Among the sales taking place this weekend, newcomer Geneva Auctions & Arts will be offering something a little different with a fine selection of writing instruments by Caran d’Ache, Montblanc, Schaeffer and ST Dupont, along with luxury accessories by famous names and some collectible watches. Over 150 Swatches from the period of 1980-1990, including some rare models, are grouped into a number of different lots. The sale also includes two rare Patek Philippes with a reserve of just 80-120 Swiss francs. The price is explained by the unusual design, shape and colour of the product, not to mention its nature. The bottles of Coteau de Choully 1993 emblazoned with the prestigious watch brand’s name were offered to employees at the time. One to drink now or look after for the next generation?
Those looking for a more lasting and more pertinent symbol of the Patek Philippe legacy should head for the Christie’s sale, which features a sublime three-hand pocket watch in rose gold engraved with the name of the company’s co-founder Jean-Adrien Philippe and the date of 5th January 1894. Jean-Adrien Philippe’s personal timepiece carries a reserve of 50,000-100,000 Swiss francs. The Christie’s sale also features a Rolex reference 3525 that was once owned by Andy Warhol (estimate: CHF 200,000-300,000) and the star lot: a Rolex reference 6062 “Stelline” triple calendar, which carries an estimate of between one and two million Swiss francs.
IWC fans should consider the Antiquorum sale where 86 lots from a Swiss collector cover the post-war history of the brand from the 1950s to the present day, including a rare Ref. 1868 Destriero Scafusia, the most complicated IWC ever produced (estimate CHF 70,000-90,000).
Highlights from the Sotheby’s sale include firm favourites from Patek Philippe and Rolex. The highlight for the former is an early model reference 2497 with an Emile Vichet case, distinguished by its flat case back and its “claw” lugs. Only 20 reference 2497s in rose-gold like this are thought to exist (estimate CHF 500,000 – 1 million). For the latter there is a coveted COMEX Sea-Dweller reference 16600 from 1998 worn by diver and brand ambassador Theo Mavrostomos (estimate CHF 80,000-120,000) and a very rare reference 6239 Daytona in yellow gold in excellent condition with box, papers and original receipt. Its owners thought they had lost in in a move, only to find it hidden in a cellar behind their wine collection (estimate CHF 100,000-150,000).
Sotheby’s will also be offering a glimpse of some of the lots from the “Masterworks of Time” collection that will come under the hammer in a series of auctions from July 2019 until October 2020. The timepieces on offer are among the most important in horological history and were collected with great dedication over half a century.
To prove that competition is as fierce among auction houses as it is among the buyers themselves, Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo also has a rare Rolex 6239 Cosmograph Daytona (estimate CHF 60,000 – 100,000), a Rolex reference 6062 Stelline (estimate CHF 400,000 – 800,000) plus a reference 8171 “Padellone” (estimate CHF 400,000 – 800,000). Their highlight is a Patek Philippe reference 5208P minute repeater, perpetual calendar, monopusher chronograph in platinum (estimate CHF 550,000 – 950,000).
Antiquorum (11-12 May)
Christie’s (13 May)
Geneva Auctions & Arts (10 May)
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo (11-12 May)
Sotheby’s (12 May)
