HONG KONG.- Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches Spring Sale 2012 will take place on 4 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Following the success of last season, which recorded the highest total ever for a sale of Important Watches at Sotheby’s worldwide at HK$112 million / US$14 million, this Spring promises an even larger array of remarkable timepieces in pristine condition with impeccable provenance, ranging from the highly coveted Patek Philippe minute repeating wristwatches to extremely rare creations of independent master watchmaker Philippe Dufour and decorative enamel watches and clocks of immaculate craftsmanship. Offering 476 lots, the sale is estimated to achieve a total of HK$72.5 - 102 million / US$9 –13 million – the largest of the category in the history of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Vanessa Herrera, Head of Watches, Sotheby’s China and Southeast Asia, says, “Sotheby’s Watches continues its ascent with an ever-buoyant Asian watch auction market fuelled by successive record-breaking sales and a formidable team of international specialists. This sale – the largest in the Company’s history in Asia – entices collectors with three exceptional Patek Philippe minute repeaters led by the Ref. 3939R, and two of Philippe Dufour’s rarest masterpieces, the unique 18k Pink Gold Grande and Petite Sonnerie wristwatch and pocket watch made for Audemars Piguet.
With over 470 lots to choose from, this spectacular array of modern complications, enamel and bejewelled timepieces by prestigious makers promises to draw hundreds of international watch collectors to our Hong Kong salesrooms this spring.”
Highlights of the sale include:
MINUTE REPEATERS
Sotheby’s Hong Kong saw a world auction record set for a PATEK PHILIPPE Ref. 3939J Yellow Gold Wristwatch at an astounding HK$4.22 Million / US$541,025 (Est. HK$2.4 – 3.4 million / US$300,000 – 440,000) in October 2011. This season, Sotheby’s is delighted to present the rarest version of this recently discontinued reference, a PATEK PHILIPPE Ref. 3939HR, A Very Fine And Rare Pink Gold Minute Repeating Tourbillon Wristwatch With Enamel Dial And Breguet Numerals, 2007 (Est. HK$2.8 – 3.6 million / US$360,000 – 460,000). Housed in a classic 18k pink gold Calatrava case under an elegant white enamel dial, the caliber RTO 27 PS incorporates two of the most coveted complications, the tourbillon and the minute repeater with an unparalleled resonance and exquisite tone, and promises to be a great pleasure for sophisticated connoisseurs.
Equally impressive is the PATEK PHILIPPE Ref. 5079J, An Very Fine And Rare Yellow Gold Automatic Minute Repeating Wristwatch With “Cathedral” Gongs And Enamel Dial, 2002 (Est. HK$2.5 – 3.8 million / US$320,000 – 490,000). Produced in a very small quantity only between 2002 and 2005, this exceptional minute repeating wristwatch features extra-long “cathedral” gongs that wrap around almost twice the normal length, resulting in a richer and grander chime. An interchangeable sapphire crystal case back offers a view of the intricate calibre R 27 PS housed within the impressive 42-mm case, which creates the perfect acoustic conditions for the “cathedral” gongs. The masterful engineering behind this exacting high complication is tastefully concealed by the elegant and understated white enamel dial. Like any other Patek Philippe minute repeater, this intricate masterpiece was personally inspected by Philippe Stern himself and deemed worthy of chiming the hours before leaving the manufacture. The result is the majestic, inimitable chime that distinguishes Patek Philippe from so many others.
Another notable minute repeater offered is the PATEK PHILIPPE Ref. 5078P, An Extremely Fine and Very Rare Platinum Automatic Minute Repeating Wristwatch With Enamel Dial, Circa 2006 (Est. HK$2.4 – 3.2 million / US$300,000 –410,000). With exquisite resonance and purity, the minute repeating chime of this reference is sure to captivate the most sophisticated, discerning collectors. With the 342-part calibre R 27 PS beating within the classic platinum case with a white enamel dial and black Roman numerals, this elegant timepiece is a truly understated mechanical wonder.
