Daily thoughts, musings & interests about anything (mostly horology) that currently makes my soul & grey matter tick.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Rare Jaeger-LeCoultre Antiquorum Auction Results
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Rare Jaeger-LeCoultre Timepieces Highlight Antiquorum’s February Hong Kong Sale
Antiquorum Auctioneers will present its’ auction of “Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces” to be held on February 26th at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong. Collectors will have the opportunity to bid on 452 exceptional modern and vintage timepieces including a collection of extremely rare and highly complicated Jaeger LeCoultre masterpieces and a rare Patek Philippe ref. 3939 in pink gold. Previews will be held in cities across the globe including Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore as well as Hong Kong.
Amongst the highlights of the sale are three outstanding Jaeger LeCoultre timepieces to be sold individually originally sold as a set named “Hybris Mecanique,” the collection, produced in 2009 will be offered at auction for the first time. The trifecta set clad in 18K White Gold and sold exclusively as a package includes the following:
Gyrotourbillon One, No.02/20. The one that started this all a perpetual calendar bi-retrograde date spherical tourbillon wristwatch with equation of time and leap year calendar. It is accompanied by a fitted box and magnifying glass.
Estimate: HKD 1,900,000 – 2,300,000
Gyrotourbillon Two, No. 02/20. This extraordinary Reverso (and still my favorite out of all the Gyro's) contain mesmerising spherical tourbillon and is offered with a fitted box, guarantee certificate, instruction booklet and magnifying glass.
Estimate: HKD 1,400,000 – 1,700,000
Don't know exactly how I feel about breaking up this collectors package. I heard before of some collectors buying the trio and then splitting them up which actually made sense at the time as they only existed before in platinum LE which was sold out by then. Will the values rise or will they level off with additional units produce aftewards as a part of Hybris Mechanica we shall see. Lastly this is how the Trifecta package looked during the presentation during the 2009 SIHH.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Auction News: Sotheby’s Geneva Evening Sale of Important Watches
The “Trossi Legenda” Patek Philippe
Measuring 46 millimeters in diameter, this chronograph is most probably unique and is one of the largest wristwatches ever made by the company. It was clearly specially chosen by Count Trossi as a practical timekeeper for use in motor racing and aviation to assist with the accurate timing of events in a highly visible format. In later years, aviators’ wristwatches were typically large in size and very few were made by Patek Philippe. Only one other wristwatch of similar size by Patek Philippe has appeared on the auction market and that was manufactured some 20 years later with a substantially smaller movement. Count Carlo Felice Trossiwas was born into an aristocratic Italian family 100 years ago on 27th April 1908. Captivated by the possibilities of speed, Count Trossi was a motor car and speed boat racer as well as an early pioneer of flight. In 1932 he became the President of Ferrari Scuderia. The highlights of Trossi’s motoring career culminated in his wins at the Italian and Swiss Grand Prix respectively in the years 1947 and 1948.
Another highlight in the sale is an extremely rare and fine over-sized stainless steel chronograph Patek Philippe wristwatch with register, no.862323, Ref. 530A, dated 1939. Among the four wristwatches with reference 530A known to have been made by Patek Philippe, the example included in the sale is the only one featuring this particular dial. From a private collector, this piece is estimated at CHF700,000-900,000 ($635,000-815,000 ).
Info via Sotheby's and Europastar.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
BaselWorld 2008 Preview: World Time Ref 5131
The World Time, one of Patek Philippe’s emblematic complications, is highly sought-after by collectors, as are the famous and very rare world time models from the 40’s and 50’s. This exclusive model in yellow gold is beautifully decorated with a cloisonné enamel world map on the dial and an engraving on the bezel. The 24 time zones on their respective disks and the day/night indicator are very legible.
Specification:
Movement - Automatic, 240 HU calibre, 33 jewels, 21,600 vib/h. Unidirectional 22K gold mini-rotor, Poinçon de Genève
48-hour power reserve.
Functions - Hours, minutes, world time (local + 24 time zones simultaneously)
Case - 18K yellow gold, diameter 39.50 mm
Sapphire crystal, screw-down sapphire back. Water-resistant to 30 m
Dial - 3 zones: cloisonné enamel and gold centre, disk with black transfer names of cities, 24-disk with day/night indicator
18K yellow gold hands and applied hour-markers
Bracelet/Strap - Chocolate brown, hand-sewn, square-scaled alligator with 18K yellow gold folding clasp
Info via Patek Phillipe and Swiss Time
BaselWorld 2008 Preview: Patek Philippe Ref. 5207 Quantieme Perpetual Tourbillon Repetition Minutes
The instant changing of all the date displays is a supplementary complication comprising 212 interacting components. This new exploit took more than five years to develop and is one of the brand’s most complicated wristwatches. Only a few will be produced each year.
