Try our newest merchandise
Pietro Pilla
Geneva hits otherwise for the auctions! Slower tempo and sufficient time to correctly see the watches. The gorgeous items up for grabs made it a worthwhile journey already, however the unimaginable climate sealed the deal this time. Being the person on the bottom has fairly some perks….
The weekend began off superbly with an unconventional Piaget occasion hosted by our inventive colleagues at heist-out. After being kidnapped and delivered to a secret location, we discovered ourselves in the course of a winery overlooking town of Geneva. At this level, some unimaginable classic Piaget watches had been introduced out, which made our candy second much more fulfilling with some native wines and a conventional Neuchâtel sausage.
Nobody was in a rush, and quietly having the ability to benefit from the watches and the folks concerned is one thing very uncommon. It could have by no means been potential to attend such an occasion throughout any of the large gala’s on the town, with everybody being busy with scores of appointments and other people to see. Fairly totally different from our personal Piaget occasion, it was an unconventional option to method watches. A really particular due to Lorenzo, Maxime and Anne-Sophie, effectively achieved!
However now let’s concentrate on the vital issues: the watches. I’ve seen most of them, photographed many, and I can inform you it was a refreshing look seeing so many classic and unbiased items normally not available. Let’s begin with a few of the high plenty of this 12 months’s season.
Desk clocks actually had a blast this 12 months!
There was a wide array of them, however three of them carried out extremely effectively.
F.P. Journe X THA for Breguet Pendule Sympathique N°1 – Lot 18 at Phillips
This was the best-performing lot of the weekend, promoting all in for CHF 5,505,000. It was made by F.P. Journe for Breguet in 1991, as he was one of many few capable of craft such an advanced piece. The bidding was fierce, however the remainder of the room couldn’t sustain with the tempo. It was purchased by none aside from the person himself to be put in his museum, and as quickly as the general public realised that, teased by Aurel Bacs, everybody erupted, amazed by such a particular new house.
Cartier Portico Thriller Clock – Lot 118 at Phillips
A part of a three-piece manufacturing again in 1924, it was the third and greatest instance out of the three. The historic significance, along with its uniqueness and museum high quality, made it go for CHF 3,932,000. Apart from the distinctive consequence, it’s price mentioning that this can be a world report for the sale of a Cartier thriller clock. It’s a jubilation of valuable supplies and strategies, with rose quartz, enamel, onyx, rock crystal, diamonds and mother-of-pearl inlays that put it nearer to an precise murals than a timepiece. It was initially bought by Sotheby’s New York in 1988.
Breguet & Fils Pendule a Almanach – Lot 615 at Antiquorum
The second Breguet of this text, from when the model operated out of France. Its sale dates again to January 18, 1826, to the Countess of Bobrinsky for the value of 5,500 French francs and was then purchased again and bought once more to Prince Mentzikoff. Fairly a rise over the CHF 1,250,000 it fetched in the course of the Antiquorum public sale!
A pair of Padellones
Transferring now into the outcomes of one thing extra wearable, we’ve two Patek Philippe ref. 3448s. Identical reference, however very totally different watches.
Patek Philippe “Padellone” ref. 3448/5 – Lot 94 at Sotheby’s
The primary of the 2 is a white gold instance that was bought in 1971 on an identical white gold bracelet. That is believed to be one in all solely six recognized white gold ref. 3448 fashions fitted with an identical bracelet, because it’s been confirmed by an Extract from the Archives. 586 examples in complete are recognized to be produced, of which 60 are in white gold, and this specific instance was simply bought for CHF 330,200.
Patek Philippe “Padellone” ref. 3448 – Lot 74 at Phillips
This different piece is the one one publicly recognized in pink gold. In wonderful situation, it’s a part of the second collection of manufacturing with an engraved enamel dial and “Double P” crown. Retailed by Freccero in 1968, it options the very coveted double signature that provides one other layer of attraction. Fairly a unique consequence for this one, which fetched CHF 2,722,000 as the quilt look ahead to this Phillips public sale.
Piece uniques aplenty
Persevering with this pattern of Patek Philippe distinctive items, we’ve now fairly a listing, however I selected two that I feel are fairly emblematic – very totally different however equally particular – in addition to an beautiful Vacheron Constantin.
Patek Philippe ref. 3970EG-028 – Lot 54 at Christie’s
Whereas most ref. 3970s with a black dial have platinum instances, this specific mannequin options an 18k white gold case, already making it extremely uncommon. Leaving the numerous class apart, the mixture of Breguet fingers and numerals makes it a bit distinctive, in keeping with present information. It was bought in 2007, post-dating the tip of the manufacturing of the reference 3970 collection by over two years. It was then seen at public sale a decade in the past earlier than being bought this Could for CHF 882,000.
