Christie's New York December 8, Important Watches auction totaled $6,768,720; the auction was sold 91% hammer above low estimate and 81% by lot, attracting global participation. The sale celebrated fine vintage and modern horological masterpieces from the world’s most reputable and desirable brands, attracted new generation bidders including Millennials and Gen Z from a total of 32 Countries globally, with 23% of registrants new to Christie’s.
Lot 46 - PATEK PHILIPPE, A VERY FINE, RARE AND ATTRACTIVE 18K ROSE GOLD WRISTWATCH WITH CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL DIAL.
The top lot of the sale was a very rare and attractive Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak, a Very Fine And Extremely Rare Titanium Minute Repeating Supersonnerie Bracelet Watch, Limited To 35 Examples, which achieved $466,200, followed by a rare Patek Philippe Nautilus “Green Dial” Steel Bracelet Watch which achieved $352,800.
Rounding out the sale a spectacular Patek Philippe, a very fine rare 18K Rose Gold Wristwatch with Cloisonne Enamel Dial sold for $252,000.
Rebecca Ross – Head of Sale says“We are truly thrilled to have seen such global participation from 32 countries in our Important Watches sale this week at Christie’s. Throughout the auction, quality and rare timepieces proved to command strong prices, showing the trust and passion private collectors have in Christie’s”.
Lot 99 - RICHARD MILLE, REF. RM67-02, ALEXANDER ZVEREV, A VERY FINE AND RARE TONNEAU-SHAPED WRISTWATCH, NUMBER 297 IN A LIMITED EDITION OF 497 EXAMPLES.
Lot 22 – Patek Philippe Ref. 57111A-014, Nautilus.
This auction comes shortly after Christie’s Hong Kong realised a combined sale total exceeding
HK$ 202 million / US$ 26 million / EUR 25 million, at the begining of this month, marking the second consecutive year for Christie’s Asia of exceeding an annual sale total of HK$ 500 million (US$ 64 million / EUR 61.9 million) in watch sales. Enamel dials are reaching new heights of desirability and setting new world records. The auction saw strong global participation from 40 countries; 55% of new buyers are millennials.
With the successes of The Champion Collection and The Triazza Collection in HK this weekend,
and more recently The Legendary & Unique Watches Collection in Geneva, not to mention The Kairos Collection and The Titanium & Ruby Collection, Christie’s Watches is clearly established as theauction house for Great Private Watch Collections around the globe. Worldwide hubs and long-established networks place it in the unique position to curate and orchestrate major auctions for high-calibre owners.
The record-setting Patek Philippe Reference 5208P-001 under the hammer with auctioneer Emmanuelle Chan; five of the highlights among the world record-setting Métiers d’Art marvels and enamel-dial timepieces,
Alexandre Bigler, Vice President and Head of Watches, Christie’s Asia Pacific, said: “When it comes to important high-calibre private watch collections, the deep and broad expertise of Christie's in showcasing and selling amazing collections is the determining factor. This position is owed to the long-term vision and to the trust the team at Christies Watches has built with high-calibre owners around the world. We are also thrilled about the success of the Triazza Collection, 100% sold; yet again we saw how vintage watches coming to market create excitement and hold a particular fascination for passionate collectors.
The impressive results achieved by ‘Métiers d’Art’ pieces that elevate a craft to the level of art, especially that of enamelling, testify to the growing desirability of timepieces that uniquely combine mechanical perfection and sublime artistry. Also, the two world records set by Patek Philippe, with the Ref. 5208P-001 minute repeater perpetual calendar chronograph in platinum fetching more than HK$ 10 million (US$ 1.2 million / EUR 1.2 million) as the top lot of the sale, and the Ref. 5073P-001, a minute repeater perpetual calendar set with baguette-cut diamonds achieving over HK$ 13.6 million (close to US 1.3 million /close to EUR 1.7 million).”
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