10 Patek Philippes at 'finest' watch auction

On November 16, Christie's will hold an auction presenting one of the finest selections of watches ever offered for sale at the firm.

The group of more than 380 lots, to be auctioned in Geneva, Switzerland, is estimated to bring more than SFr.10m in total.

Highlighting the sale is an exceptional collection of 10 vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches, expected to bring SFr.3-4m

The sale will also include a wide range of exquisite watches manufactured from the 18th to 21st centuries by the most renowned houses in the world, such as Rolex, Cartier, A. Lange & Söhne, Breguet and F.P. Journe.

Most of the lots are fresh to the market and consigned by distinguished private collections.

The most significant private collection of vintage Patek Philippes

Included in the sale will be a stunning group of 10 vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches dating from 1938 to 1982, highlighting Christie's Geneva Important Watches Auction.

Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe (SFr.250k-350k)

Kept in a safe for almost 20 years, their extraordinary quality and perfect state of conservation makes each of them a real treasure.

Each piece can be considered a milestone in the production of the renowned Swiss maison in the 20th century. All 10 masterpieces are expected to fetch SFr. 3-4 million.

The sale will feature a large number of other important pieces by Patek Philippe, such as the automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases (pictured left).

This is one of only two known examples of this model in platinum, which is estimated SFr.500,000-800,000.

A rich selection of wristwatches by Rolex is highlighted by two rare pieces both dated 1950.

An extremely rare automatic pink gold triple calendar wristwatch with moon phases (estimated at SFr.250,000-350,000) and an automatic triple calendar wristwatch with moon phases in stainless steel (estimated at SFr.100,000-150,000).

Rolex
Rolex Oyster (SFr.20k-30k)

Rolex collectors will also appreciate the Oyster Cosmograph Daytona stainless steel chronograph wristwatch made for the Peruvian Airforce in 1975 (estimated at SFr.20,000-30,000, pictured right) and another very rare gold wristwatch Oyster, Observatory Chronometer, "Kew A Certificate", manufactured in 1954 and estimated at SFr.20,000- 30,000.

Among the most important signature watches is the elegant and rare pink gold rectangular twin barrel 8-days wristwatch by Cartier, manufactured in 1941 and estimated at SFr.80,000-120,000.

The watch boasts an eight-day movement, more commonly found in pocket watches, clocks or travel timepieces, allowing it to run for eight days once fully wound.

It is also one of the most beautiful and best preserved examples of an early "Tank Allongée" wristwatch by Cartier to be offered in public in recent years (pictured below). The rare pink gold case material combined with a highly unusual movement and excellent overall condition renders it a true collector's piece.

Cartier
Cartier (SFr.80k-120k)

A group of attractive and important 21st century watches will also be offered.

Despite its young age, the Lange 1 Tourbillon model by A. Lange & Söhne, a platinum limited edition twin barrel one minute tourbillon wristwatch with oversized date and power reserve, is already a classic of horology (estimated at SFr.120,000-190,000).

This is also true for the very fine and rare platinum automatic tourbillon wristwatch with constant force remontoir, power reserve, pink gold and silver dial, manufactured in 2002 by FP Journe (estimated at SFr.40,000-60,000).

Certainly one of the most unusual lots of this sale is a precious gilt metal singing bird box by Breguet, which was manufactured in 1954 and is estimated at SFr.20,000- 30,000, with its original presentation box.

The sale will be held on Monday, November 16, with pre-sale viewings on November 14-15.



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