3 Answers

https://www.census.gov/population/international/files/cspro/start41.pdf

I'd have to guess that a watch of such importance will attract the interest of Rolex as a bidder. It's no secret the brand has scooped up a few of its historically important watches at auction link over the last few years. Last year, it bought Commander Warren's link GMT-Master ref. 6542 at Sotheby's, one of the more expensive results we've seen for a vintage GMT-Master (Marlon Brando's bezel-less GMT link still sets the pace, having now sold twice).

Karl Lagerfeld was once asked in an issue of Architectural Digest whether he was particularly obsessed with any design objects. His link answer as translated in this 2019 thread on WatchProSite cited the Royal Oak as a "fetish object" for him and the watch he's "worn for 35 years." For what it's worth it appears the link watch highlighted in the WatchProSite thread linked above is identical to the one Phillips is auctioning link off they have identical bracelet numbers.