Patek Philippe Timepieces achieve remarkable results at Antiquorum’s November auction in Geneva
For Immediate Release
Nov. 14, 2011
Geneva, November 14, 2011 - Antiquorum's November auction of "Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces", held on Sunday, November 13 at the Mandarin Oriental in Geneva, concluded with an outstanding result of CHF 11'675'347. This brings the total for Antiquorum auctions held in Geneva in 2011 to CHF 25'809'284, an increase of 28% in comparison to 2010.
Strong prices were achieved with 76% of the lots sold, representing 148% by value. The auction of 603 collectible timepieces enjoyed competitive bidding thanks to active internet participation, with 355 registered bidders in addition to the many telephone bidders and strong in-room presence. International participation came from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, the Russian Federation, the United States, Germany and Japan.
"We were delighted with the last Geneva sale of the year. The combination of consignments that are fresh to the market with the new fantastic showroom allowed potential bidders to view their future purchases in comfort and style", commented Julien Schaerer, Managing Director and Auctioneer at Antiquorum Geneva.
The top lot of the auction was unquestionably the recently discovered Patek Philippe full 24-hour repeating pocket watch (lot 603). This previously unknown highly complicated pocket watch has in addition to the unique 24 hour repeater, an unusual type of five minute repeating. This exceptional timepiece sold for an astounding CHF 2'098'500.
The other highlight of the sale was the collection of exclusive Patek Philippe timepieces (lots 586 to 595), property of the original owner, a respected Japanese Collector, which totalled CHF 911'000, more than double the high estimate, with all lots sold. Appearing for the first time at auction, the Ref. 885/7 (lot 590), a lovely champlevé enamel hunting cased pendant watch, obtained CHF 50'000. Also to be noted lot 591, the Patek Philippe Ref. 894, a very fine and rare skeletonised dress watch, circa 1980, realized more than four times its high estimate at CHF 86'500. The Pièce Unique Ref. 1339 "Musique de Chambre Quatuor" (lot 595), a solar-powered and electro-mechanical, brass table clock with cloisonné enamel panels, sold for CHF 182'500. Not to be missed was the Patek Philippe Ref. 866/8, an exquisite dress watch with a unique enamel miniature portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by Suzanne Rohr (lot 589), which drew great interest among collectors, selling for CHF 236'500.
Patek Philippe collectors also actively competed to acquire lot 176, a Ref. 1518, first series, made in 1948, which brought a remarkable CHF 326'500.
Antiquorum was also pleased to offer the Rolex Ref. 6284 (lot 597), one of the only six examples made circa 1950, property of the family of the original owner. This exceptionally rare timepiece, with a cloisonné enamel dial by Marguerite Koch featuring a map of the two Americas, sold for CHF 242'500.
Not to be overlooked, the Vacheron Constantin Ref. 30020 "Répétition Minutes Quantième Perpétuel" (lot 451). This extremely fine, astronomic, minute-repeating and platinum wristwatch obtained CHF 182'500.
The auction preview was held in Antiquorum's new showroom, located 3 rue du Mont-Blanc in Geneva, offering more than 100 square meters of exhibition space as well as a special Lounge for customers. The collection of 603 exceptional vintage and modern timepieces and the selection of clocks attracted many visitors.
Antiquorum's final auction of the year will be held in New York on December 7.
The "top lots" for the November 13 auction are as follows:
Lot 603
PATEK PHILIPPE, THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED EXCEPTIONAL FULL 24-HOUR REPEATING, QUARTER AND SPECIAL-TYPE FIVE-MINUTE REPEATING 24-HOURS IN ONE REVOLUTION POCKET WATCH Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, movement No. 97443, case No. 212850. Sold to Monsieur E. E. Hoesch, Villa Barbaia, Mergellina, Naples, on November 27, 1894 for 3750 Swiss Francs. Exceptional, highly important and almost certainly unique, large, full 24-hour, quarter and special-type five-minute repeating, 18K pink gold, keyless pocket watch with perpetual calendar, chronograph, moon phases, lunar calendar and 24-hour dial for 24-hours in one revolution. Accompanied by the original Certificate of Origin and Patek Philippe sales receipt
Sold including buyer's premium:
2,098,500 CHF
Lot 176
PATEK PHILIPPE, REF. 1518, 1ST Series. Made in 1948, sold on August 29, 1949. Extremely fine and rare, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moon phases, square button chronograph, register and tachometer Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.
