HONG KONG.- Rolex dominated Bonhams London Fine Watch Sale (10 June), whilst rare wristwatches from Patek Philippe achieved excellent figures at both Bonhams New York (9 June) and Hong Kong (4 June).

Leading the New York sale, a rare 18K rose gold Patek Philippe, reference 1463, sold for $353,000, more than double the high estimate of $150,000. The winning bid was placed over the phone after a prolonged bidding war.

Accompanied by its original box and Certificate of Origin, the remarkable watch features a water resistant function and rose gold material, both rare to see in the 1950s. The hour and minute hands are made of gold with a luminous or “glow in the dark” fill, which was probably unique for this model.

Bonhams Hong Kong sale continued the trend for rare Patek Philippe models, with an exceptionally fine platinum manual wind split second chronograph perpetual calendar wristwatch, reference 5004P, selling for 2,080,000 HKD.

Rolex wristwatches saw great popularity in the London sale, with one of the most revered of all Rolex watches, the military Submariner or ‘MilSub’, reference 5513, sold for £68,500. Ordered directly by the British Military through the Ministry of Defence these watches were manufactured with specific enhancements that set them apart from their civilian equivalent and making them highly collectible.

Joining the ‘MilSub’, the Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Cosmograph Daytona, so called after the actor famously wore the model in the 1969 film Winning. Purchased by an auction room bidder, the Cosmograph, reference 6239, sold well over top estimate, achieving £67,300.

Jonathan Darracott, Bonhams Head of Watches, said: “The sophistication of the market never ceases to increase, with our buyers willing to go that extra bid for the exceptionally rare and unusual, which in the case of London’s sale was the selection of sought after Rolex watches."

The next Fine Watches and Wristwatches sales will be:

• Hong Kong, 25 November

• New York, 8 December

• London, 16 December