HH Magazine

Texte disponible uniquement en anglais - Geneva - Christie's, the undisputed auction market leader for watches, is proud to announce a superb auction in Geneva on 10 May 2010. With 370 lots, over 100 of which are offered without reserve, the Important Watches including A Connoisseur’s Vision Part II sale is likely to be the key event of the spring European calendar and is expected to realise in the region of CHF 12 millions / € 8 millions / US$ 11 millions.

Aurel Bacs, International Co-Head of the Watch Department: “Following the extraordinary success of Christie’s last November Watch Auction in Geneva - the highest sale total for any watch sale worldwide in 2009, we are proud to present to international collectors one of the richest and most appealing catalogues we have ever been able to offer. The auction is highlighted by A Connoisseur’s Vision Part II, a group of fourteen of the rarest Patek Philippe watches from one of the finest collections still in private hands, and also includes some of the most sought after pieces made by top manufacturers such as Rolex, A. Lange & Söhne, F.P. Journe and Greubel Forsey, among others. Among the attractive pocket watches featured in this sale, a unique presentation watch, made upon request for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the “Dream King”, will impress collectors”.

A Connoisseur’s Vision Part II

In November 2009 Christie’s Geneva offered a group of ten masterpieces by Patek Philippe from one of the most distinguished private collections in the world which sold 100% and totalled CHF 4.9 million, against a pre-sale estimate of CHF 3-4 million. Following this impressive result, Christie’s has now for the second time the pleasure to offer fourteen exceptional watches from the same European collection, forming the core of this May’s auction and designated as “A Connoisseur’s Vision Part II”. This exceptional selection of vintage Patek Philippe watches is estimated to fetch a total of CHF 4-6 millions and is highlighted by a true historical rarity: the unique Patek Philippe ref. 1527 with perpetual calendar and chronograph, considered by both scholars and collectors as one of the most important, beautiful and valuable watches still in private hands. Offered on the market for the first time in over two decades, this chef-d’oeuvre is estimated at CHF 1.5-2.5 million / US$ 1.5-2.4 million / € 1.1-1.7 million.)

Part of the same section is the ultra-rare Patek Philippe ref. 2597 in rose gold, also known as the “travel time” (estimate: CHF 350,000-500,000 / US$ 340,000-480,000 / € 250,000­340,000.) This exclusive example, fitted with two hour hands that indicate the local time of two different locations, was created in the 1950s for the so-called jetsetters, the first private travellers that could afford to fly on jet airplanes. Much to the manufacturer’s disappointment, the model didn’t become a commercial success at the time and it was consequentially produced in a very limited series. Pink gold examples are the even rarer and only a handful of them are known to have survived. Another highlight of this collection is the Patek Philippe stainless steel chronograph ref. 130, with exclusive Breguet numerals, one of the most seductive designs of all times offered with an estimate of CHF 80,000­140,000 / US$ 77,000-130,000 / € 56,000-96,000. Also included are chronographs of various shapes and case materials, as well as examples with perpetual calendars, world time and travel time mechanisms, with estimates starting from CHF 40,000.

The Grand Vintages - Patek Philippe

This extraordinary sale furthermore features a highly appealing array of rare Patek Philippe wristwatches dating from the 1930s to the beginning of the 21st century, such as the 1937 ref. 96 Calatrava model, characterised by a triple calendar and moon phases. A museum quality piece, this historical wristwatch was made in less than ten examples out of which only seven are known to have survived and less than half of these are still in private hands. The present model comes from a distinguished European private collection and is estimated at CHF 600,000-900,000 / US$ 580,000-860,000.

Signature rarities - The Rolex Section

The rich selection of Rolex wristwatches truly expresses the DNA of the renowned Swiss maison, traditionally associated with sports watches and chronographs. Sourced from various important private collections, many of these watches come to the market for the first time ever. The highlight of this section is one of the most beautiful examples of the Datocompax series, a rose gold ref. 6036 made in 1956 for the Italian market (estimate: CHF 200,000­300,000 / US$ 200,000-290,000.) Another sensational discovery is the previously unrecorded chronograph ref. 4537 in stainless steel with an exceedingly rare black lacquer dial. In production for six months only in 1946, it was the first Rolex chronograph with a twelve hour register fitted in the famous Oyster case (estimate: CHF 80,000-140,000 / US$ 77,000-130,000.)

For the passionate collector of Rolex diverse watches, Christie’s is proud to offer the mythical “Polipetto” Sea-Dweller ref. 16600 (Polipetto: Italian for little octopus.) Produced in 2008 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Italian State Police Diving Unit in only 78 pieces, displaying their logo, the “polipetto”, this is the first example of this peculiar and very rare model to appear be offered at auction (estimate: CHF 40,000-60,000 / US$ 39,000­57,000.) The last ‘scoop’ of this section is the copy N° 0 of “Ultimate Rolex Daytona”, a prototype of what is going to be the world’s most exclusive book dedicated to this subject. This brand-new ‘Rolex Bible’, on preview during the days before our May sale, will be offered for charity without reserve, despite its commercial value of €4.000.

Pocket watches - The Dream King

The wonderful section dedicated to antique pocket watches includes some of the most beautiful and rare pieces and is highlighted by a lavishly decorated gold and enamel pocket watch made for King Ludwig of Bavaria, also know as the ‘Dream King’ or the ‘Fairy Tale King’ (estimate: CHF 25,000-35,000 / US$ 24,000-33,000.) King Ludwig lived a surreal life, was the patron of the celebrated German composer Richard Wagner and commissioned some of the most imaginative and archetypical castles ever built in the world. The pocket watch on sale at Christie’s Geneva was probably manufactured by one of the King’s Munich-based jeweller and displays a gem set initial “L” as well as his family coat of arms.

Contemporary appeal

A ‘who’s who’ of horology, Christie’s Geneva sale presents a large number of ultra-rare modern creations of the haute horlogerie: from A. Lange & Söhne to J.F. Journe, to Urwerk and, most notably, Greubel Forsey. Manufactured by the latter, “Invention Piece 1”, is a fine white gold limited edition 3-day double tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, made in only eleven examples in 2005 and considered to be the manufacturer’s signature piece (estimate: CHF 250,000-350,000 / US$ 240,000-330,000.) Aiming to fulfil the dreams of the most demanding watch scholars and museums, as well as those of watch lovers and young collectors, Christie’s will also offer a wide selection of quality models whose estimates start from CHF 1,000, with more than one hundred lots offered without reserve. ■

See the online catalogue

Auction
Monday, May 10, 2010
Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues
33, quai des Bergues - Geneva
www.christies.com

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