The above three Patek Philippe minute repeaters aside, Sotheby’s Hong Kong will present a highly coveted example from the world’s oldest watch manufacturer VACHERON CONSTANTIN - A Fine And Rare Platinum Minute Repeating Wristwatch With Two-Tone Dial, 1993 (Est. HK$800,000 – 1.2 million /US$100,000 – 150,000). Vacheron Constantin has focused on the development of minute repeating wristwatches from the 1940s onwards. Unveiled in 1993, this modern and slim minute repeating calibre 1755 was named after the founding year of the Swiss manufacturer. Connoisseurs of this high complication will appreciate the exquisite tone and well-paced chime, complemented by its easily wearable style and timeless appeal.
INDEPENDENT MASTER WATCHMAKERS
This season Sotheby’s Hong Kong proudly presents an array of important timepieces by independent master watchmakers, including two gems of extraordinary craftsmanship by master watchmaker Philippe Dufour. After working with world-renowned houses including Jaeger-LeCoultre, Audemars Piguet and Gerald Genta, Dufour started his own production in 1989 and joined the prestigious ranks of the AHCI (Académie des horlogers et créateurs indépendants / Horological Academy of Independent Creators) in 1992 after three years working on his masterwork – the world’s first grande and petite sonnerie minute repeating wristwatch. Today Dufour ranks as one of the most respected independent master watchmakers.
The first PHILIPPE DUFOUR creation, An Extraordinary, Important And Unique Pink Gold Two-Train Minute Repeating Grande And Petite Sonnerie Wristwatch With Enamel Dial, Circa 1992 (Est. HK$2.2 - 3.2 million / US$280,000 – 410,000), is one of the four pieces ever made and the only one in pink gold. Debuting at the 1992 Baselworld, it stunned the watch industry premiering as the first ever grande and petite sonnerie minute repeating wristwatch produced by any maker. The trip repeat mechanism activates through a button in the crown, while the two sliding levers in the case band adjust the grande and petite sonnerie mode from striking to silent, and from hour striking to hour and quarter striking respectively. Making its auction debut, this Philippe Dufour timepiece presents a unique collecting opportunity for connoisseurs of independent horology.
Another extremely special creation by the master watchmaker PHILIPPE DUFOUR For Audemars Piguet is A Very Limited Production, Fine And Rare Yellow Gold Open-Faced Two-Train Minute Repeating Grande And Petite Sonnerie Watch, Retailed By Asprey, No. 1 Circa 1982 (Est. HK$1 – 1.5 million / US$128,000 –190,000). In accordance with all of Dufour’s creations, this pocket watch was handmade with a beautiful and complex movement consisting of two barrels, both fitted to wind independently with dual recoiling clicks. Though made for Audemars Piguet, the remarkable timepiece bears the artist’s mark, with the movement signed discreetly on the underside of the dial. One of only five examples ever made, the present lot was numbered 1 and retailed by the illustrious British luxury brand, Asprey, making it extremely desirable and important in the history of independent horology.
Complementing the two Philippe Dufour creations is a GREUBEL FORSEY Double Tourbillon 30° Vision, A Very Fine And Rare Pink Gold Double Tourbillon Wristwatch With 72-Hour Power Reserve Indication, Circa 2004 (Est. HK$1.4 – 1.8 million / US$179,000 – 230,000) - the brainchild of renowned independent watchmakers Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey created over four years. The patented double tourbillon system defies gravity and tradition by incorporating two cages, altogether weighing a mere 1.17 grammes and separated by a 30-degree angle, to optimise performance. The upper part of the dial with an understated matte grey finish is well complemented by the skeletonised lower part revealing the technical marvel of the double tourbillon. With a platinum example of this wondrous timepiece topping Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches Sale in October 2010 at HK$2.54 million / US$325,641, the present example crafted in pink gold is set to stir intense bidding.
