Christie's confirms to be the leading auction house in the watches field
Geneva - November 14th
Christie's achieves an extraordinary result with its important Watches sale of November 2011.
There are no doubts: Christie's is since many years the world's leading auction huouse in the field of watches.
The auction took place yesterday in Geneva and it was literally a marathon: 9 hours of sale !!! Aurel Bacs, international Head of Christie's Watch Department was an excellent auctioneer and people were really excited in the room !
These are the data of the auction:
29.1 Million is the total of the sale
33% versus November 2010 results
Multiple record prices achieved
2 lots sold above US $ 2 million
6 lots sold above US $ 1 million
222 Buyers from 39 different countries
INCREDIBLE !!!
Aurel Bacs commented:
“Totaling more than US$29.1 million, Christie's Geneva achieved an historical result for a various owners sale. This tremendous outcome reaffirms the unrivalled position of Christie's team in the watch arena. We’ve never seen such an intense buying activity with enthusiastic bidding in the room, on the telephone and online, with buyers recognizing quality at all price levels. I was delighted the customized Project X Designs Rolex Sea Dweller watch offered by Sir Roger Moore sold for SFr.75,000 to benefit UNICEF”.
Patek Philippe watches played the leading role, breaking numerous world records. Rolex, along with Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, and Cartier, also saw outstanding results, as well as independent brands such as F.P. Journe. Standouts included the 1953 Rolex „Neptune‟ ref. 8382 (selling for five times its estimate for SFr.609,000), a 1945 Rolex ref. 3525, and the 1910 Vacheron Constantin scarab-form pendant watch.
James Bond's Mythical Rolex wristwatch specially adapted for ‘Live and Let Die’ by film production designer Syd Caine in 1972 sold immediately after the morning session for SFr. 219,000 ($243,966 / €177,390).
Top lots of the sale:
Patek Philippe.
SFr. 2,099,000 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THIS REFERENCE AT AUCTION
A rare 18K pink gold automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, retailed by Freccero, ref. 3448, manufactured in 1968
Patek Philippe.
SFr. 1,987,000 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THIS REFERENCE AT AUCTION
A rare platinum chronograph wristwatch, ref. 1579, manufactured in 1946.
Patek Philippe.
SFr. 1,427,000
A rare 18K gold manually-wound perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, ref. 3449, manufactured in 1961
Patek Philippe.
SFr. 1,143,000
A unique platinum openface one minute tourbillon watch
Patek Philippe.
SFr. 1,023,000
A rare 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, ref. 2499, manufactured in 1951.
Patek Philippe.
SFr. 903,000
A rare 18K pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, ref. 1518, manufactured in 1950.
Rolex.
SFr. 609,000
WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR A ROLEX ‘NEPTUNE’ AT AUCTION
A large 18K gold wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and cloisonné enamel dial depicting Neptune, ref. 8382, circa 1953
