LONDON.- Christie’s London Luxury Week auctions achieved a combined total of £12,180,612 / $16,280,937 / €13,811,775, attracting global participation from bidders from 50 countries, across 5 continents, over the three sales; Finest & Rarest Wines and Spirits, Including Fine Rioja Direct from Bodegas Artadi and Two Superb Private Collections, Handbags & Accessories and Important Jewels. Christie’s welcomed over 9,000 visitors to the auction previews, alongside a spectacular Watches private sales exhibition, a bespoke service for collectors seeking the very best timepieces, offered for the first time in London. The week also included a tailored programme of events, including interactive workshops, talks by guest speakers and a dedicated Christie’s Late, presenting collectors the opportunity to engage with Christie’s specialists and learn more regarding the variety of exceptional objects on offer.

Aline Sylla-Walbaum, Global Managing Director, Luxury at Christie’s: “We are delighted with the response from our clients who embraced the programme of events and auctions here in London. We continue to see increases in international participation in the sales and are particularly pleased that 27% of collectors taking part in the week were new to the Luxury categories. Witnessing cross-category interest, we were thrilled to have coincided our exhibition with Indian Art and foster unexpected encounters with a variety of incredible objects.”

FINEST & RAREST WINES AND SPIRITS: 7 JUNE
The week of sales began with Finest & Rarest Wines and Spirits, Including Fine Rioja Direct from Bodegas Artadi and Two Superb Private Collections, on 7 June, which realised a total of £2,412,612 / $ 3,237,725 / €2,740,727 and outstanding sell-through rates of 86% by lot and 94% by value. The top lots of the sale were 12 bottles of Domaine de la RomanéeConti, La Tâche 1990 Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits (estimate: £35,000-45,000), which achieved £78,000 / £104,676 / €88,608 and 6 magnums of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche 1996 Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits (estimate: £25,000-30,000), which sold for £50,400 / $67,637 / €57,254.

A highlight of the sale was Christie’s partnership with Sullivans Cove to offer one of the few remaining bottles of the World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt, with all proceeds going to charity. The bottle offered was number 88 of the winning cask, #HH0351, at the 2018 World Whiskies Awards and had never left the distillery in Cambridge, Tasmania. The lot achieved £6,600 / $8,857 / €7,498, and proceeds from the sale will benefit the Australian charity The Alannah & Madeline Foundation, whose mission is to keep children safe from all forms of violence.

HANDBAGS & ACCESSORIES: 12 JUNE
Christie’s Handbags & Accessories sale on 12 June, achieved a total of £2,932,125 / $3,917,319 / €3,319,166 with sell-through rates of 93% by lot and 92% by value. The auction demonstrated the continued growth in the category, with 26% of registered bidders new to Christie’s and attracted collectors from 36 countries across the globe, an increase of 10% to last year’s auction. From precious to vintage varieties and sought-after limited editions, highlights of the sale included a 2008 Hermès, Matte White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 30 with 18k White Gold & Diamond Hardware (estimate: £100,000-150,000), which sold for £162,500 / $217,100 / €183,950 and achieved a European record for a handbag sold at auction. Further leading lots of the auction included a 1996 Hermès unique painted white & red Ardennes Leather Nasa Retourné Kelly 35 with Gold Hardware by Tom Sachs, executed in 2009 (estimate: £20,000-30,000), which realised £40,000 / $53,440 / €45,280, along with a 2006 Hermès Shiny Bleu Roi Porosus Crocodile Diamond Birkin 30 With 18k White Gold & Diamond Hardware (estimate: £60,000-80,000), which sold for £100,000 / $133,600 / €113,200. Strong interest was seen for Chanel runway examples such as an Emerald green jumbo sold for £21,250 / $28,390 / €24,055 (estimate of £6,000-£8,000), along with the mini Hermès Kelly bags, which each achieved £15,000/ $20,040 / €16,980 (estimate: £3,000-£4,000).

IMPORTANT JEWELS: 13 JUNE
Christie’s Important Jewels Sale on the 13 June realised a total of £6,835,875 / $9,125,893 / €7,751,882, achieving sell-through rates of 79% by lot and 83% by value. Leading the sale was a Fine Sapphire and Diamond 'Julie' Ring by Cartier (estimate: £450,000-650,000), which sold for £512,750 / $684,521 / €581,459. A star lot of the sale was the important Belle Époque Diamond Tiara, offered with an extraordinary provenance, formerly the property of HRH The Crown Princess of Yugoslavia and from the collection of The Princes of Orléans Braganza. With an estimate of £140,000-210,000, this noble jewel saw competitive bidding and sold for £344,750 / $460,241 / €390,947. The sale presented a further selection of tiaras, which achieved outstanding results, including a late 19th century emerald and diamond tiara (estimate: £70,000-90,000), which sold for £224,750 / $300,041 / €254,867.

PRIVATE SALE WATCHES: 6- 13 JUNE
Christie’s London Watches Private Sale exhibition was on view throughout the entirety of Luxury Week, presenting collectors with a curated variety of timepieces from the most celebrated watch manufactures, including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. The international watch team will be back in London with a tailored programme on 11 and 12 September 2018.