independent Swiss dealer group Plus Ultra (though I found it on Pushers.io, the pre-owned marketplace founded by Mike Nouveau), is about as close to untouched as it gets. The watch is listed as unworn, and the photos seem to back that up. The original 9630 caseback sticker is still present. The sharp edges, brushed finishing, and bracelet geometry all look pristine. The case-side engraving—“King Midas,” carved into the top of the architectural pediment—is still crisp. The oxidization, particularly around the clasp, suggests the watch has never been polished (see below).

Unworn Rolex King Midas ref. 9630. Image Source: Plus Ultra

It also comes with the full amphora-shaped presentation box, which is rarer than it should be considering how many of these watches were melted down for scrap decades ago.

For a long time, the King Midas wasn’t viewed as a particularly collectible Rolex. When we published our original article in 2023, someone commented about owning a first-series Midas since 1987. They paid over $11,000 at the time but never wore it, calling it a “boat anchor” back then… and again today, 36 years later. But right beneath that, someone else replied: “That’s amazing. Would you sell this to me?”

That shift in perception—between what this watch was and what it’s becoming—is exactly what makes this listing so compelling.

A Premium Example, Priced Accordingly

Unworn Rolex King Midas ref. 9630. Image Source: Plus Ultra

This example is listed at CHF 110,000 (about $135,000), and while that’s a high number, it reflects both the rarity and condition. Most 9630s that surface on the market today are worn, polished, and/or missing accessories. At the time of publishing, the lowest asking price I can find online is $60,000. That example is solid, but clearly worn and well-loved, with visible scratches to show for it.

So yes, this unworn example is expensive. But it’s also something close to a time capsule—an original, untouched piece of Rolex history that survived decades of being overlooked, undervalued, and—in many cases—literally melted down.

If you want the full backstory on what makes the King Midas ref. 9630 so important (and strange, and polarizing), you can read our deep dive here. But if you already know—and you’ve been waiting for the right one to come up? This might be it.