Antiquorum’s May 10th auction of “Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces, totaled CHF 6,549,512 with 121% sold by value. Enthusiastic bidding for the impressive sale of over 500 modern and vintage timepieces was underscored by particularly intense and exciting competition for the Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 Fourth Series retailed by Tiffany & Co. and General MacArthur’s Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso. Bids came in from across the globe including from China, Hong Kong, the United States as well as Switzerland.
The top lot of the sale was the Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 Fourth Series retailed by Tiffany & Co. (lot 504). The extremely rare and highly coveted 18K yellow gold wristwatch with perpetual calendar attracted global attention and sold to a room bidder for an exceptional CHF 471,500.
The much anticipated Jaeger-LeCoultre Ref. 201 Early Reverso that formerly belonged to Five-Star General Douglas MacArthur (lot 359) also drew tremendous worldwide interest. The historically important and very rare wristwatch inspired highly competitive bidding and sold for CHF 87,500, over four times its high estimate.
Another high point of the sale was the intense bidding for the Louis Audemars for Leroy Highly Important and Ultra Complicated Watch with 11 Complications Presented by King Alphonse XIII of Spain to Count Vicente Santamaria De Paredes (lot 384).After several minutes of spirited bidding, the highly important and ultra-complicated watch was acquired for an astounding CHF 351,750, over twice its low estimate.
The Limited Edition Vacheron Constantin Ref. 30030 “Les Cabinotiers” aroused enormous interest; the skeletonized (lot 495) 18K gold Minute Repeater sold for CHF 303,750, over double its estimate.
The Magnificent and Unique Tourbillon Patek Philippe Watch (lot 181) that was formerly part of the Patek Philippe Private Museum Collection and two-time winner of the observatory first prize brought CHF 243,750.
Pocket watch collectors fiercely competed for the Ilbery Large Chinese Market Watch “A Grand View of the Seashore”; the extremely rare 18K gold champlevé and painted on enamel pocket watch with duplex sold for CHF 231,750, nearly three times its high estimate.
Rare examples of the Rolex Paul Newman continue to galvanize collectors; the Rolex Ref. 6239 Paul Nemwan retailed by Tiffany and Co. (lot 418) offered at auction for the first time attained CHF 231,750; while the 18K yellow Gold Rolex Re. 6239 Paul Newman (lot 420) sold for CHF 207,750.
Other exceptional examples from Rolex also achieved important results. Multiple bidders competed for the Rolex Ref. 6062 (lot 415) which sold for CHF 183,750. Also in high demand, the Rolex Ref. 5513 Explorer Dial Pointed Crown Guard Underline (lot 419) inspired impassioned bidding, finally selling for CHF 116,550. In addition, the Rolex Ref. 6240 So-Called Solo (lot 312) attained CHF 96,150; and the Rolex Ref. 5512 Submariner Meter First Gilt Chaper Ring Pointed Crown Guard (lot 114) sold for CHF 55,000, over twice its high estimate.