Patek Philippe ref. 866/5 “The Wine Glass by Vermeer” – Lot 500 at Antiquorum
One in every of my private highlights of the weekend, it was fairly magical to deal with one of many works of grasp enameller Suzanne Rohr. Beforehand undiscovered, it was saved by the unique household that commissioned it for the previous 45 years. The distinctive great thing about the unique Vermeer portray, depicted by the incomparable expertise of Suzanne Rohr, makes it fairly tough to explain, so I’m not shocked in any respect by the consequence it achieved at CHF 562,500.
Vacheron Constantin ref. 6448 “Distinctive Piece” – Lot 57 at Phillips
Regardless of not being the lot with the very best estimate, this watch was by far probably the most talked about in the course of the weekend in Geneva. And whereas I agree it doesn’t translate in photos as a lot because it does in actual life, I’ll do my greatest to make you totally perceive this watch. It’s the solely platinum piece of a 3-watch collection marking the tip of Vacheron Constantin’s minute repeater manufacturing for 30 years. Amongst the three watches, it was the one one supplied in a really understated, totally brushed case, which whereas being extremely fashionable for the period, superbly contrasts with the opulence of the diamond markers. The household that purchased it in 1961 in Mexico saved it to today, and the watch in all probability by no means noticed the surface world, given how excellent the situation of the case is. The crisp particulars resonate in opposition to a easy design that eliminates something pointless for the tip consequence. This was the sensation shared all through the room, with bids shortly including up, resulting in a remaining hammer value of CHF 698,500.
Different highlights
There have been so many notable watches that went beneath the hammer, so it’s exhausting to choose only a handful! Right here had been another notable outcomes.
Cartier Crash NSO ‘Nickelé’ Dial – Lot 17 at Christie’s
A part of Cartier’s “New Particular Order” program, this Crash encompasses a ghost configuration in white gold with a gray anthracite dial. The now-defunct program allowed vital collectors to design their dream watches by way of supplies and dial colors, albeit with some restrictions. Whereas most of those watches normally don’t go up for public sale, given the non-public connection to their homeowners, this particular piece, with its fascinating color configuration, realised CHF 756,000.
Philippe Dufour Simplicity “Distinctive” – Lot 129 at Phillips
Philippe Dufour doesn’t want any introduction, however his basis could. The Philippe & Elisabeth Dufour Basis provides again to these in misery, on this case by auctioning off one-off timepieces offered by a number of manufacturers. This Simplicity piece distinctive leads the best way with an iridescent dial crafted from butterfly wings. It’s the primary time the grasp watchmaker makes use of this very method on the dial of one in all his watches, which stays in all different points a quintessential Philippe Dufour in all its glory. All proceeds of CHF 647,700 shall be donated to his charity.
André Beyner & Maurice Grimm Undertaking P 29, Prototype N°1 – Lot 244 at Antiquorum
This collaboration between Beyner and Grimm was born as Undertaking P 29, a technically spectacular watch at a time of uncertainty as a result of popularisation of quartz actions. After being supplied to a number of manufacturers, Georges Golay in 1981 recognised the potential of this ultra-thin tourbillon wristwatch and bought the challenge for Audemars Piguet. This then led to the primary automated tourbillon wristwatch ever produced, and this very mannequin, coming straight from the household of André Beyner, it’s the primary prototype of it. This milestone went for CHF 187,500.
Christian Klings Desmodromic – Lot 113 at Phillips
It’s the very first time that the distinctive Christian Klings Desmodromic involves public sale. Consigned by the unique proprietor, it’s one in all simply 35 watches made by the grasp watchmaker in a span of a 30-year profession. This particular escapement, a shock-resistant single-beat chronometer escapement with pivoted detent, took 4 years to be developed, and it’s price each penny of the CHF 355,600 it raised.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN Asprey piece distinctive – Lot 790 at Antiquorum
Rolex, on paper, by no means releases (and has by no means launched) piece uniques. Nevertheless, in very uncommon conditions – equivalent to a mix of a superb relationship with an iconic retailer and an excellent dose of excellent timing – typically you’ve got watches like this being born. Since 1970, Asprey has been the official provider of Rolex watches for the Sultan Qaboos of Oman, delivering particular fashions that includes the Khanjar brand. This doesn’t function one, however exhibits an uncommon purple dial in the identical tone as Asprey’s personal color, which, along with a 1/1 engraving on the again, makes it distinctive sufficient to achieve CHF 175,000.
F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain Ruby Coronary heart – Lot 116 at Phillips
I’d like to complete our choice with this fascinating Tourbillon Souverain, which now holds the crown for the costliest F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain ever. A part of a restricted version of 20 items, it has a ruby coronary heart dial – which, being a pure materials, options totally different textures, making every one in all them successfully distinctive. Sporting a 40mm platinum case with an identical bracelet, it was one of many heaviest watches I’ve ever held, and really heavy was additionally the consequence achieved at CHF 1,633,000.
