For Immediate Release

World Records Achieved for both a Pair of Enamel Pocket Watches (SFr.
2,6 Million); and a Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in Pink Gold (SFr. 1,3 Million).

Geneva, 16 November, 2008 - Antiquorum, the world’s leading watch auctioneer, realized an extraordinary result of SFr. 15,326,100 for its auction held this weekend in Geneva and entitled “Important Collector’s Wristwatches, Pocket Watches, Clocks and Horological Tools”. The value of the wristwatches sold represented 136% of the respective low estimate. The clocks and pocket watches represented 64% of the lots sold.

The auction room at the Grand Hotel Kempinski was full. The successful auction saw very active telephone bidding, along with 330 registered internet bidders from around the world. Buyers from the United States were extremely competitive, along with bidding from Hong Kong, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Germany and China.

The star of the sale was Lot 730, “The Royal Presentation Mirror-Image Pair” of gold and painted on enamel and pearl-set, very rare pocket watch made circa 1815, which reached an outstanding amount of SFr. 2,608,000 ! A worldwide record never achieved for such a pair of pocket watches.

Another impressive part of the auction was undoubtedly the enthusiastic bidding for a Patek Philippe, Ref. 1518, a Pink Gold Perpetual calendar chronograph (Lot 723) that reached an impressive result of SFr. 1,376,000; a world record.
Several other Patek Philippe timepieces achieved exceptional results as well: a Pink Gold Ref. 2497(Lot 350) at SFr. 620,000 and Ref. 530 (Lot 250) — also in Pink Gold which sold for SFr. 462,200. 

“The extraordinary results today indicate that the passion for rare and important watches continues despite worldwide economic concerns.  Antiquorum once again has proven that its unique ability to focus only on watches and clocks continue to make us the definitive market maker and the foremost horological resource for both buyers and sellers,” said Robert Maron, Chairman, Antiquorum.  

In addition, the “Platinum and Baguette Diamonds” wristwatch, Ref. 5004P, also from Patek Philippe (Lot 716) fetched SFr. 379,600, followed by a “Celestial Wristwatch”, Ref. 5102G (Lot 717) which sold for SFr. 344,200.  Furthermore, the Patek Philippe “10 Days Tourbillon,” Ref. 5101P (Lot 333) was sold for SFr. 249,800 followed by a Ref. 3450 (Lot 349) with a red leap year indicator which attained SFr. 226,200.


“The recent downturn in other collectible markets indeed concerned us in the past several weeks.  But the results in Geneva today combined with the impressive results in last month’s auction in New York leads us to believe that collectors and investors in our unique arena continue to feel confident in the long-term strength of this tangible market,” commented Evan Zimmermann, CEO & President, Antiquorum USA.

Another highlight of the auction was a “Double Tourbillon 30° Vision” from Greubel Forsey, 18K white gold (Lot 703), which achieved an admirable price of SFr. 238,000.  A platinum “Opus V” for Harry Winston did very well too (Lot 707), selling for SFr. 226, 200. Additionally, Audemars Piguet obtained very good results with the platinum and diamond Perpetual Set N°1 “Quantième Perpétuel” (Lot 708) sold for SFr. 220,300.

There was also much interest for Rolex wristwatches, the Doctor’s Cosmograph with Pulsations Dial, Ref. 6264 (Lot 335) reached SFr.167,200 and a yellow gold, Paul Newman Ref. 6264 (Lot 693) sold for SFr. 143,600 as did a similar stainless Ref. 6240 Paul Newman (Lot 692) bring SFr. 137,700.

Finally, an exceptional pocket watch from Charles Frodsham ordered by J.P. Morgan in 1913, with minute repeating tourbillon and split seconds chronograph (Lot 279) achieved the notable sum of SFr. 210,000.

 “I am thankful that collectors worldwide were confident in our ability to successfully sell quality timepieces here in Geneva—the center of the horological world.  We are proud to close the season on such a high-note and look forward to our next auction,” concluded William Rohr, Chief Operating Officer, Antiquorum Geneva.

Top 10 Lots for Antiquorum's November 15th & 16th Sale
(for HIGH DEFINITION please click on the image)
All prices include buyers' commissions. (Approx. rate: SFr/US$: 1.19)