MONTE-CARLO.- On 16 to 21 July, Artcurial will take up residence at its summer quarters, the Hôtel Hermitage, to hold a tempting programme of prestigious sales: Jewellery, Fine Watches, le Temps est Féminin and Hermès Summer Collection. The directors of each department have assembled an array of treasures including jewellery, bags, watches and collectors’ items to entice the knowledgeable and selective clientele.

Centrepiece of the Fine Watches sale will be the Bull Collection. This collection of 36 lots includes some highly sought-after pieces by the biggest names in Swiss watchmaking: Patek Philippe and Rolex, with such iconic models as the Nautilus and the Daytona. The Temps est Féminin sale confirms the steady growth in the market for women’s watches. In the Jewellery sale, there will be a tempting selection of rare stones on offer along with pieces by the biggest names from La Place Vendôme and other highly coveted designers. The Hermès Summer Collection will bring together Birkin, Kelly and Constance bags, all timeless classics, in a wide range of colours and the session will be rounded off with a few special items from the Louis Vuitton x Supreme capsule collection.

There will be even more excitement this year as Artcurial extends the prestigious week of sales on the Riviera to include an auction of collectors’ cars, offering close to 80 exceptional automobiles sourced by Artcurial Motorcars. A perfect synergy between the expertise of Artcurial and Monaco’s celebrated motoring heritage.

This season, Monaco and the Hôtel Hermitage have taken all the necessary health and safety measures to ensure they can welcome visitors from around the world in unrivalled luxury. A level of comfort offered by the hotel that provides the perfect setting in which to enjoy the excitement and spectacle of the auctions.

« For the last nearly fifteen years, our presence in Monaco has grown year on year. We are looking forward to returning to the Hôtel Hermitage in July to present a week of very strong sales centred round our luxury themes of Jewellery, Fine Watches and the Hermès Summer Collection. We are delighted to announce that Artcurial Motorcars returns to Monaco this year to present a selection of classic cars at the Musée de l’automobile du Prince ». --Louise Grether, Director Artcurial Monaco

Jewellery
Monday 20 July at 14h30 and 19h
Always a highly anticipated moment in the Monegasque sales, the jewellery department at Artcurial, led by director Julie Valade, has once again sourced a selection of tempting treasures offering an insight into the history of jewellery. Famous names from La Place Vendôme, Chaumet, Boucheron, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels will appear alongside other well-known names such as Boivin, Belperron, Lacloche and Desprès. More contemporary designers will include César, Bulgari, Marina B and JAR.

The Art Deco period will be highlighted with a stunning collection of beautiful boxes and a rare necklace by Jean Fouquet in rock crystal, aquamarine and enamel (estimate: 60 000 - 80 000 €).

There will be some exceptional stones on offer including a ring set with a 10.42ct diamond of the highest quality (certified GIA : D, IF, Type IIa) estimate 400 000 – 450 000 €, two Kashmir sapphire rings, 3.58 cts (estimate 80 000 – 100 000 € ) and 4.16 cts (estimate 130 000 – 150 000 €), and a sumptuous bracelet coming from the jewellery box of the Spanish royal family, set with a 53.51 ct emerald from Columbia (estimate: 150 000 – 180 000 €).

French luxury will be on show with a selection of pieces coming from the estate of Jeanne Augier, owner of the celebrated Negresco hotel in Nice.

« This latest jewellery sale will take place in the new context we find ourselves in. We have assembled a magnificent selection of items from the greatest and most desirable names in jewellery. It is difficult to choose, but the Fouquet art deco pendant, the rare Cartier bouquet clip brooch and the leaf clips by Suzanne Belperron make an exceptional and varied trio that look set to create some strong bidding. » --Julie Valade, Director of Jewellery, Artcurial

Fine Watches
Sunday 19 July at 19h
Artcurial is delighted to announce that The Bull Collection will star in this year’s prestigious Monaco sale. This exceptional collection, la crème de la crème, comprises 36 watches by Rolex and Patek Philippe that were diligently collected over several decades by an enlightened enthusiast.

Daytona and Nautilus are amongst the names that are bound to spark interest and set the room alight when the bidding starts. In addition to the highly sought-after Nautilus series, there are many Rolex models including the first series from the end of the 1980s, the well-loved reference 16520 in its stainless steel version and the equally popular 16528 in gold.




