Watch collectors are gearing themselves up for what promises to be a fantastic Antiquorum Auctioneers sale in New York city.

More than 300 vintage collectible timepieces will be displayed on September 17 - including several outstanding items by Patek Philippe and, extraordinarily, a rare Seiko wristwatch designed to be worn in space.

Highlights will included the unique Patek Philippe Ref. 3939HP, a platinum piece featuring a black dial, minute repeater and tourbillon, with a silver dial also included. The presale estimate is $400,000-600,000.

The Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk is a "flown" piece, meaning that it has been in space.

It was created especially for the 12-day Soyuz TMA-13 mission to the International Space Station, and worn by private space explorer Richard Garriott.

Proceeds from the Seiko sale will go to the Nature Conservancy and the Challenger Center.

A number of other important Patek Philippe watches will appear at the sale.

These will include a platinum Ref. 3974 estimated at $450,000-650,000, a platinum Ref. 5013 and unique Ref. 5016 in platinum with a black dial, plus a silver dial and a solid platinum case, both estimated at $450,000-650,000.

Other watches will include a Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication No. 28/30, estimated at $450,000-650,000, and Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon No. 1, No. 2/75, estimated at $320,000-370,000.

The sale begins at 11am on Thursday, September 17 at the Fuller Building, 595 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY.