Antiquorum to offer an exceptional and rare collection of erotic watches in Geneva on March 27
March 28, 2011
Geneva - Collectors can look forward to Antiquorum's upcoming auction "Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces" to be held on Sunday, March 27 at the Mandarin Oriental Geneva. Among the 564 exclusive modern and vintage timepieces, Antiquorum experts are pleased to offer an extremely rare minute-repeating and tourbillon Patek Philippe Ref. 3939 as well as a unique and exceptional collection of erotic watches and objects, property of a European collector. Previews will be held in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Geneva.
The highlight of the auction is the Patek Philippe Ref.3939 HP (lot 564), an extremely fine and rare minute-repeating platinum wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon regulator and enamel Breguet dial. It appears that the present watch is only the fifth example of this reference to appear at auction.
Estimate: CHF 400'000 - 500'000
Another exceptional timepiece included in the sale is the Patek Philippe Ref. 2524/1 (lot 543), retailed by Gübelin Lucerne. This very rare minute-repeating 18K yellow gold wristwatch with subsidiary seconds dial was made in 1954, with only eight pieces manufactured.
Estimate: CHF 300'000 - 400'000
Antiquorum is also pleased to offer the Rolex "Oyster Perpetual" Ref. 6284 (lot 527), extremely rare 14K yellow gold wristwatch with a cloisonné enamel dial, by Marguerite Koch, representing the map of the two americas.
Estimate: CHF 130'000 - 190'000
The Rolex enthusiast will also want to bid on the "Cosmograph Daytona", Ref. 6239 (lot 525) 'Paul Newman', made circa 1963.
Estimate: CHF 40'000 - 50'000
Pocket watch collectors will also be delighted by the Vacheron & Constantin Ref. 4582 (lot 338), sold to H. Thommeu on February 7, 1950. This exceptional piece is a unique and large 20K yellow gold keyless dress watch with single hand and special champleve enamel and diamond-set dial - the only watch with single-hand ever made by Vacheron & Constantin.
Estimate: CHF 10'000 - 15'000
Last but not least, Antiquorum experts will be offering a unique and remarkable collection of more than thirty erotic watches and system objects, property of a European Collector. The highlight of this collection is the repeating musical watch with four actions and concealed erotic automaton "Musique d'Amour" (lot 187), made circa 1810. This watch is undoubtedly the work of the exceptional Genevan watchmaker Henry Capt and is one of the very few known examples with two automaton scenes. The present watch is of higher specification than most: it has three animations on the dial instead of the usual two - musicians and birds automaton scene on the dial plate and concealed erotic automaton scene, playing at will.. The arm of each musician moves and a charming scene of two billing doves in an arbor, one dove appears when the music starts and disappears at the end of the tune. The enamel erotic scene is of very high quality depicting an aristocratic interior, of particular note is the pillar in the scene which is very cleverly enameled, with flecks of gold dust to accurately simulate lapis lazuli, again indicating the high status of the piece.
Estimate: CHF 70'000 - 90'000
AUCTION PREVIEWS
TOKYO
Sunday March 13:11 am to 7 pm
Antiquorum Tokyo Showroom
Aspa Nihonbashi,
2-1-1 Nihonbashi Hongoku-cho
Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-00021, Japan
Tel. +81 3 3516 2357
BEIJING
Tuesday March 15:10 am to 6:00 pm
Grand Millennium Beijing
Fortune 9, 2/F, Fortune Plaza
7 DongSanHuan Middle Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020
Tel. +86 139 1183 2350
SHANGHAI
Thursday March 17: 10:30 am to 6:30 pm
Antiquorum Shanghai
Room 4106B
Bund Centre Office Tower
222 Yan An Road East
Shanghai 200002, China
Tel. +86 21 6335 1268
HONG KONG
Saturday March 19: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Antiquorum Hong Kong
Suite 704, 9 Queen's Road Central
Hong Kong
Tel. + 852 2522 4168
PREVIEW IN GENEVA
Thursday 24 to Saturday March 26: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Sunday March 27: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Antiquorum Geneva Showroom
2, rue du Mont-Blanc
1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 909 28 50
AUCTION
Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Sunday March 27, 2011
Session 1: lots 1 - 188 at 10 am
Session 2: lots 189 - 564 at 2 pm
Mandarin Oriental Geneva, Salon Saint-Gervais
Quai Turrettini 1
1201 Geneva, Switzerland