Other treasures to emerge from under the sea will be the Rolex Sea Dweller and Submariner, along with the limited edition Jubilee Salmon Dial, produced by Audemars-Piguet to mark the 20th anniversary of their famous Royal Oak, estimate 20 000 - 30 000 €.

With items such as these, we are expecting this sale to attract the attention of the biggest international collectors worldwide!

There are other sections in the auction that may also create a stir, such as an interesting collection of pocket watches and rare vintage models including a Rolex GMT Master ref 1675 bought in 1965 at the height of the Vietnam War from the official agent in Ho Chi Minh by the current owner who is living in France today, (estimate: 8 000 - 12 000 €), and a Nautilus Jumbo 3700 (estimate: 60 000 - 80 000 €) in stainless steel, bought in the UK during the summer of 1978 and kept ever since by its first owner.

« With the Bull Collection on offer, the Hôtel Hermitage is THE place to be this summer for lovers of the Must-Haves : Nautilus, Royal Oak, Daytona, Comex, Aquanaut...An extensive and sensational collection ! » --Marie Sanna-Legrand, Director of Fine Watches, Artcurial

Le Temps est Féminin
Tuesday 21 July at 14h
Artcurial is now reaping the rewards of its innovation and determination. After five editions of the «Temps est Féminin» sale, the Fine Watches department can vouch for the strength of this category dedicated to ladies’ watches. The 6th sale in this series will take place on Tuesday 21 July at 14h.

Piaget, undisputed star of the 90 lots on offer in this sale, is brilliantly represented, confirming its dominant position amongst ladies’ watches, comparable to that of Patek Philippe in the men’s world. Artcurial now holds a leading role in this strong market, where values are rising and the number of collectors growing.

Piaget highlights include a yellow gold and tiger’s eye cuff watch, and the renowned reference 9804, the So Chic model from the 1970s, made famous by Jackie Kennedy. This rare version with a gold dial and braided motifs comes with an interesting provenance as it used to belong to Wanda Thénier, daughter of Nadia Léger (1 500 - 2 000 €).

Cartier will also attract attention with a selection of rare models such as the famous Gouvernail as well as two « navette » models from the 1930s. There is an exceptional piece by the talented jewellery designer Gilbert Albert, produced in collaboration with Omega, in hammered gold and pearls. A rarity.

The artistry of these ladies’ watches owe much to the jewellery designers. Following the record set by Artcurial in Monaco for a Bulgari Serpenti watch, which sold for 430 600 €, the auction house will this year present two Serpenti models on Tubogas bracelets, one with 3 coils (estimate 6 000 - 8 000 €) and the other with 6 coils (estimate 8 000 -10 000 €).

« Le Temps est Féminin, the sixth sale in the series, celebrates the big jewellery designers from Gilbert Albert to Van Cleef & Arpels and stars a pendant watch in platinum, onyx and diamonds from 1929 presented with all its original documentation – a rarity! » --Marie Sanna-Legrand, Director of Fine Watches, Artcurial

Hermès Summer Collection
Sunday 19 July at 17h
All the most iconic pieces by the Maison Hermès will be offered by the Hermès Vintage & Fashion Arts department when the auction begins on Sunday 19 July at 17h. Alice Léger, a specialist in the department, has reunited all the best special orders and limited edition pieces. There will be the classic Birkin, Constance and Kelly bags in various colours and exotic skins (crocodile, lizard and ostrich) as well as more traditional leathers.

Included will be three very special Birkins : a Birkin 35 «So Black», estimate 15 000 - 25 000 €, a Birkin 30 in demin blue porosus crocodile, estimate 26 000 - 36 000 €, and a unique piece customised by the street artist JonOne, estimate 15 000 - 25 000 €.

The sale, always a highly anticipated event, provides an opportunity to bring together an extraordinary range of Hermès bags, to appeal to aficionados of the maison du faubourg brand. Another notable attraction will see Louis Vuitton make his come back with a selection of five Louis Vuitton x Supreme lots including a rare trunk estimated at 70 000 - 90 000 € that is very appealing to collectors.

« The Hermès Summer Collection sale will once more provide an opportunity to present an anthology of iconic models, featuring rare and in some cases unique examples. A selection of Louis Vuitton x Supreme items will also be on offer… Something to surprise our passionate clientèle!» --Alice Léger, Hermès Vintage & Fashion Arts specialist, Artcurial