PARIS.- On March 11th 2026, Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer held its annual auction in Basel, featuring Swiss Art, International Art before 1900, and Important Watches. Art lovers and collectors turned out in force, whether in the auction room, by telephone, or online. In total, the three sales reached CHF 4.9 M (€5.4 M).
The Basel Watch Auction was marked by a new world record for a Patek Philippe watch. The “Beyer. No. 17" Ref. 3940 achieved the exceptional result of CHF 762,150 (€843,113).
Produced from 1985 to 2007, the Ref. 3940 is considered a major piece of complication watchmakingThe first 25 pieces were created to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Beyer retailer: numbers 1 to 15 featured a German calendar, while numbers 16 to 25 were fitted with an English calendar. Number 17 belongs to this latter series of just 10 pieces, making it an exceptionally rare collector’s watch.
Among the results achieved for the Swiss Art specialty, the magnificent Portrait de jeune fille by Albert Anker sold for CHF 635,125 (€703,730), while Les Alyscamps by Félix Vallotton reached CHF 317,560 (€351,833).
During the International Art before 1900 auction, Corneille de Lyon’s Portrait of a Prelate also attracted keen interest. Numerous bidders engaged in a bidding war by telephone, in the auction room, and online, quickly surpassing the high estimate of CHF 120,000 to reach CHF 546,000 including fees (or €605,105).
