More than 450 selected vintage and modern wristwaches will be offered for sale courtesy of Antiquorum's Important Collectors' Wristwatches, Pocket Watches, & Clocks Auction. Previews are to be held in Hong Kong, Hang Zhou, Shanghai and Geneva, where the sale takes place.
One of the highlights of the sale is unquestionably the exceptionally rare and very important Grande & Petite Sonnerie Tourbillon Clockwatch attributedto Victorin Piguet, made for Tchétounoff Frères, Moscow, circa 1900.
 Sonnerie Tourbillon Clockwatch ($377,000) |
Its movement combines a two-train grande and petite sonnerie with trip minute-repeating and one-minute tourbillon, and it has been given a guide price of 300,000-400,000 Swiss Francs (CHF - up to $377,000).
Top lots also include the Patek Philippe Ref. 130 in pink gold for Eberhard-Milan, estimated at CHF70,000- 90,000. This very sought-after chronograph, made circa 1948, was retailed by Eberhard, Milan.
Sophisticated collectors appreciate this model's perfect proportions and its clearly readable dial, encircled by a slender, concave bezel which lends a great luminosity to the dial.
Another very fine and rare timepiece by Patek Philippe is the Ref.1579, made in 1949 and sold on October 18, 1950, expected to sell here for CHF 80,000-100,000.
This large 18K yellow gold chronograph is accompanied by the original Certificate of Origin, the Extract from the Archives, a documented spare service dial from 1977 and service history documents for the period 1974 to 1994.
Antiquorum's May auction also includes a selection of technical timepieces including the Patek Philippe Ref. 3448 retailed by Cartier, made circa 1970.
This very fine and rare self-winding 18K yellow gold wristwatch features a perpetual calendar and moon phases. It is accompanied by the Extract from the Archives and a Cartier certificate of authenticity.
Yet another exceptional timepiece is the Audemars Piguet "Jules Audemars - Tourbillon Répétition Minutes Quantième Perpetuel", Cabinet No.2, second watch in the "Tradition of Excellence" cabinet series.
 Jules Audemars - Tourbillon Répétition Minutes Quantième Perpetuel |
It was made circa 2000 in a limited edition of 20 pieces only. This grand complication combines minute-repeating and perpetual calendar functions with a visible one-minute tourbillon regulator.
Collectors will also be delighted by the Patek Philippe Ref. 3970, in platinum, sold in June 2003. This platinum chronograph features a perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year and 24-hour indication. It is accompanied by the original fitted mahogany box, Certificate of Origin, setting pin, booklets and a spare strap and transparent platinum case back.
Antiquorum experts are also pleased to present the Patek Philippe, Ref. 5101P - 10 Days Tourbillon, sold on December 18, 2006 by G. Collins & Sons, British Crown Jewellers and personal jeweller to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
This exceptional rectangular and curved, Art Deco style platinum chronometer wristwatch holds a one-minute tourbillon regulator and tandem mainspring barrels providing a 10-day power-reserve.
It is accompanied by the Certificate of Origin, chronometer rating certificate, instructions in a leather folder, the original wood fitted box and a limited edition Patek Philippe art print - VI-2003 illustrating the movement of the Ref. 5101.
Sold in October 2009, the Patek Philippe Ref. 5004, in 18K yellow gold, is yetanother extremely rare wristwatch offered for sale. This split-seconds chronograph features a perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year and 24 hour indication.
America's Cup aficionados will certainly want the AP Team Alinghi "Royal Oak Offshore", Limited Edition, No. 090/107which was made in a limited series of 107 pieces to celebrate the victory of Alinghi team in March 2003 America's Cup.
This flyback chronograph in forged carbon, ceramic and platinum bears a central digital 10-minute count-down timer, 20-minute and 6-hour chronograph registers and is accompanied by a Team Alinghi presentation case and user's manual.
Closing the selection of complicated timepieces offered at Antiquorum's May auction is an exceptional and highly complicated 8-day going platinum wristwatch: the Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Complication Gyrotourbillon No. 1/1 - Piece Unique.
This features a visible Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 177 with inclined lightweight two-cage multi-axis spherical tourbillon, two barrels with sapphire covers, "marchante" equation of time, perpetual calendar with retrograde month indication, leap-year indication and patented instant date display by means of two retrograde hands and power reserve indication.
It was sold in December 2007, and is expected to bring CHF270,000-320,000 here.
The auction takes place on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 May at the Mandarin Oriental Geneva, and we will bring you the results here.
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