Sold including buyer's premium:
326,500 CHF
Lot 579
THE PATEK PHILIPPE "10 DAYS COLLECTION" REF. 5100. SET OF FOUR WRISTWATCHES MADE IN A LIMITED EDITION IN 2000 TO CELEBRATE THE NEW MILLENIUM Very fine and rare set of four Patek Philippe Ref. 5100. Accompanied by fitted box, Certificates of Origin, Certificates and COSC Certificates.
Sold including buyer's premium:
242,500 CHF
Lot 589
PATEK PHILIPPE, REF. 866/8, WATCH WITH UNIQUE ENAMEL MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART BY SUZANNE ROHR Patek Philippe, Genève, retailed by Gubelin. The miniature by Suzanne Rohr after Christian Leberecht Vogel (1759-1816), signed and dated 1971. Accompanied by the original Patek Philippe fitted box and Certificate of Origin, Japanese registered guarantee card and booklets. Extremely fine and unique, 18K yellow gold, keyless dress watch with exceptional polychrome painted on enamel miniature portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Sold including buyer's premium:
236,500 CHF
Lot 583
PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5959 COAXIAL SPLIT-SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH. Sold October 3, 2007. Very fine and very rare, platinum and diamond wristwatch with coaxial round button split-seconds chronograph, register. Accompanied by the Patek Philippe fitted box, Certificate of Origin and instructions.
Sold including buyer's premium:
236,500 CHF
Lot 597
ROLEX REF. 6284 TWO AMERICAS CLOISONNE DIAL BY MARGUERITE KOCH Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual". Made in only six examples circa 1950. Exceptionally rare and fine, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with cloisonné enamel map of the two Americas. Property of the Family of the Original Owner
Sold including buyer's premium:
212,500 CHF
Lot 451
VACHERON CONSTANTIN REF. 30020 RÉPÉTITION MINUTES QUANTIÈME PERPÉTUEL, PLATINUM. Made circa 2000. Extremely fine and important, astronomic, minute-repeating, platinum wristwatch with perpetual calendar and moon phases. Accompanied by a fitted box and certificate.
Sold including buyer's premium:
182,500 CHF
Lot 595
PATEK PHILIPPE, REF. 1339, "MUSIQUE DE CHAMBRE QUATUOR" "Pièce Unique - Pendulette Dôme "Musique de Chambre Quatuor". Made circa 1990. Very fine and unique, solar-powered and electro-mechanical, brass table clock with polychrome cloisonné enamel panels depicting an orchestral quartet. Accompanied by a Patek Philippe service box, Certificate of Origin, hang tag and Patek Philippe (Japan) service guarantee card, and a service invoice from Isshin dated January 25, 2010.
Sold including buyer's premium:
182,500 CHF
Lot 582
PATEK PHILIPPE, REF. 5131, WHITE GOLD, ENAMEL DIAL "World Time". Sold on April 13, 2010. Very fine and rare, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K white gold wristwatch with world-time system and cloisonné enamel dial. Accompanied by fitted box, Certificate of Origin, booklets and hang tag.
Sold including buyer's premium:
152,500 CHF
Lot 163
"LA RUSSE II" - ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPLICATED WATCHES OF THE 19TH CENTURY THE UNIQUE JULIAN & GREGORIAN DOUBLE PERPETUAL CALENDAR, TWO TIME ZONE, MINUTEREPEATING AND CHRONOGRAPH WATCH OF 1873 Swiss, "Grande Complication", No. 12199, retailed by G. Aspe, Paris. Started in April 1873, finished circa 1880, sold by Aspe, Paris, to Monsieur P. Hebert on June 23, 1896 for 3240 Francs. Highly important, unique and exceptional, large, double perpetual calendar for Julian and Gregorian calendars, minute-repeating, two time zone, antimagnetic, 18K pink gold, keyless pocket watch with chronograph, central progressive 60-minute register, moon phase, lunar calendar and "reference d'heure" world-time calculation chart. Accompanied by the original G. Aspe receipt of sale, fitted box with initials PH.
Sold including buyer's premium:
146,500 CHF