Movement is the hand-wound Patek caliber RTO27PSQI, a minute repeater with tourbillon, COSC-certified as a chronometer and with the Geneva Seal mark.
The case, in platinum, measures 41mm. It has a sapphire crystal and sapphire display back (comes also with a solid back).
Specifications:
Movement - Hand-wound, R TO 27 PS QI calibre, minute repeater with tourbillon escapement, COSC-certified, Poinçon de Genève.
Functions - Hours, minutes, small seconds, instant perpetual calendar in windows (day, date, month, leap-year, day/night indicator) and moon phases.
Case - 950 platinum, 41 mm, set with a pure Top Wesselton diamond (0.02ct). Sapphire crystal. Interchangeable solid and sapphire crystal backs
Dial - 950 platinum hands and applied hour-markers. Small seconds and moon phases at 6 o’clock.
Bracelet/Strap - Matt chocolate brown, hand-sewn, square-scaled alligator with 950 platinum folding clasp
Info via Patek Phillipe and Swiss Time
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Seven Deadliest ….
Featuring the following watches:
Audemars Piguet 'Grand Complication'
Blancpain '1735'
Franck Muller 'Mega'
I.W.C. 'Grand Complication'
Jaeger-LeCoultre 'Tryptych'
Patek Philippe 'Sky Moon Tourbillon'
Vacheron Constatin 'Tour de L'ile'
From Spring 2008 Vox Magazine / Antiquorum
Brandon Thomas (Director, Horological Expert) - Geneva Office
I have to concur with Brandon’s findings especially his astute conclusion as to the ultimate “winner” (perhaps better to say the preferred choice) in this great company of the magnificent seven achievements of the utmost horological scale. As unattainable to mere mortals are they all - they are non the less, if not even more, impressive to experts and collectors alike. Hope you enjoy the reading.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
My thoughts on Antiquorum Only Watch Auction Results
Granted the star of the show Patek’s one off Nautilus 5712 was expected to reach the sky not only owing to the uniqueness of it being a sole titanium model ever made, but as well due to the current inordinate Nautilus/Patek model demand (with the aspect to current certain geographical supply shortages). Considering the Pateks ever present ultimate luxury timepiece cache, adding the exclusivity of such piece unique and Voilà we have a creation of worldwide appeal to many present bidders all resulting in an instant collector blockbuster. The price achieved (almost 600K Euro with fees) was indeed impressive, yet a bit shocking how steep especially when compared to some other rather underwhelming prices that were achieved for some quite outstanding pieces. Perfect example of such is GP’s ww.tc Perpetual Calendar Financial which was a steal and certainly a great bargain for the lucky bidder. I know that GP doesn’t have the same marketing clout of some of the big names in horology, but to score an outstanding one off complication timepiece for probably less then you could get similar regular series model from a retailer does seem shocking to me. Same can be said for the Frédérique Constant’s ”Heart Beat Zerodur”. I mean where else can one get for around 10K Euro a pink gold piece unique with moon-phase indicator containing innovative Zerodur balance and Silicium escape wheel. Even the next highest priced DeWitt and Jean-Michel Wilmotte “Incognito” creation and Richard Mille/Philippe Starck model make sense owing to their relative unique pairings that most likely will never be repeated or be close to compare to anything similar from the creators regular line up. As great as that might be then I notice the really fantastic Vacheron Constantine Malte Tourbillon featuring a carriage bridge in platinum (a first for VC) for almost 3rd of that price – a relative bargain of 130K. OK so I can understand the appeal of some special collaboration, but to have such disparity present here I am left here really puzzled. Especially when I see the 50K higher price for that IMO horrid Frank Muller Crazy Something creation – I mean aren’t we over this hoopla at this point. Then just when I was feeling a bit better I noticed a figging “pink quartzy” Swatch and the always horrible abomination from Zenith to make me think WTF is wrong with some of this bidding people? In the end after reviewing all I do calm down realizing that most watches realize 1.5 to 2.5 times their relative value for comparable series watches which makes a perfect sense at this point.
In the end I am smiling because the total of 2.7 million Euro raised is for medical Research on Duchene Muscular Dystrophy leaving me and my insignificant thoughts all flailing in the dust of big picture insignificance.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Antiquorum Monaco Only Watch Auction Results
September 20, Monaco Yacht Show.
In the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Only Watch
07 charity auction of 35 unique timepieces, first in series or prototypes
raised the exceptional sum of € 2,756,500/ USD 3'878'946,/ CHF
4'553'186. All proceeds from this sale, organized by Antiquorum,
will help fund important medical Research on Duchene Muscular
Dystrophy.
Luc Pettavino, President of the Monaco Yacht Show and founder of
the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy said:
” Sometimes talent comes from really wanting something. Only
Watch has proven this to be true. Everyone who was involved in Only
Watch 07 wanted to be a part of its unique energy and excitement.
In this “second edition” of Only Watch, creativity, celebration,
generosity and professionalism all joined together in an outstanding
charity event that will benefit international research into Duchene
Muscular Dystrophy.
The 2.7 million euros earned will allow the Association Monégasque
contre les Myopathies to continue to support ongoing research programs
and to encourage new ones. Thanks to Only Watch, each new day brings
us closer to finding a therapeutic treatment to relieve the suffering
of children who have Duchene Muscular Dystrophy.
From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank: HSH Prince Albert
II, who has sponsored and supported this event with great compassion;
the watchmaking brands; the auction house Antiquorum; the Monaco
Yacht Show; and all our partners.
Only Watch has become a yearly engagement in the world of charity
and Haute Horology. It is familiar and eagerly awaited by collectors
the world over, and it is immensely beneficial. Therefore, it is
with great pleasure that all the participants in Only Watch
07 join me in inviting you to attend the third Only Watch event,
to be held in September 2009: ONLY WATCH 09 - season III."
More than 300 people attended the auction, including
personalities such as Philippe Starck and Formula One driver Felipe
Massa. Fierce bidding in the room competing with hundreds of bidders
from all over the world via the Internet and over the telephone. This
is the largest sum ever achieved by a charity event in Monaco.
Here the lots in alphabetical order (please click on the image for high definition picture):
Lot 1
Audemars Piguet ” Royal Oak
Offshore Volcano”, first in series.
A very fine, self-winding, stainless steel gentleman’s wristwatch with
approximately 60-hour power reserve chronograph, 30 minute and 12 hour registers,
date and tachometer.
Sold:
40,000 EUR
Lot 2
Blancpain “Ultra-Thin” Pièce
Unique.
A very fine and exceptional 18k yellow gold keyless dress watch with ultra-thin
(1.9mm) mechanical movement and approximately 40-hours power reserve.
Sold:
70,000 EUR
Lot 3
Breguet ”Chronograph Classique
A Rattrapante” No.
1 of a limited edition of 7 pieces.
A very fine and important, 18k yellow gold gentleman’s wristwatch
with split-seconds chronograph, 30-minute register, tachometer and
enamel dial.
Sold:
90,000 EUR
Lot 4
Chopard “L.U.C. Chrono One Prototype” Fleurier
et Genève,
Prototype No. 1 of 2.
An exceptionally rare and interesting self-winding 18k white gold gentleman’s
wristwatch with approximately 60-hour power reserve fly-back chronograph, 30-minute
and 12-hour registers, date and a partially skeletonized dial.
Sold:
32,000 EUR
Lot 5
Corum Admiral's Cup Challenge 44 Regatta,
number 1 in a special edition
A very fine and important 18k pink gold self-winding gentleman’s wristwatch
with approximately 42-hour power reserve, reserve split-seconds chronograph,
30-minute and 12-hour registers, date and an 18k pink gold, and rubber bracelet.
Sold:
22,000 EUR
Lot 6
Daniel Roth “Tourbillon
Date Retrograde Double Face” Pièce
Unique.
A very fine 18k pink gold double-dialled gentleman’s wristwatch
with one-minute tourbillon regulator, retrograde date, 64-hour power
reserve indicator and 18k pink gold dial.
Sold:
42,000 EUR
Lot 7
De Bethune “Time-Zone No.00”Pièce
Unique.
A very fine and important titanium and platinum gentleman’s
wristwatch with differential winding - sport and statics, 6-days
power-reserve indication and triple anti-shock system.
Sold:
45,000 EUR
Lot 8
deLaCour ”Saqra Weekend Graphite”Pièce
Unique.
A very fine and interesting graphite and 18k pink gold self-winding
gentleman’s
wristwatch with day, date and 40-hour power-reserve indication.
Sold:
14,000 EUR
Lot 9
DeWitt and Jean-Michel
Wilmotte. “Incognito 2008” One-of-a-kind model.
Time and Creation, united in the shared vision of Jean-Michel Wilmotte for the
design and DeWitt for the horological substance. One-minute flying tourbillion
regulator and 21-day power-reserve. To be unveiled in January 2008.
Sold:
400,000 EUR
Lot 10
Eterna “Madison” No.1
in a limited edition of 75 pieces.
A fine and special 18k pink gold centre seconds gentleman’s
wristwatch with deployant clasp.
Sold:
9,000 EUR
Lot 11
Franck Muller, “Totally Crazy
Monaco”,
Pièce Unique.
A very fine and amusing 18k white gold self-winding wristwatch with
random jumping hours, date and the Monegasque coat of arms on the dial.
Sold:
180,000 EUR
Lot 12
Frédérique Constant ”Heart
Beat Zerodur”, Pièce Unique.
A fine and important 18k pink gold astronomic gentleman’s
wristwatch with date, moon-phase indicator, innovative Zerodur
balance and Silicium escape wheel.
Sold:
11,000 EUR
Lot 13
Gerald Charles “Gérald Genta celebrates César” Pièce
Unique.
Very fine and interesting 18k white, pink and yellow gold “Compression
de Cesar” self-winding gentleman’s wristwatch with sliding-hours.
Sold:
40,000 EUR
Lot 14
Girard-Perregaux “World Time-Perpetual
Calendar-Financial”, Pièce Unique.
A very fine 18k pink gold astronomic gentleman’s wristwatch with
Perpetual calendar world-time with 24 global locations, “trading-time” indication
for the major markets in the world and moon phase.
Sold:
17,000 EUR
Lot 15
Glashütte Original, “Prince’s
Palace of Monaco”,
Pièce Unique.
An exceptional 18k rose gold self-winding gentleman’s wristwatch
with a Meissen porcelain dial with a polychrome depiction of the ““Prince’s
Palace of Monaco”.
Sold:
30,000 EUR
Lot 16
Harry Winston “Avenue Exotic Birds - Set n°1
of a limited edition of 5”
A very fine set of four 18k white gold gem-set lady’s wristwatches
with gem set cloisonné enamel dials; this new mini-collection
is a fresh artistic and romantic interpretation of the Exotic Birds
theme.
Sold:
80,000 EUR
Lot 17
Hublot ”Big Bang Only Watch” Pièce
Unique.
A very fine, oversized black ceramic and titanium gentleman’s
wristwatch with chronograph, 30-min and 12-hour registers and date.
Sold:
28,000 EUR
Lot 18
Instrument et Mesures
de Temps “Instrument de mesure de
Régularité”, Genève, Pièce Unique.
A very fine and important 18k pink gold gentleman’s wristwatch
with split-seconds chronograph 30-minute and 12 hour registers, date
and a triple pointer chronograph with different coloured hands corresponding
to 3 timing scales.
Sold:
26,000 EUR
Lot 19
International Watch Co. Schaffhausen “Fliegeruhr
5026, Perpetual Calendar” Pièce
Unique.
Very fine stainless steel astronomic gentleman’s wristwatch
with secular perpetual calendar and phases of the moon.
Sold:
80,000 EUR
Lot 20
Jaeger-LeCoultre“Joaillerie 101 Etrier”, Pièce
Unique.
An exceptionally fine18k white gold diamond and pink sapphire set
lady”s
back wound wristwatch.
Sold:
28,000 EUR
Lot 21
Jaquet Droz“Les
Douze Villes Monaco”,
Pièce unique.
An exceptional oversized 18k white
gold world-time wristwatch with jump-hour and time correction for
12 cities
Sold:
32,000 EUR
Lot 22
Louis Vuitton “Tambour
18 Mandarine Watch”, Pièce Unique.
Very fine and important 18k yellow gold diamond set lady’s
wristwatch with diamond set orange mother-of-pearl dial. Accompanied
by a Louis Vuitton “Mini-Trunk” designed in collaboration
with Paul Pettavino. 11 years old.
Sold:
66,000 EUR
Lot 23
Mauboussin “Oryx
Tourbillon”, No.1 in a special edition.
A very important 18k white gold gentleman’s skeletonized
wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator.
Sold:
130,000 EUR
Lot 24
Omega “De Ville Hour Vision, Only
Watch”, Pièce Unique.
A very fine 18k red gold gentleman’s wristwatch
with two barrels and co-axel escapement, the case with sapphire crystal
body to view the movement.
