Three Rolex Watches From the Collection of British Balloonist Julian Nott Offered for Sale

Three Rolex watches presented to Julian Nott, a British scientist who set 79 world records in balloon flight during his lifetime, will highlight an upcoming auction by Heritage Auctions in New York Two of the timepieces were worn by Nott during his two record-setting exploits in 1974 and 1979 "These watches, consigned directly from the Nott family, have never been seen publicly, or sold before," he says.

Pioneering balloon flight in 1969, Nott not only reached new frontiers in ballooning, in terms of altitudes reached and distances covered, but he was also instrumental to advancing technology in areas such as the use of solar power and flying in extreme temperatures 1655 Explorer II, which Nott wore during his flight over Bhopal, India, at a record-setting elevation of 45,836 feet, is housed in a 40mm stainless steel three-body case In 1979, Nott rose above Colorado at a record height of 55,134 feet wearing the Rolex Ref.

The Rolex watch Nott was awarded in 1984 features a 36mm case of stainless steel and gold, a champagne dial with applied gold hour markers and a gold luminous baton. . Source