Two very different artifacts—one from the gilded halls of power in the 1970s and the other from the ancient shores of Butuan—are set to headline Leon Gallery’s Mid-Year Auction, each telling its own story about prestige, influence, and the value of legacy.
The first is a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date in 18-karat yellow gold, bearing an unusual mark: the engraved signature of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Beyond its craftsmanship and rarity, the timepiece is steeped in political lore. For decades, whispers have circulated about how Marcos distributed Rolex watches to his closest allies, a token of loyalty and an unmistakable symbol of belonging to the innermost circle of power.
Leon Gallery describes the watch as having come from a confidante of Marcos himself, making it not just a luxury item but a relic of an era marked by both opulence and authoritarianism. In their words, “It is more than a timepiece—it is a physical reminder of a period that reshaped Philippine society, remembered with both pride and pain.”
But the Marcos-era Rolex is not the only artifact drawing attention. Sharing the spotlight is a Butuan dagger with a gold hilt, a rare survival from the 10th to 13th centuries when gold was not merely adornment but a marker of wealth, power, and spiritual belief.
Chroniclers such as Antonio Pigafetta once remarked on the abundance of gold in the islands—earrings, ornaments, even teeth were adorned with the metal. Local rulers flaunted their wealth through regalia, burial masks, and ritual weapons, linking gold not only to prestige but also to life and death.
The dagger, therefore, is a cultural touchstone: a glimpse into the artistry and societal values of pre-colonial Filipinos, a time when local kingdoms rivaled their Asian neighbors in wealth and sophistication.
Placed side by side, these two objects could not be more different in origin, yet they share a common theme: both embody how power is displayed, whether through the glittering gift of a dictator to his allies or the golden craftsmanship of a pre-colonial chiefdom.
For collectors, the upcoming auction is more than a chance to own rare items—it is an invitation to hold in one’s hands fragments of history that shaped identity, influence, and authority across centuries.