Sold:
25,000 EUR
Lot 25
Officine Panerai ”RADIOMIR 10 Days GMT PINK GOLD” Pièce
Unique.
A very fine and important, gentleman’s
wristwatch with 10-day power reserve indicator, 24-hour dial and
day, night indication with special blue dial.
Sold:
44,000 EUR
Lot 26
Patek Philippe, Ref 5712T “Nautilus Titanium”, Genève,
Pièce Unique.
Watch made of titanium incorporating the automatic Calibre 240 with
hour & minute indicator, seconds' between 4 and 5 o'clock, power
reserve, date and moon phase display. This Nautilus Titanium is water-resistant
to 60 meters and features a two-colour dial with a horizontally embossed
pattern, a composite material strap, and a safety fold-over clasp in
titanium.
Sold:
525,000 EUR
Lot 27
Piaget, “Altiplano, Prince Albert
II” Pièce Unique.
A very fine 18k white gold diamond-set gentleman’s wristwatch
with diamond-set dial replicating the fingerprint of H.S.H Prince Albert
II of Monaco.
Sold:
38,000 EUR
Lot 28
Pierre Kunz, “Chrono Sport Monaco” Genève,
Pièce Unique.
A very fine and important stainless steel gentleman’s wristwatch
with chronograph, skeletonized retrograde 30-minute and 12-hour registers,
day/night indication and red “Texalium” dial.
Sold:
12,000 EUR
Lot 29
Richard Mille and Philippe
Starck “An
integral interpretation in titanium”, Piéce
Unique.
A very fine skeletonized Titanium self-winding gentleman’s
wristwatch with fly-back chronograph, annual calendar, oversize
date, month, 12-hour register, 60-minute countdown time and approximately
55-hour power reserve (without chronograph running).
Sold:
320,000 EUR
Lot 30
Rodolphe ”Instinct
Chrono 180° Only Watch”,
Pièce Unique, Unique Inscription and Unique Dial.
An unusual PVD coated gentleman’s wristwatch with two movements,
one for the chronograph with constant seconds, date, 30-minute and
12-hour recorders and the other for the time functions.
Sold:
7,000 EUR
Lot 31
Swatch, “Pearly Pink”, Piece Unique.
A
stylish pink crystal set steel lady’s
quartz wristwatch.
Sold:
4,500 EUR
Lot 32
Ulysse Nardin“Maxi Marine Diver
Only Watch 2007 Set”, unique Set.
A very fine stainless steel and white gold gentleman’s wristwatch
with date and power-reserve indicator (approximately 42-hours). Accompanied
by a barometer and a copy of the book “Making of a Masterpiece”.
Sold:
24,000 EUR
Lot 33
Vacheron Constantin, “Malte Tourbillon Platinum” Pièce
Unique.
An exceptionally rare gentleman's platinum tourbillon regulator tonneau-shaped
wristwatch with date and 40-hour power reserve indicator. Also featuring
a carriage bridge in platinum (a first for Vacheron Constantin). The
case, dial, strap stitching and buckle are equally in platinum.
Sold:
130,000 EUR
Lot 34
Van Cleef & Arpels “Lady Arpels Féerie”,
Pièce Unique
A very fine 18k white gold diamond-set (D-E-F) lady’s wristwatch
with a purple guilloché dial. The delicate white gold and
diamonds fairy indicates the time thanks to an hour and minute retrograde
mechanical movement.
Sold:
70,000 EUR
Lot 35
Zenith “Defy Extreme Stealth 1000m Only Watch 2007”, Pièce
Unique.
A very fine titanium divers wristwatch with revolving graduated bezel,
chronograph, 30-minute register, central power reserve indicator and
partially skeletonized dial.
Sold:
45,000 EUR
Antiquorum is, unquestionably, the world’s leading
watch auctioneer; Of the 62 watches ever sold publicly by major auction
houses above SFR. 1,000,000, Antiquorum claims an impressive 44 .
In 2002, Antiquorum established the all-time world record price for
a wristwatch at auction when it sold a platinum Patek Phililppe World
Time Ref. 1415 from 1939 for an astounding CHF 6,603,500 (US$ 4,026,524).
This record-breaking price more than doubled the previous world record
price for a wrist watch at auction. Another record price for a modern
watch was achieved in 2004, the unique white gold Calibre 89, also
by Patek Philipe, was sold for SFr. 6,603,500 (US$ 5,002,652).
Info by Antiquorum
Daily thoughts, musings & interests about anything (mostly horology) that currently makes my soul & grey matter tick.