COVETED PATEK PHILIPPE COMPLICATIONS
This season Sotheby’s presents two magnificent bejewelled PATEK PHILIPPE timepieces, namely the Ref. 5071G, An Important And Rare White Gold And Diamond-Set Chronograph Wristwatch, Circa 2002 (Est. HK$1– 1,.5 million / US$128,000 – 190,000; left) and the Ref. 5971P, A Fine And Rare Platinum And Diamond-Set Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch With Register, Moon- Phases And Leap-Year Indication, Circa 2010 (Est. HK$1.5 – 2.2 million / US$190,000 – 280,000; right), both boasting the Nouvelle Lemania movement manufactured exclusively for Patek Philippe and widely regarded as the most beautiful classic column wheel chronograph mechanism in existence. While the Ref. 5971P is equipped with perpetual calendar and embellished with 36 baguette diamonds weighing approximately 4.37 carats, the Ref. 5071G is finely set with 118 baguette diamonds weighing approximately 11.55 carats, and was only made available to Patek Philippe’s top-tier clients upon special request, making it arguably the rarest version of the highly-acclaimed chronograph Ref. 5070.
Making its auction debut this season is the PATEK PHILIPPE Ref. 5270G, An Exceptional White Gold Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch With Registers, Moon-Phases And Leap Year Indication, 2011 (Est. HK$1.15 – 1.8 million / US$145,000 – 230,000), one of Patek Philippe’s most desirable 2011 Baselworld releases. Descending from Patek Philippe’s prestigious lineage of perpetual calendar chronographs, namely 1518, 2499, 3970 and 5970, the Ref. 5270 remains loyal to the clean and modern aesthetics of its predecessors and maintains the rectangular chronograph pushers, as seen on Patek Philippe’s 1940s and 1950s perpetual calendar chronographs. Comprising 456 parts, the Ref. 5270G features an in-house chronograph calibre CH 29-535 PS designed to reduce wear, boost efficiency and prevent tooth tip collisions.
Also among the highlights is the PATEK PHILIPPE Ref. 5102G Celestial, A Fine And Rare White Gold Automatic Astronomical Wristwatch With Sky Chart, Phases And Position Of The Moon And Time Of Meridian Passage Of Sirius And The Moon, Circa 2004 (Est. HK$1.4 – 2 million / US$179,000 – 255,000) a work of horological innovation featuring the Swiss-patented Sky Moon mechanism (Calibre 240 LU CL).
DECORATIVE CLOISONNE ENAMELLED CREATIONS
Cloisonné enamel is a classic enamelling technique used in watchmaking. Gold wires are carefully shaped to delineate colour zones within a miniature scene, where enamel powder is then deposited in the contours and fired at specific temperatures reaching 900°C to release the myriad colours. The protruding edges of the golden threads are polished down and the coloured scene is coated with a final protective layer of transparent enamel. Finally, the enamel miniature must cool in a controlled environment to prevent thermal cracks. This meticulous process results in a very limited manufacture of enamel timepieces by Patek Philippe, thus ensuring the exclusivity and rarity of each artistic masterpiece.
Works of extraordinary craftsmanship, the PATEK PHILIPPE Ref. 5076P Boats, Four Extremely Fine And Rare Limited Edition Platinum Wristwatches With Cloisonné Enamel Dials, 2005, (Est. HK$350,000 – 500,000 Each / US$45,000 – 64,000 Each) are part of a limited series of only 12 sets produced in 2005 and highly collectible.
With a Patek Philippe Ref. 1387 Gilt-Brass Solar-Powered Desk Timepiece With Cloisonné Enamel Scene “Jazz New Orleans” setting a world auction record for any Patek Philippe Enamel Solar Dome Clock fetching HK$2.06 million / US$264,102 in October 2011, this season Sotheby’s Hong Kong promises another opportunity to acquire exceptional enamel desk timepieces by this prestigious maker. This PATEK PHILIPPE Ref. 1361, A Fine And Unique Gilt-Brass Solar-Powered Desk Timepiece With Cloisonné Enamel Scene “Dragonfly And Nymphoides”, 1991 (Est. HK$800,000 – 1.2 million / US$103,000 – 154,000) is handpainted by master enameller Elisabeth Perusset Lagger in the style of modern Chinese watercolour painting set to enchant connoisseurs of enamel art.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium
