Auctioneer and head of Christie’s Geneva watch department, Thomas Perazzi opened lot 166, the Patek Philippe, Ref. 2497, for bidding at CHF400,000 and it took 15 minutes until he was able to knockdown this collector’s dream at CHF 2,911,500 / $ 2905,677.
The top lot in the Rolex section was the 1972 Oyster Cosmograph, Daytona Model ref. 6263, with a green Khanjar symbol. It was sold in the presence of the consignor, today a retired British Airway pilot who flew the Sultan and his entourage, on one of his first State visits in 1974. Just before landing in Rome one of the Sultan’s Ministers entered the cockpit and gave the pilot - as a thank you - the watch in question. The timepiece sold for CHF 727,500, doubling its pre-sale estimate. Lot 271, a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner sold for CHF 631,500, again doubling its pre-sale estimate.
The Important Watches auction was much anticipated and international interest and bidding from 44 countries was witnessed in a packed saleroom from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, welcoming over 100 new clients to Christie’s. Furthermore, did the auction achieve the highest online participation for any watch sale conducted at Christie’s with over 470 registrants.