Geneva, Switzerland – Reported by Elite Traveler, the Private Jet Lifestyle Magazine
Antiquorum’s weekend sale of “Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, Pocket Watches, Clocks and Horological Tools”, held at the Grand Hotel Kempinski in Geneva, concluded with an exceptional result of CHF 7’022’000. Of the 466 lots offered at auction, 83% were sold representing 110% by value.
The auction enjoyed lively telephone and Internet bidding in addition to room bidding that came from across the globe including the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Italy, China and Switzerland.
A world-record was achieved for a unique Patek Philippe enamel dome clock “Le Tour du Monde de Magellan” Ref. 797 E (lot 231) which sold to an Asian collector for an impressive CHF 174’000 after very intense bidding over the phone.
“We are thrilled by the excellent results obtained today for our first auction of the season in Geneva”, said William Rohr, COO & Managing Director, “We are especially pleased with the world record achieved for the unique clock from Patek Philippe, «Le Tour du Monde de Magellan» which raised a lot of enthusiasm among the collectors”.
Very sought-after Patek Philippe references obtained outstanding prices, starting with the Ref. 1518, 1st series in pink gold (lot 438) that sold for CHF 420’000, followed by the Ref. 5004P (lot 230) in platinum, which achieved CHF 246’000 and the Ref. 5004R (lot 466) in pink gold selling for CHF 222’000. Another highly collectible Patek Philippe, the Ref. 5050 P (lot 461) in platinum went to an American for CHF 124’800 after aggressive bidding over the phone. Finally, the Ref. 3970 EG, considered a true classic by collectors, attained notable prices with the version in white gold (lot 228) selling for CHF 103’200 while the version in pink gold (lot 464) went for CHF 98’400 and the yellow gold model was acquired for CHF 91’200.
Very rare pocket watches raised a lot of interest, especially within the Asian region with the Zenith Carillon Grande Sonnerie and Minute-Repeating Clockwatch (lot 183) that reached an impressive CHF 48’000 and the Louis Audemars King Umberto I of Italy Presentation (lot 85) that sold for CHF 40’800.
« It is further interesting to notice that the biggest growing segment of watch collectors in the world is now China a growing force that will have to be reckoned with within the watch auction world» commented Julien Schaerer, Watch Director & Auctioneer.
The Rolex diving watches also did very well, with the Rolex Ref. 5514, COMEX No.826, Maxi Dial (lot 207) reaching CHF 91’200, while the Ref. 1680, Best COMEX Diver 1977, awarded to Jean-Marc Dutriaux sold for CHF 56’400.
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Finally, a selection of modern tourbillon watches attained notable results, such as the Jacob & Co “Crystal Tourbillon, Limited Edition”, no.17/18 (lot 285) that sold for an impressive CHF 420’000 and the Jacob & Co “Napoleon Quadra”, No. 06/18 – titanium watch with four tourbillons – (lot 173) that reached CHF 312’000. Other exceptional tourbillon watches include the Audemars Piguet “Millenary – Maserati Anniversary – MC12 Tourbillon and Chronograph”, No. 024/150 (lot 403) acquired for CHF 156’000 and the Louis Moinet Vertalis Tourbillon – Piece Unique No. 01/01 (lot 68) that went for CHF 108’000.
“The strong results reached by modern tourbillon wristwatches today confirm the renewed interest of collectors for highly complicated timepieces” said Etienne Leménager, Director & Watch Expert.
NEXT ANTIQUORUM AUCTION: May 8 & 9 in Geneva
The “Top Lots” for Antiquorum’s March 20 & 21 auction are as follows:
Lots 285
Jacob & Co Crystal Tourbillon No 17 Jacob & Co, “Crystal Tourbillon, Limited Edition”, no.17/18. Made in a limited editon of 18 pieces in 2009. Unusual and important, 18K white gold and diamond wristwatch with skeletonized movement, visible one-minute tourbillon regulator and an 18k white gold
Sold including buyer’s premium: 420,000 CHF
Lots 438
Patek Philippe Pink ref. 1518 Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 1518, 1st series. Made in 1946, sold on October 21st, 1947. Very fine and very rare, probably unique, 18K pink gold wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moon phases, square button chronograph, register and tachometer.
Sold including buyer’s premium: 420,000 CHF
Lots 173
Jacob & Co – Titanium Napoleon Quadra – Watch with Four Tourbillons Jacob & Co., Swiss, “Napoleon Quadra”, No. 06/18. Made in a limited edition of 18 pieces in titanium in 2009. Extremely fine and unusual, extra-large, polished titanium, water-resistant, four time zone wristwatch with four visible one-minute tourbillon regulators, back winding.
Sold including buyer’s premium: 312,000 CHF
Lots 230
Patek Philippe ref. 5004 Platinum Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 5004P. Made in 2002 and sold on March 19th, 2003. Extremely rare and important, water-resistant, platinum wristwatch with split-seconds chronograph, registers, perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year, 24 hour indication.
Sold including buyer’s premium: 246,000 CHF
Lots 466
Patek Philippe, Ref. 5004R Patek Philippe, Genève. Made circa 2007. Extremely fine, rare and important, water-resistant, 18K pink gold wristwatch with coaxial round button split-seconds chronograph, registers, perpetual calendar, moon phases.
Sold including buyer’s premium: 222,000 CHF
Lots 231
Patek Philippe Le Tour du Monde de Magellan Piece Unique Patek Philippe, Genève, “Piece Unique – Le Tour du Monde de Magellan”, ref. 797 E. Made as a unique piece in 1971 to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the death of Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521), and sold on September 13th, 1978. Very fine and unique, solar-powered and electro-mechanical, gilt-brass table clock with polychrome cloisonné enamel panels by AMB, Ann-Marie Barbault, depicting scenes of the Magellan’s exploration.
Sold including buyer’s premium: 174,000 CHF
Lots 403
Audemars Piguet Maserati Anniversary – Millenary MC12 Tourbillon & Chronograph Audemars Piguet, Genève, “Millenary – Maserati Anniversary – MC12 Tourbillon and Chronograph”, No. 024/150, Ref. 26069PT. Made in a limited edition of 150 pieces in 2006 to commemorate the success of the Maserati MC12 in the 2005 FIA GT Manufacturers’ Cup. Extremely fine and very rare, horizontal oval, water-resistant, platinum wristwatch with twin white gold and palladium alloy barrels, black carbon movement with blue anodised aluminium bridges, 10-day power reserve, visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, oval-button chronograph, register, tachometer.
Sold including buyer’s premium: 156,000 CHF
Lots 461
Patek Philippe Ref. 5050 Platinum Roman Dial Patek Philippe, Genève, movement No. 1957593, case No. 2989769, Ref. 5050P, third generation. Sold on March 18th, 1999. Very fine and extremely rare, astronomic, center seconds, self-winding, water resistant, platinum wristwatch with perpetual calendar, retrograde date, leap year indication, moon phases.
Sold including buyer’s premium: 124,800 CHF
Lots 68
Louis Moinet Vertalis Tourbillon – Piece Unique No. 01/01 Louis Moinet, Switzerland, “Vertalis Tourbillon – Piece Unique”, No. 01/01. Sold in 2010. Extremely fine and unique, 18K pink and white gold, water-resistant wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon, 72-hour powerreserve and an 18K pink gold.
Sold including buyer’s premium: 108,000 CHF
Lots 228
Patek Philippe White Gold Ref. 3970EG, Third Series Patek Philippe, Genève, movement No. 3046243, case No. 4125944, Ref. 3970EG-016. Sold by Hausmann (Rome, Italy) on June 2001. Very fine and important, water-resistant, 18K white gold and diamond wristwatch with round button chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year, 24-hour indication.
Sold including buyer’s premium: 103,200 CHF
